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Shut the Door

(x = space)

x

x

Shut the Door

x

My neighbors slam their doors

Almost as matters

Of style

x

I don’t know why these

Concussions

x

Are the people frustrated?

x

(¿)They want to send a message

To me

Or to each other

Or the world

That won’t hear or be

Impressed and

Certainly

Won’t

Change?

x

This is why

I slam the door

(one of these)

Though it’s not my style when

I’m better

Or when maybe

The world hasn’t hit me first

x

I don’t know

x

People are weird

x

I am weird

x

We so easily turn people in

Our heads into

Things

As if we could transmogrify

In the academy

For turning people into things

x

And even objects might

Deserve

Some consideration:

Not be burned

For instance

When there’s value

In the form

Or the condition

x

Or liking

Or an interest in preserving;

x

But objects by and large

No longer matter

When they used to be

People

And now that we’ve changed them

x

And now we’ve changed them

We might

And honestly,

Sadly

Certainly will

Use them disposably

x

Surrender life to

Look the other way

And only

See a thing

Only fit for burning,

Burning

A heat

To match our own

x

And I have made

So much

From a door slam

(all right,

many slams),

x

Though I think you know—peer

Person and

Ersatz (peer) magician—what

I mean

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Oumaima Ben Chebtit on Unsplash

x

1

It Wants Us Crazy

(x = space)

x

x

It Wants Us Crazy

x

Yes, there is

A devil

No need to rave

About it

Resist

Find something better

To do

x

We’ll stumble

Fail

And fall,

Which is its pattern

By the way

x

But angels minister

But grace

And even miracles

Abound

Within the evil

And without,

No need for sin

To make them

Happen

(that is a joke

by Paul)

x

There is a devil

And, yes,

It seems to want us

For bad things;

Let peace prevail

Instead

And make

Reminders

x

Try humor

In a healthy way

As well,

For we understand

The devil cannot

Take a joke

At all

Much less

About itself

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Sergio Capuzzimati on Unsplash

x

1

Impoverished

(x = space)

x

x

Impoverished

x

I am a Christian

(and you’ll pardon me

if I don’t mind

that you are not)

And so I believe

That Jesus saves

And the Holy Spirit indwells

x

As God creates

And so we have

The three in one

And one always in three

x

And should I be offended

Or should you

And I think neither

x

God is

And if you don’t think so

Then

You don’t think so

Though statistically

Most on Earth

Believe

In something

Someone

Greater than oneself

Who is at work

In the world

Or for some

Is standing by

x

Jesus is offensive

He excoriates

Both Jew and Gentile

He also is all love

And empties himself of godhood

On a cross

To die

The first

Last

Great sacrifice

For sin

x

And that offended evil

I am sure

And the devil wailed

While certainty in hell

Was harrowed

By the Lord

And Lord

Who came alive again

And lives for us

Offended

Or easier about

Salvation

x

So we’ve time and chance

To care about

Our part in things

I’m thinking

Keeping promises

To families

To Earth

To what is true

What is giving

What is loving

x

Some find love offensive

In the cost

Of nothing worldly to have

Or to keep

Or it isn’t love

That like grace

There are no dispensers

With requirements

Except the Lord

Who says

Love God

And each other

Do both

x

And if that’s a requirement

Well

Take it up

With the one who made you

x

There

I have offended

But I empty myself to say

I love you

And when I do so

I have done it

And maybe say it

Well

x

Love God

And believe

Believe in Earth

Not quite so solid

Through truly

Given

Believe in us

That we have a chance

That we have a choice

That might please hell

Or make a heaven

In the middle

x

Believe well

And do better

Keep nothing that relinquishing

Would make love

Wholly stronger

And viable

In an occupied world

x

Until revelation

Make it real

And in the meantime

Learning

Living

What shadows

(taught by Plato

and what others more respectable)

Reveal

x

C L Couch

x

x

Speaking finally of Narnia and Earth, the professor said, It’s all in Plato.

Except it isn’t.

x

good thoughts courtesy of the ALC at Covenant Evangelical Presbyterian Church of West Lafayette, Indiana—anything that offends, maybe insults, is from me

x

Photo by Callum Hill on Unsplash

x

0

Jesus at Westminster

(x = space)

x

x

Jesus at Westminster

x

Officially,

Jesus is there—their

Liturgy and

Scripture

Say so

x

I think Jesus would show

Anyway

Without invocation

Or any

Of our invocations

x

Such as help

I need you

I love you

x

He is there

Affirmed by doctrine and

Technical language

x

And the greater fact that

A loving God is

Everywhere

x

How simple

Without flash

With oath-taking

Except

Now and then

In each life

To say

I believe;

Help my unbelief

x

There is an alleluia

Sung by eight

Fluid

Black

Wondrous

How match their music with

Movements

Of their bodies

And jubilation

In their brevity

Of ending

Introducing

Homily

x

Justin Welby

Just

x

And there is a theme

Throughout

(sav it

with me)

Not to serve

But to be served

Well,

We’ll see

It could happen

x

Meanwhile

Jesus is here

He’s everywhere

He’s here

Ms Silverman

Like magic

x

He’s there

Maybe

You have invited him

I hear he’s good at checkers

And at Go

x

C L Couch

x

x

I cite Ms Silverman in admiration

x

Photo by James Baldwin on Unsplash

x

0

La Esperanza y la Alegría

(x = space)

x

x

La Esperanza y la Alegría

x

An unexpected victory

Against numbers

In favor of the Mexican spirit

Now

Today

Of culture

x

It’s an excuse

As with many holidays

We could respect

The reason

We could

Respect the people

Ojalá

That is

I hope we do

x

Bright colors

Food I enjoy

Most every day

Also

Tragedies at borders

And inside

x

Making

A nation of contrasts

If not opposites

And so

Like every other nation

On Earth

x

Do you know the flag

It is a vision

When sighted

It becomes

A place of origin

And also means

The struggle

Answered

Yet unfinished

Of

La vida

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Martin Adams on Unsplash

x

0

Mystery Breathing

(x = space)

x

x

Mystery Breathing

x

I’m looking at my books

I think I really like

Mysteries,

Which is to say

Mystery

The numinous

The liminal

x

Could numinous

Mean pneumo-

As in breathing?

x

And more fancifully,

Myst-

As in fog

Though which

We go inexorably

As heartbeat

And do not know

What we’ll encounter

On the way?

x

I mean,

I like the plain thing

That Jane or Hercule

Must resolve

And I like the modern things

By James

Or Aaron, Charlotte

Elizabeth

P. D.

x

But there is the other thing that

Contents of books

Point to

Even to hold them

What’s in here?

Out there?

x

Scary stories?

Parts of them?

Without doubt—shouldn’t

Faith be scary as

It’s thrilling?

x

And then

The pattern seems to be

That all things

Will not be known

Until the end

With denouement to follow

If an epilogue

x

Then

We reach for another,

x

Which is why

We make a treasure-trove

Of libraries

Or simply having

Lots of books

That might be in forms

Of electrons

x

We are curious

We want to solve

Even as we

Want to be resolved

x

What are the greater mysteries?

How shall they end?

Maybe we should read together

Or at least

Discuss them

Piecemeal

On the way

All together

On the way

And over endings

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Arthur Oleynik on Unsplash

x

0

Gilead

(x = space)

x

x

Gilead

x

There is a balm

In Gilead

I don’t know where that is

I don’t know if

It’s on a map

The Gilead

That heals

The sin-sick soul

x

And I don’t know

What it is

The balm of Gilead

An ointment

A colony of physicians

Waiting

A miracle in local water

Or the air

x

And is it

Sick with sin

Or sick of sin

As in

I’m tired

I want something better

I want to strain

Fewer people for it

No one hurt

Really

Because I think

I want something

I no longer want

x

And did I ask for it

Before

Maybe

Probably

But there’s also something about

Whiter than snow

Impossible

Except to take the texture out

Though it’s the texture

Of the sin

That needs removing

Money

Lines on the face

The heart

Whatever

Wherever

x

Heal me

Leave the scars

I ask with sighs

Certain things are inexorable

Like evidence

Though cleanliness

Time

Humor

Smiles for friends

And even for the world

Have wrought

A great deal

By repentance

x

C L Couch

x

x

Jeremiah 8:22

x

Photo by Christina Deravedisian on Unsplash

x

1

“the devil,” “elements” (2 poems)

(x = space)

x

x

the devil

(you say)

x

the tempter

the corrupter

the ruiner of things

resist

no thanks

go away

we’ll bring in professionals

xxxxxif we have to

diaspora

we’re spread apart

you like us this way

we don’t believe in

xxxxxtogether

should we understand

that we are three in one

because God is

(that is the pattern)

we can stand alone

xxxxxJesus

xxxxxJohn

xxxxxElijah

xxxxxMoses

xxxxxeach and all did that

goodness, we know that well

but to be together

find gentle,

overwhelming power in that

we don’t know that

not anymore

not since the last time

and the time to come

and meantime?

we are together all the time

we only need to turn

to find each other

share the tiny glory

in that

the tiny victories

that add up

or they don’t

breathe in

breathe out

let life happen

as it’s supposed to happen

our alone times

our together state

the glory of the Lord

shine through

all shapes and sizes

everything and everyone

inside creation

not the devil

that gave up all right

to enter realms instead

of nothingness

x

x

elements

x

matter merges

xxxxxspiritual and fleshly

xxxxxmaterial

xxxxxgrain and grapes

xxxxxtogether

xxxxxeach part

xxxxxand together

xxxxxchanged

xxxxxinto finer things

xxxxxcloser to purpose

xxxxxcloser to creation

xxxxxand creation

xxxxxand what is finer than

xxxxxa smidgeon more intentional?

xxxxxall the wonder

xxxxxsimple and refined

xxxxxis here

xxxxxmade from the start

xxxxxmade full

xxxxxby God

xxxxxJesus

xxxxxand the Spirit

xxxxxwho are here

xxxxxwhose substance

xxxxxwhose presence

xxxxxis in here

xxxxxand is in you

x

x

notes

x

I’m sorry, while drafting I couldn’t think of women in the Bible who stood or prayed or fled to be alone; now I think that Mary could have been by herself when encountered by the angel and in her response to the announcement and the will of God; Judith might have prayed on her own, away, as well; and Esther might have planned the salvation of Israel in the same way

x

Photo by Mark Duffel on Unsplash

x

0

prose poem about an—

(x = space)

x

x

prose poem about an—

x

–found and read a story about an angel.  A long time ago, I had a book of stories about angels.  As far as I know, I don’t have that book now; and I don’t know where I got it.  I don’t where I was when I read this story.  I seem to recall an institution-like place, a school cafeteria or something, though the light was not widespread and where it was was divided starkly between itself and shadow.  Maybe I’m imagining my imagining of the setting of the story.  This angel looked like a tramp.  He appeared in tattered clothes with a tattered raincoat over all.  He didn’t like where he was or that he had to look and feel this way.  I think he tended not to like his assignments all that much.  In this story, he saved someone; and I think he did this rather often, saving people.  At the moment just before salvation, he manifested as an angel.  As an angel should be.  He was majesty, all power and fear.  His wings were wide and they reached high.  There was great light through him (hmm, I guess he was depicted as male); and the evil in the story was overwhelmed, the human client rescued.  Afterward, he felt some contentment as an angel, though he knew he would be leaving and would be changing into whatever the next place and time required—not by his reckoning.  So he was about to leave and then—and this was the style of the writer—vanish in the middle of a–.

x

this story was written I believe by Stephen Donaldson who has composed the chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever; if I’m wrong then I apologize all around; I don’t recall the name of the anthology or the particular story cited, and I don’t know who else wrote the other stories—the theme was angels, that’s what I know and that I often think of this story, this time strongly enough to set something down

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Ramez E. Nassif on Unsplash

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