matters for prayer
(I should know there are always these to express)
sigh
so what do I have to say
if anything
right now
or in the hours to come
I give myself the day off as an
option
that some readers might not mind
the break to take
from
the entwinements
I could speak of God
for us
and I do pray for you
for us
although
I have no added insight at the moment
to the prayer
there is a wildfire
nearby
I mean
in my county
so I know the location
the forest I have driven through
and hiked in
and stayed
the place
of a human tragedy of note
(meaning it’s
marked)
from some decades ago
and while containment has been accomplished
the burning still goes there
and for
some days now
so that’s the occasion
looking for an occasion
and here’s
the spiritual part
a prayer
as
dear God
cover the firefighters and
other fighters and supporters
with care
to keep them
cool
(if possible)
and safe
(that by you is)
encourage those who had to leave
as they return
to face the changes
in damage
or simply facing the new way
things must be considered
now
not that we shouldn’t always be aware
of fragilities
and dangers
but
well
who does that all the time
no matter how exigent the living
cool
(if possible)
and safe
(that is)
please
and thank you
amen
so I said this and if you’d like to join
that would be gracious
and so
a prayer for you
and us
in that
dear God
please hear us when we speak to you
and you do
of course
but it is human to speak to you
the way we do
even the way we’re taught
grant calmness of night
and if that can’t be
so
then allow some source of calm within
that we might access
if only can a little
help us to be together
in the new day
together as in self-knit and then
joined with each other
the togetherness
in which
there’s greater hope that the day not only be
endurable
but also good to think about
to feel
and mostly to live through
peace
and union
and
our differences
amen
yes
I prayed this for you
for us
as with the other
c l couch
photo by Harrison Steen on Unsplash
[haiku]
ask at all of firsts
from nil gifts to open so
open Earth and us
[out now]
Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku
by Literary Revelations
I’m not so good at promoting myself, but my work is in this anthology. As I’ve mentioned before, I find haiku an arduous process. So I guess I will say for myself that I’m pleased to have my haiku selected for inclusion in this work.
The book is out now and available at Amazon and appears to have been well-received so far. I’m grateful to Literary Revelations for the publishing and more specifically to Gabrielle Marie Milton for all her art and effort.
The main title, I probably don’t need to say, is the theme for this gathering of haiku. Thank you—any, all of you—for your reading of my work generally and should you read what I’ve contributed in Tranquility.
I think as I’ve written earlier, ten years ago while I was recovering from surgery, my sister gave me a laptop and told me to write something. I decided then to try a blog, though I barely knew what one was.
Throughout my life, it seems that writing has been one thing I can do nearly anytime. Feeling well, feeling poorly. At peace or in great stress.
Who knows, maybe I’m getting somewhere on this path.
Christopher
C L Couch
image from Pixabay with thanks to shell_ghostcage
well wishing
(tossing coins)
I hope it is a good night
for you
if a dark night of the soul
a time with turmoil from confusion
or from fear
or from confusion’s fear
more hopefully
or maybe a time of easy rest through
the dark that could go
peacefully
to dawn
or whatever hour
serves
for rising as a new day
for you
however night goes
God is with you
with you
anyway
if
to think on our own failing
actions fixable
(they
are)
and sometimes lovable
from
endearing flaws
we are these wonderful mixtures
after all
are
we not
oh
and if working third shift
then I hope it’s
good rest for you by day
to have the hours
as
impulsive night
and night for all
its goodness
and its call to rest
to you
c l couch
photo by Luo JunHao on Unsplash
when I searched “sleep” and “night” and such for images, the searches came back with so many photos of cats—more than people, more than dogs—which says something about us, I imagine
[haiku of the funeral]
common the remains
of by world and word a pope
framed in love to earth
c l couch
photo by Nicolas Weldingh on Unsplash
of John 3:17
for God
did not send
the child of God
into
the world
to condemn the world
but that
through the child
the world
and all the world
might
be saved
for God so loved
c l couch
photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash
the good season that lasts
the week after
time of discipleship
like being free of Pharaoh
free
now
of similar devils
new obligations based
on old beliefs
and
now
regeneration
not an easy life
in the spirit
old and new temptations
to parry
disillusionment as
after
last Friday
until the vigil moment
Sunday
which is maybe how sometimes
faith
appears
fast like a bird
settling like
rain
a life re-breathed
a new season that in temperate climes
speaks to changing colors
and
thermometer degrees
and while these quarters will continue
the life
in the spirit
we know
now
shall not have an end
as long as we’re inclined
and others
all of us go on
face the choice
to belong
adhere
and have renewed breath
in the new time
in the gathering that is church
only people
by
its Greek definition
and goodness the soft
yoke
the easy
weighted burden
which faith allows
maybe
hopes near all traditions
c l couch
first full week of the Easter season
photo by Julia Elliot on Unsplash
Mars Not for the Taking
Who owns the moon
Who wants it
Besides Gru
Someone who thinks the mineral rights
Would be glad to take
And to provide through
Taking
And so make the other Earthers pay
Who owns Mars
But that the same agendas
Work
And again the rest on Earth to pay
And
What kinds of lessons will we learn
When we are truly
There
And other places
And the ones before us
Say
Sorry
Wrong number
Phone elsewhere
And then
In a seriousness of Spaceballs
We will decide to take their
Air
So we may have it
And the progenitors
No longer
And keep on this track of
Piracy
And war
Until the cosmos
Squish us out
By the things
Always bigger than
Ourselves
And had we read
The appendix of the guide
That said
Don’t ever do this
And now panic
For
So many things were
And are given
Without
The taking
C L Couch
for Earth Day and even Easter week
all the things trademarked or copyrighted that I cite or to which I allude I do not own and make no money from (no more than Earth or the moon, Mars, Phobos, or Deimos)
Photo by NASA Hubble Space Telescope on Unsplash
amigo ausente
well
I’m sorry
I know I should be glad
that he’s in heaven
now
but I liked him
liked his presence
even in
the way-distant way I knew it
knew him
I like
the name he chose
I like the way he tried
I don’t like the way
that we heard
and he looked ill
and now
that’s not a problem
but I liked his look
of love on Earth
and now
we won’t have
save in pictures and maybe
in the same wide way
a new one
new papa
I wish I could have visited
and heard him chat with friends
(are
popes allowed
to have
friends)
to have heard the Spanish
easy on his lips like home
heard an easy laugh
from him
at something
a friend without expectations
might have said
c l couch
photo by Fr. Daniel Ciucci on Unsplash
rest with
rest with
I think of thick
cloth
maybe with a scent of earth
and what is
the scent of resurrection
I don’t know
the face
for fear
for shame of looking
but I can’t help
but rest
against the folds
and a little ways
inside
I rest
and I don’t know the surface
of the ground
beneath
it could be firm
it could be clouds
if could
be fire
but for the company
I’ll keep resting
maybe fall
asleep
daring and remarkable
in the Earth-turning
and somehow homely presence
of the Lord
c l couch
for Easter Monday
photo by Clément Falize on Unsplash
clcouch123 
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