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made manifest

(x = space)

x

x

made manifest

(for the USA and everyone may read along)

x

in this country where we

pander to the rich

so that we might keep

our jobs

x

in which we patronize

the royalty of other

nations

x

where are we with our own?

because there should be

no one hungry here,

no one who cannot easily drink

safe water,

where no one who wants a job

can’t have one,

where shelter exists for

everyone,

where there is some assurance of

peace,

where everyone can breathe

x

this should be our nation,

the greatest on the Earth

we say

but then

we can boast

a model to the other lands

and take action for all needs

x

and all of us

on planet Earth,

thinking of launching for

other places

x

c l couch

x

x

photo by Ben Hershey on Unsplash

SoHo, New York, United States

x

4

The Uniform Monday Holiday Act

(x = space)

x

x

The Uniform Monday Holiday Act

x

I can’t imagine

How it is

To be imprisoned, innocent

Martin Luther King, Junior

The apostles Peter and Paul

Henry David Thoreau

Doctor Mudd for setting

Booth’s leg

x

These people were indicted

For their jobs

Nelson Mandela

x

Now there are the women

I should know more and say more

Suffragers

Protesters

Wanting votes

A real wage

A chance for the machines

Not to grind our living down

In a new age

x

There are those in rank

I do not understand

Women, children, men

Who lived in prison in the Tower

Sometimes freed

Often executed

Often simply dying there

x

There are crimes, I’m sure

Prison sentences

That might make sense

If bankrupt of compassion,

The strength of prohibition

And correction misdirected

And I don’t know

What to say for those

x

We’ve decided for our lives

To keep you away from them,

From everyone

Who lives under the sun

Or the comfort of moonlight

At night

x

Civil disobedience

A cause

A call

Evangelism

x

C L Couch

x

x

between his birthday and the holiday

x

Photo by Richard Payette on Unsplash

Catalonia, Spain

x

6

Sabbath Invitationing

(x = space)

x

x

Sabbath Invitationing

x

We meet God outside,

Invite God into church

x

God might come

But there is busyness

x

God means it—

We don’t know what to say

Except Thank you

Then move inside

With something like

Haste

x

Why should we feel guilty?

We invited God to church

And God said no,

Well, said maybe after

Busyness

x

We’re not sure

We see the lesson here

Or anything prescriptive

x

We can take it up

At lunch after, certainly

x

By the time we go to church again

In case God

Is there again

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by laura adai on Unsplash

Trentino-Alto Adige, Italia

summit

x

3

Assignment Earth

(x = space)

x

x

Assignment Earth

x

A return to three dimensions,

Grace is brief

x

It splits through time,

Calls to the source,

And invites us there

While claiming in the world

Surprise and alteration

x

Miraculous intervention

Owned by none

But gives of itself

Until what it bears is gone

x

A life changed,

Spirit re-knit,

A reason to go on

If not in gratitude

Let alone astonishment

x

Maybe something to think about,

Maybe only forward motion

x

C L Couch

x

x

The photograph was taken by Joseph Schultz, my nephew.  He enjoyed a job with the Fish and Wildlife Service on Midway Island and now lives in Wilmington, North Carolina.  The world is his future.

x

0

Quicksilver

(x = space)

x

x

Quicksilver

x

O God, our help

Help me now

There is sunshine

I should like it

And be thankful

I should be thinking forward

You know, make a plan

Take a firm step

In a new direction

While respecting

Where we’ve been

Amen

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Adrien Converse on Unsplash

Bellingham, United States

x

2

No Tricks

(x = space)

x

x

No Tricks

x

God help us

God will help us

If we ask

x

Though God is not a raven

Or a spider

Or a god who wants

To play immortal pranks

In Asgard

x

God is closer to a dragon:

Power contained,

Always ready for release

Of power

Or of learning

Then

Reveal

x

Guardian of treasures,

Keeper of wisdom

x

What do we want—

What do we want of God?

God is curled up to rest

Or stretched

While flying through the sky

And so much higher

Without need for air

x

Would we like to go,

Would we like to ride with God?

x

We might have to go through

A mountain,

First,

Or out until we find

A howling island

x

Or inside

Our capillaries

x

Once there,

Mind your manners

Around dragons

x

C L Couch

x

x

by Battle Brook – File:Valhallas.jpg, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=84903609

Valhallas’ Asgard and Midgard peaks seen from north

x

1

The Village Maker

(x = space)

x

x

The Village Maker

x

Around the Christmas tree,

My mother used to arrange

A winter’s village

x

We knew it was winter

Because a sheet had been

Wrapped around

The base and all,

The buildings set inside the folds

x

There were houses,

Naturally, most with

Peaked roofs though

There was one house top

That was crenellated

x

Cardboard walls (and roofs)

Had been painted somehow

In manufacturing

With coats of glitter

x

There was a church with

Paper stained-glass windows

x

There were people

Plastic or metal

I’m not sure,

Walking through town

x

There might have been a bench

For one or two to sit upon

x

There were people, I believe,

Set in a one-horse sleigh

x

There was a pond for ice

And skating, and there were

Ice-skaters there

x

The pond was a small mirror

x

I thought that was so clever

Of my mother

x

There were holes in the backs

Of the houses and

The church,

Through which light bulbs

Were pressed and a wire,

All connected so that when

The tree was lit, the

Village was illuminated, too

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Gard Skaar Johansen on Unsplash

x

2

Wording

(x = space)

x

x

Wording

x

Magic in words

A phrase I’m sure that has been said

In many times and places

Media

Many languages

x

For it must seem that way

The way words can turn things

I suppose like many things

They have no value

Until applied

Character in the one

Who speaks or writes

Agenda, too

An open one shows fortitude

The hidden one a kind of cowardice

x

They can start wars

In fact, we have to say

They are declared

Then words are needed, after

In treating peace

x

There is so much more to say

Your turn

Use your words

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Damon Lam on Unsplash

x

2

Shipwreck of State

(x = space)

x

x

Shipwreck of State

(in pandemic time)

x

By the way, the highest number

Of cases was reported

Yesterday

But this mass lack of perspective

Child’s bid for attention

Ersatz use of masks

x

We don’t want to care, anymore

We have sick to care for

Too many dead to bury

In decency,

Though we’ll try

x

It isn’t that important,

The thing inside white buildings

In the capitol,

State houses similarly infected

x

There is disease,

And there is disease

Politics aside—and that’s it, isn’t it?

Putting aside what is

Supposed to serve us

With our money

With our votes

With belief

x

We have lives to deal with

And lack of life to mourn,

x

Which is the real nation

That like church

Means all the people

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by NOAA on Unsplash

Bow of the TITANIC

x

5

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