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over 40,000

(x = space)

x

x

over 40,000

x

who is left after

are

the broken-hearted

inside broken-bodied

those left who

never believe

in anything

anymore

x

those who have no buildings left

houses or offices

or warehouses

and so sleep inside

if supplied

canvas or nylon

maybe with a floor

maybe not

or in a wide and tall shelter

that might have been

something else

in days

that we do not believe in anymore

x

earth for ground

which for many

isn’t new at all

x

my city’s count

of people gone

razored rubbled stones too big

for anyone or a small group

to lift

even though a noise is heard

or sign or life is seen

or was it imagined

x

we must wait

for healthy people

big machines

waiting on either side

clichés belied

a fresh hell

too late

too little

though

we will get to each other

whatever

living status

notwithstanding

x

there is a border

do we care

tribes

as we knew tribes

who lived in places

x

without places

where

is home

x

it’s nowhere

there is nothing

not even peace

of a flat nothingness

there is so much

cracked rock

torn sheets of metal

splintered glass

and

split ground

x

metal, plastic, cloth

pieces to remove

maybe to inventory

but first

to look and hear

and touch and taste

and smell

for signs of life

x

if there are signs of recognition

(sounds official)

any part that was alive

a writhing shape

or something

monstrously creative

for flesh

and bone

and everything that

moved

in health

not designed

in making

x

it’s visceral

and horrible

to contemplate

x

and here they are

he

she

they

and us

then lifted up

and carried

to wherever

whatever

might be left of us

to carry

and to set down

by the victims

walking

driving

bearing

with newcomers

myriad

with everything inside

that should be inside

shelters

and bodies for shelters

x

time for work

and for embraces

and feeding pets

that also

have been found

x

we must count

though all

for help

if horribly

piecemeal

whole

in-part

surprises

when we find

each other

as we find

each other

x

miracles

or awful

(without awe)

revelation

x

two nations

and all families

in shock

material and flesh

therein

all rived apart

enormous pieces

and so small

like mortal

or like venal

sin

x

we are tired

we are so tired

marrow-tired

yet we lift

like eyes to hills

with all the senses

sensing

and our muscles

weeping

like our faces

and our souls

x

hoping

fearing

to find anything

for what we’ve found

and know

so far

x

the definition

of a living hell

new definitions

ghastly or ghostly

(grim humor

or humors

medieval inquest drawn out)

for the victims

and the victims

x

nature and people

where is evil

maybe nowhere

maybe do not care

but as we can

and for the good

with what we have

get over there

x

c l couch

x

x

photo by xander ashwell on unsplash

x

5

Difficult Sky

(x = space)

x

x

Difficult Sky

(hard to read, to navigate)

x

Today is

Strange

In our little corner

Within corners

x

Particles are falling through

The sky

x

They could be sleet

They could be hail

x

Either way,

Like a warning

Not that we feel apocalypse

We mainly feel the strangeness

x

And that might be the warning:

Today is strange

Be ready

By not being ready

x

And it’s Ash Wednesday

So try to make

A Christian meaning

Out of that

x

Well,

Christ came to save the world

And this day needs

Saving

x

But simply go inside,

Which might be enough of

A measure

With no need to go all

Soteriological

x

Wear the ashes:

Outside, they might run

x

Inside, they might

Instruct

In safety

And in contemplation

x

Or leave your foreheads clean

And think about the ashes

On the inside

(of the inside),

The way thinking might be

Sectarian

Or universalist

x

Either way

If you permit,

Have a good, ashy

Gray day

x

Sunny where you are

Perhaps

Or raining

Or another kind of storm

Still for liturgy

Or hearts or minds

Gray day

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Jr Korpa on Unsplash

x

1

On the First Day

(x = space)

x

x

On the First Day

x

Ash Wednesday

Let’s have ash

Upon our foreheads

Crosses that will smudge

And that’s all right

Throughout

The day into

The evening

For the season

x

We say it’s for remembrance

Of death

And our mortality

But our foreheads are warm

There’s temperature beneath

And all the little crosses

Bearing small,

Smudged,

And living

Testimony

Everywhere

x

Not bad for evangelism

Contraindicated for a show

Rather a story of

Black, loving humility

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Taylor Flowe on Unsplash

x

6

Wealth of Nations

(x = space)

x

x

Wealth of Nations

x

O God

For invocation

Oh, God

To plea

Our world groans

With war

And the imbalance

Of the greedy

Systems

x

Justice should be a system

Greed is not good

Unless you’re winning

For a while

While all our cells corrupted

May yet cry for mercy

x

The ears to hear

Might be

The last to go

x

God

Help us

And forgive us

The Earth is ours

And we forget

And leave it to a few

Who vote for nothing

But self-fattening

And a self-deceiving glimpse

Of real power

x

Let all rise

(the poorly-

agendaed, too)

To march

Or stand in place

To sing

As if

Accompanying Earth

With all the antiphons

The spheres above

Below

That glide

And when against each other

Glory in the sacred touch

The music

Of all order

And all chaos,

Arranged

As creation’s gift

x

And this is wealth

Not the other

Once we feed each other

And can stand or march

(or sit with age

or disability

and purpose)

To hear the strains

Of everything

And offer ours

x

Our gift

Unto the glory

Of Earth

And all-around’s,

Of God’s all

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Illiya Vjestica on Unsplash

x

0

Drastic Season

(x = space)

x

x

Drastic Season

x

Soon it will be Lent

Time to think

Of Jesus

For all the times

Out scatter-gun approach

(sheesh)

Hopes to hit the mark

x

Forty days

With time off

For Sundays

For Communion

For the Catholics,

A churchly kindness

x

Otherwise,

We count

And do not count

For who says

Well, today is Lent 19

When we have it

In a book

If we must know

x

No, the season moves

Slowly

(it’s even in the name)

And we wish

For Easter treats

Especially because

We might give up something

For these days

x

It is tradition

And some choose

Something that it’s

Helpful

(healthy)

To avoid for a time

If not forever

x

Something small

Like caffeine

Something bigger

Like adultery

Or other

Eldritch bond

The priest might say

If saying

That is mortal

Meaning uneternal

For our lives

x

My, that would be a season

Of such change

To right a wrong

And who decides

Not priest

Or even angel on the shoulder

But the motivation

Of one’s own

In time

x

And such a season

Angels would approve

Though the loss

Of what sin brings

Forever

Shall seem to hurt that way

For the while

While things change

For forty days

(now a dreadful count)

And fifty

And beyond

x

As the healthy sun

Lights from far

The mortal planet

That in renewal

Might have something better

In its molecules

And the un-atomed spirits

After judgment

Knowing joy

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by James Coleman on Unsplash

x

0

Segregation Wrecking Ball

(x = space)

x

x

Segregation Wrecking Ball

x

Separate but equal?

I think I am quoting

Equality

Some more equal than others

I have heard this

The bigot says

I want a line between us

A barrier

Easily, I want to separate

Every part of my life

Into what I want

Whatever

Due to my boxed sense of things

Some kind of superiority

Tragically

Closeted inside

Maybe waiting for a

Monolithic

Rally

x

Sigh

(or moan or growl)

Those of us who never understood

The world from above

Is yes

Without borders

How

We are one blue-green marble

Rolling in relation

To the rest

x

Segregation

Takes strange energy

Nothing at all

Like strange and wonderful

But an investment

In dreadful

In the ersatz and the eldritch

A devilish combining

To elevate

The worst of us

x

We can do so much better

And it’s easier

It’s breathing air

It’s waking up

Having meals

Walking through our days

To give each other

Without baleful thought

The time of day

The normal investment

Of our lives

In greetings

And strategies

Together

x

The normalcy

The unsung justice

Of equality

Without the need to say it

From having it

So long

x

Hope for today

And in the generations

No separation

Normal restraint

For being human

Normal modesty

x

A delight in who we are

Without thinking

Who we are

x

Not colorblind

But colorful

Tropical and polar worlds

Temperate zones

Everywhere we are

The normal grace

Through which

We live and love and

Have our being

A liturgy of ages

Let the ages fit with such

Actions and such virtues

Start now

x

We have to learn

What the future

Will not have to

x

Except in learning about us

And what happened next

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Resource Database on Unsplash

x

4

We Need You and Sometimes We Can’t

(x = space)

x

x

We Need You and Sometimes We Can’t

x

Help us to love you,

O Lord,

Though

You may live without us

x

Still, we can exist

Together

In a bond that is

Extraordinary:

Of energy, of will,

Of love without agenda,

All around

x

It’s hard to love invisibly

With thoughts and feelings

We can’t see

And then

Your presence, Lord

x

With things unseen

And unevidenced

In other ways,

Our senses confounded

For lack of usefulness

The kind employed in what we do

In anything—and

How may we

Sense you?

x

There is stigmata for a few

And apparitions;

There are those

Who hear your words

In air

Or those emblazoned

Understood

Upon the heart

x

We want to know;

We get frustrated

Then we worry

For offense

(offending God does not seem smart)

Or we give up

Ignore

And in internal ways

We walk away

x

But you are there

We should believe

And within parameters

Of material and abstract

Hope for more

x

That on this side

We may have in measures

That will have to do

For life

And faith

And all the things we have to do

To make things better

One by one

And altogether

x

Tolerance

And patience

Peace

And feeding

Giving water

Giving hope for more

In all the needs of life

(material and abstract)

x

Help us, Lord,

Or let us help ourselves

And the others;

Be with us

And invisibly

Leave us to choose

In respect

Of how we’re made

And otherwise arranged

Our will

That we often apply well

Even without

Preternatural accoutrements

Composing a few rituals

For service

Pledging how to live

On our own

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Milad Fakurian on Unsplash

x

0

A Word, Please

(x = space)

x

x

A Word, Please

x

Dance

A word I hear

Inside the air

Of movement

And of possibilities

x

Let’s try to move together

Earth and sky

And us between

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Maksym Kaharlytskyi on Unsplash

. . . five pairs were dancing tango . . . sensual, savoring with every movement. . . . ordinary people . . .

Lviv, Ukraine

x

So over three days there have been three poems for Valentine’s.  A study of love, a tribute to my mother, and thoughts about how a couple might move together.

x

0

15 February

(x = space)

x

x

15 February

(1925 to 1983)

x

Today is Mom’s birthday

Happy Birthday, Mom

x

I trust

The birthdays have been

The happiest

Of days

Since you arrived

And for the forever

That you’ve been there

x

Do you have a place?

Is it your own

With neighbors

And community close by?

I imagine walls

Made of bright wood

And a few

Favorite things

And a door that opens

Into spring

x

It is a dream

It is a hope

It is a formless prayer

Against the real joy

Better than my guesses

Of eternity

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by daniela de gol on Unsplash

x

0

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