a two-part matter of monsters
monsters
monster means something important
out for show
but we know monster
really
for ourselves and
also monstrous
connotation
and old scary movies
and before that
illustrations here and there on paper
though mostly
through
stories
the monster that we see outside
and
do not see
the gruntings or the screams we think we
hear
there is what goes into
and has always been
inside
the mind
monsters worse that in there
rise
sometimes in sleep
or we take them waking into
feeling
thinking
the spirit
the ego
our inner things fed one way or another
and then become
our conscious
if monsters not-consciously influence
‘til
they’re
known
maybe through counsel
maybe we learn to drag the beasts from
deep lurking
into a shallow sunlit place
where they
are known
and
let
awareness both appreciate as well as
eschew
all monsters
doubting
they do not go away
so we’ll pursue
and
come to know in unshadowed time
and circumstances
live with
then
the monstrous as
best
(not beast)
as we may
monstrous negotiation
maybe that’s how I’ll leave it
a discussion
for
the day
of what’s monstrous
what are the beasts that lurk away
or want
to invade
and also the shaded things
as creatures
that
we keep inside
the world
certainly can
be
a bestial place
look at D. C.
and also western Asia with points
west
and east
until except for penguin colonies
the Earth is subsumed
by
all the monster presences
and possibilities
and we think monster-hunting will
resolve
except the monstrous will not like it
and might attack
or simply
push
tall and deadly things from
the forests in
our way
the forest out there
and
of course
the woods in here
the fairytale monsters
point
toward us while
reading or
otherwise receiving
and while they
return
and so we have more stories
maybe there’s
a matter of negotiation
that
only lately
except for Androcles
the narratives are positing
that
we make friends
with dragons
and
so ask Saint George to consider new
pursuits
that we bargain with ourselves
as well
and the clawed and jagged creature-parts
dwelling
deep
but changing moods
and agendas near and over the surface
to outside
and
then each other
rather
to learn the monsters
that
we won’t need to feed them
they’ll be fine
and teach us in return
that what is
monstrous
needs no encouragement
but
in appreciation
then
of everything we are
chastened
we step into the waters of the world
all the currents
even
caves once knowing
what inhabits
there
in me
in you
so us
and in them
until the them be us as well
c l couch
photo by steffen wienberg on Unsplash
Mitzvah
God be with us
While
We’re parted
May I be good to you
As
You’ll be good
For me
May God keep us
Trusting all
Parts
Of this amenity
‘Til coming back together
For
Story-telling and
Renewal
C L Couch
Photo by charlesdeluvio on Unsplash
la vita è bella
keep the life worth living
meaning
life itself worthy
meaning
in and of itself
while we can bend it
tear it
staple it into something else
or accept another thing attached
in crazed efforts to
resemble
(as in
re-assemble)
something else
something conceived as better
though misdirected
mis-
achieved
but then life
can bend back
it has that quality
and
tendency
in fact
it can bear the folds
the rents
the holes where there had been made
accepted attachments
even
those that were not healthy
once folded out
life maintains the beauty
even
new
tempered beauty
yes
from scars
and also
then the way that some insist
art must be
born
but this is life
sometimes first and
after
the art come after
or along
like companions
on
the way toward a practical
or mystic Compostela
the pilgrimage
that serves the life
and
in turn
describes
defines
the life
even from the first
it is
c l couch
photo by Silvestri Matteo on Unsplash
Dying Rose
San Zenone degli Ezzelini, Italy
is there no beauty here? (I ask)
this is the poem I tried to post yesterday and couldn’t, maybe more due to the image size or resolution, as for any other reason; if the post posts now, then I’ll know the smaller illustration is acceptable (even though I like the margin-to-margin design, sigh)
from the tent it is a sand and then a water world
I set my shoes
outside
as if I were entering
sancrosanctity
though really the sand-filled things
would not be convenient
in the tent
still
something east of here
and like a desert
calling
and I guess deserts go to coastlines
too
as this beach doesn’t go to desert
actually
but in its narrow strip
still calls what
to us might be
exotic wanderlust
c l couch
from a prompt provided by Melissa Lemay at https://melissalemay.wordpress.com/2025/03/24/melissas-fandango-flash-fiction-challenge-313/ (photo by Sara Cottle on Unsplash)
my thanks for Melissa!
https://melissalemay.wordpress.com/
(at) https://melissalemay.wordpress.com/2025/03/24/melissas-fandango-flash-fiction-challenge-313/
Hello! Welcome to Melissa’s Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge. Each week I will post an image I grab off the internet and challenge bloggers to write a flash fiction piece or a poem inspired by the image. There are no style or word limits.
If this week’s image inspires you and you wish to participate, please write your post and use the tag #FFFC. Please create a pingback to this post and/or manually add your link in the comments. I hope it will generate some great posts. Don’t forget to stop back and read/comment on the posts of others.
Thank you for participating!
cherish is the word
the spooky tree
I just heard mention of
a “spooky tree”
trees are spooky
I suppose
or can be especially when given
the Hallowe’en shape
and
association
though trees are green as well
and the green parts
we are drawn
to
for all they are as well as
what they mean
green
la vida
(not loca)
we have had an equinox
lately
and so we’re on a kind of edge
or cusp
in
not so much
the sky-shape of the moon
and how the stars
are
traveling
or even tables of tides
or even
Zodiac zones
we are on a line
an edge
a cusp
and spring should follow
normally
though we have put the seasons on an edge
as well
through what we’ve done to sky
water
and ground
our edge
(related to the others)
is made up of
resolve
which the other things with lines and such
can’t muster
we choose the Earth
we choose
the sky
the water
and the ground
and we choose each other
in the kind of
relation
that comes with deciding our part
of the cosmos
(sometimes
consideration is that
big)
what shall we choose
and
how to live
we have a cusp for timing
there’s no point in
despotism
we can be equal in each other’s eyes
and
all selective senses
and
yes
there’s good
and there is evil
and they need attending
for each is in the world
as each is
in
and from
each of us
we have to keep a world
governments and industries
we should value life
our lives
in whatever motley way we have life
once
we have it
and it goes on
the isms have their place
though they should be mollified by
things
mentioned through ages
befitting
old
and new
and renewed
c l couch
“Cherish” is a song written by Terry Kirkman and recorded by The Association. “Cherish” was released in 1966.
Photo by USGS on Unsplash[--]Soaring, snow-capped peaks and ridges of the eastern Himalaya Mountains create an irregular white-on-red patchwork between major rivers in southwestern China. The Himalayas are made up of three parallel mountain ranges that together extend more than 2,900 kilometers. [From USGS.] (And it looks a bit like a Hallowe’en tree. From me.)
haiku plus announcement
yellow brown blue white
and there must be green for spring
gospel of out there
As I’ve mentioned, I find haiku a challenging craft. Maybe if I knew Japanese, though I’d have to know Japan as well (more than I know now). Nonetheless some haiku of mine—five in all (each one invited to send five)—will be published in an upcoming collection by Literary Revelations (https://literaryrevelations.com/). I’m keenly grateful to the publishing house for accepting my work to share with others. More specifically, I'm grateful to Gabriela Marie Milton who invited and received submissions. (If I understand the process.)
More details as I have them. Thank you for reading and thus encouraging my work.
photo by Xuan Nguyen on Unsplash
cloudy days be good
and now there’s nothing
nothing new
renewing
and shall I say
the devil
won
and not really since
the devil is too small
and by the end
or even
now
unvictoried
if I let my spirit down
as in descent
now
that is something
and how far to go and then
to start my soul
back up
toward land and sky
again
and now the fool is mentioned
and the fool for Christ
comes
to mind
in
that the world thinks it’s wise
and admittedly
faith built on no evidence
material does
seen
nonsensical
if not Seussical
but like the cat
there’s foolish fun
especially
in
rain
(if in the house while it rains)
when clouds shall run
until the sun
return
with the typical
the good play when it’s easy-bright
and it is
and should be
but should
the rain persist wherever
some
foolish reasoning
be apt
as in have faith in the sun
find interest in the rain
believe
that both
and so many things
have
value
the better parts
supporting faith and does it go
better
the other way around
faith first
and faith below
and faith above and wherever
in
lack of transparency
we through the dark glass
choose
and live
to believe
c l couch
(with allusioning to The Cat in the Hat by Doctor Seuss, also 1 Corinthians)
photo by Damien Dufour on Unsplash
Pale Day
Pale blue
Pretty
I imagine there are
Even piquant clouds somewhere
Bouncing
Even though they’re still
Or moving slowly
To see them
Actually
Adding extra movement
To the elements
Because it’s probably happening
Out there
Up there
Down there
Anyway
And we take movement
All too seriously
As if to be still
Even to rest
Were tantamount to some kind of death
Before
The actual
And is that the antipathy
Toward rest
That it’s too close to resting
Mortally
Forever
I don’t know
It’s a pretty blue day outside
And I’ll think on all these things
And maybe you shall
Too
Blue is for rest
As well
And if it is
Or can be
Some kind of sabbath for you
When it’s time or
You decide
It’s time
Then my wish is for a day of blue
For you
C L Couch
Photo by Oliver Cole on Unsplash
All the Green Hours
It’s the witch hour
The day after Saint Pat’s
Though
The ministry of saints goes on
Brigid might be busy
Too
Being the saint
And also something of
Imbolc
The supernal spirit of the land
C L Couch
(for Saint Patrick’s Day late)
Photo by Greg Willson on Unsplash
clcouch123 
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