To a New Friend
You asked me
how I am,
and I didn’t tell you.
I didn’t know
how to be succinct
or how much you’d like to know,
though I have no reason to
doubt your sincerity
in asking
except I haven’t been that well:
I’ve been tired and rather ill.
And the doctors mention,
if only to mention,
the timeline for a transplant
and that I’m not getting any younger,
as we say.
And I’m concerned:
I worry
while living through the day,
awake at night,
half-awake the next day.
Maybe you have insight;
or maybe I would simply like—who
am I kidding—cherish
your responses that so far have been
both sympathetic
and intelligent
as an impressive combination,
though there won’t be anything unless
I say something.
C L Couch
Photo by Mel Poole on Unsplash
Jurassic Pet
Mom
I’ve got
To walk
The dinosaur
She’s not hungry
Anymore
(don’t look for the
other pets)
And she drank a lot
Too
(mess on the kitchen floor
sorry)
I think I’ll name
Her Lovey
Like another castaway
On
Repeat TV
See you later
Mom
Because
I think she’s walking
Me
Mom
(from inside)
Wait
Take your father
(from inside)
What
C L Couch
based on Melissa Lemay’s photo prompt at https://melissalemay.wordpress.com/2024/04/29/melissas-fandango-flash-fiction-challenge-266/, more specifically on reading Grace’s response at https://graceofthesun.com/unusual-companion/
Photo [on this page] by Samuel Scrimshaw on Unsplash
The Prophet in the Last Days
I don’t know how to be at peace this
Side of the grave
Plus
I don’t know what happens
Over there
Everything I’ve tried has
Collapsed
Or imploded into war
It doesn’t help that I’m poor
Disabled
Older
All good reasons for society to render me
Invisible
What do I deserve
But nothing
Even less
Patronized at best
Cheated some
More
At worst
Well
Killed
At worst
I guess
Though it can happen by small
Accumulating
Wounds
As is
What shall I do
Who may I be
Where is the substance for the inside and
The outside
Which
I may not know and certainly not have to
Taste and see
Before the end
And so live
Frustrated
Hurt
The bleeding never over
And never having anything like
Peace prevailed
C L Couch
Photo by Irham Setyaki on Unsplash
the aftering
I know other things
have happened
in what for us was nighttime
under the glare of sunlight
over there
or
yes
under cover here
save for stars and moon
new things
and then
as well
perpetuation of the old
ongoing
without ceasing
all the bad things
overwhelming
so it seems
when will it end
and what shape
is the terminus
will we know it
when we get there
there
a block for worry while
we bury devastation
and then
what happens
next
to stay
and who has the energy
remaining
to rebuild
and what about the funds
required
and sustenance to keep us going
in the meantime
and meanwhile
and plus
should anything resurge
disease
or battle
or the fire
and typically
tragically
the quake
what shall the aftereffects
do to us
the trauma now
impeding
any hope of progress
of ongoing life
that is
leaping over crises
and catastrophes
to resume
and now
resume again
heaven help us
and we might ask about
the first
time
where were you
and
yes
we must say
we’ll even plead
come here now
some sort of
Immanuel
c l couch
photo by Museums Victoria on Unsplash
Dawn Patrol
1
The light is up
Gray light of
Normal dawn
It’s pretty much a wash
Just now
Though I think there is a promise
Of more colors
Like crayons
Beneath the single tone
Which I guess is a crayon color
Too
And hip
Gray trends
After all
Though I prefer the brown tones
Then add in some orange
Then the rest
The dawn
It will have these
But also start
With pink
And be a marvel
Sunrise
On Earth
A rival experience
In the Solar System
Because we also rise
With air
And with water
And with fertile ground
Sometimes planted
Sometimes fallow
In relationship
So that life
Might be obviously abundant
While we guess about the others
Out there
Here
2
The gray is lighter
Now
And there is more
The movie’s almost over
And I’d like to think
Maybe I could sleep at last
And
For a while
I don’t know
I guess I could let you know
Though you have troubles
Of your own
Of course
I know
C L Couch
Photo by Matias Luge on Unsplash
A Quiet and Unquiet Day
(rest and restive?)
Have an especially good
Day
You need one
And you deserve one
You’ve been working hard
And putting up with
Things
You need some rest from everything
That presses
Lift those burdens
For a while
Recline your mind
Loosen the strings we say
We have
Inside our hearts
Or over them
As if the organ were a base
For a lute
A frame
For a harp
Drink something you know
You enjoy
As it courses through you
And then eat something
Pleasant
Slightly indulging
Though without doubt
For nourishment
As an objective
And now companionships
Do you want any
Or is it quiet
In the day
That you prefer
That
Maybe you’ve been craving
Without knowing
‘Til you have it
For some hours
If so
Then treat yourself after
The surprise
Reading something
Writing something
Or have a day
With nothing
For a stimulus
Beyond
Mere ingestion
While you ruminate
Or not
On what’s at hand
It could be taking stock
Only if you wish
Or must
Have a need
As in counting inventory
Gauging quality
Of what is stored
By its effect
On mind or heart
Or overall condition of
Everything internal
And to an extent
External
As in
Image and perception
Whom we cast
To the world
And who we want
To play for
Real
What is real
Take a day to figure out
Think on good things
On what among them you might have
On what you need
You might already have
For another surprise
Or what you need
That’s calling
Through its absence
So maybe take the day
And let it have its
Serious parts as well
And sorry
Wake up a little after resting
Think of something
Think on good things
What you have
As well as what is good
You need
And should have
And can get
Keeping in spirit
And in mind
That love does not exist in isolation
That there is good love to keep close
And problematic love
You might need
Well
Frankly
To cut off
To free yourself
Free someone else
Liberty
At last
Which is the truth
As well as
The law of liberty
And love
And so have the day
Both
Restful
And momentous
If you will
And if God listens
When you say
Hear me
I send my words with
Thoughts
The kind that
Heaven-go
C L Couch
(3.3.98)
Photo by Sneha Chandrashekar on Unsplash
troubadour
the scribe would write
holy
the troubadour
should
sing
everything
and should they be the same
they never were
so who wrote the epics
in between
that sometimes sound like holy wit
for
wisdom
and for warning
and come across for pleasure
in
the meeting place
long house
or
fires outside
in each season
when
and where
words shall save
for
entertainment
frankly
plus in telling
or implying
our own gospel
and will you come again
tomorrow
I must be on the way
to the next
place
where is the next place
stay for one more night so
we may sadly
tell you
the next morning
you are kind
for an audience
I shall stay
and gladly so
and so
the word got out through these
the news
rumors of news
what
to be ready for
at home
because of what’s developing
out there
and then
a song with verse
that has no meaning
and then
a song with verse
that has
a good night
for all our sakes
into
our heaven
hope for heaven
wills
tomorrow
by your leave
and mine
and God’s own
c l couch
photo by zibik on Unsplash
Gall
Oh
I feel bitter
And there is no sense in it
Because
There is no end
But more
And gall
Who wants
To drink that
Anyway
Drink fit for a cross
It seems
And only when a savior
Suffers there
Who can’t be receiving
Anything approvable
Anything
With savor
Lest
It’s awful
And I can’t
Go that far
You know I can’t
Because there’s only one
Who could
And that is done
And there is
Triumph now
And it’s not
The bitter kind
But is for friendship
From a god
To the rest of us
Done
For companionship
In fact
So heaven won’t be lonely
Anymore
And so where is gall
It isn’t mine
Even though the world
Tries to recreate
The vintage
From blood violently spilled
And from
More corruption
And yet
It stands there
Wasted
On the ground
No need for the symbol
Except to be reminded
(that can be done
with two dimensions
only)
Anymore
C L Couch
Photo by James Garman on Unsplash
Brave Peace
It’s Friday
I don’t want
To talk about the war
Ain’t gonna study war no more
Especially
The war inside
That causes all the troubles
On
The outside
We let the inside
Get away
With so much
Nonsense that is
Nonsense
That gets
To destroy so much
That we were counting on
The way
We count on
Things
Such as air
And sometimes
Heaven help us
Boredom
Why do we let
Invisible
Get away with so much
To say
There’s a war on
And it means so much
Because
A life is gone
And then another
In a heartbeat
Save there is
No more
A heartbeat
And everything’s in pieces
Gruesome pieces
(if you are not
there
but have read All Quiet
on the Western
Front then
you know something)
And also
Walls
Machine parts
That we counted on
Like air
And I guess
That is the thing
There’s no more breathing
Or there’s
Barely breathing
While the world after
Might remain
Quiet
For a half an hour
Or so
And then resume
A way to war
(to study war)
Or maybe
With diplomacy
Or blooded on
The face
eventuality
A way
To rebuild
After war
Though too often
Then
To knock it down
Again
As if hell’s game
Should never end
Except
In final judgment
When the children
(of all ages)
Of beatitude
Shall own
Peace-making again
Outside
The sermon
For the fact
Of sight and sound
Of war
And having chosen
Anyway
The one
Not taken
As the narrow way
And shall there be an echo
For an echo
Inside heaven
And on
New Earth
I don’t know
Here’s one
I note
And now another
To be counting
Or
Not counting
Might be overwhelming
All the believing gates
Regardless
C L Couch
Photo by Shamoil on Unsplash
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