well, there are two poems here, the first I wrote on how I was (am) inside, the second as an extension, prompt, based on the photograph—so it’s a little journey through words and image and more words and hopefully acceptable to you
ergo sum
what freedom do we have
I want it
and a little more
which
is why I drive to no places in particular
but
to take in the view
pretend it’s clearer air
and always new
discovery
exploring
better than an armchair
if only really
not
so much
(clc)
photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash
“Morning Hikes”
[Morning Hikes
to quote the photographer]
honestly
I’m wondering
if
one is holding back the other
preventing straying
yet
also perhaps initiative
the insight of one’s own
to move
to fine
more
than what it tacit
agreed upon
then
is
someone holding back another
or is the first one affirming
that
the other comes along
and this hand-
holding
is the gentlest of cues
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a few poems you know for Monday
scribbling
I guess
a scribble has a word
or
some words to distinguish from
a doodle
though doodle
I imagine could have
words
as well
say
the names of crushes by a child
an adolescent
since
we don’t have crushes
when we’re older
do
we
and we do
which might cause the child
the adolescent
to
cringe
that folk with wrinkles could let love
inside the creases
the war asleep
I slept poorly
which
is the syle anymore
and
I dn’t know what’s happened
in the mean time
as in
the wars
the ones we know
the ones we guess at
with
the ones we miss entirely
for all the destruction
caused
nonetheless
the war between people
maybe
men and women
as
Thurber has penned
or
inside oneself to start the war
or stop
then
these might be
all
the Monday wars
so that
I’ll
learn the real news
later on
a friendly wish is most of all
during or after
and so
it’s Monday
with all the lack of expectation
come
with Monday
and
I hope more than this
much more
that this has been and is
a really
good
day for you
since
you need it
after all
for all you’re going through
that
takes its toll of energy and might go so far
to dull the brightness of
the spirit
or things are not that bad
but
you tire anyway
and need
recharging
which
is pretty normal
or you’re well already
and
a wish is
simply added to the larger quantity
of excellence
so
don’t let me talk you into anything
but have the doo
day
soon or now
or keep it going
c l couch
photo by Dmytro Koplyk on Unsplash
A pileated woodpecker pauses mid-motion, head tilted as if listening for movement beneath the bark.
who tells the story, then?—perhaps a single nature or the other
a journey through haiku
[with annotations that are not unwinsome-less]
temperature speaks
you’ve had your cool days a while
time for something else
[told hot days are coming, are here]
something else there was
object before subject parsed
important thing gone
[thought of it last night]
and there was a launch
another to the station
they breathe and eat now
[ISS supply mission flight]
think we’ll find green cheese
and evidence of settlers
who no doubt were Swiss
[sorry to the French as well as the Stilton-bearers; take it up with Diana stories, I suppose; but it is the Swiss who make the cheese, not green, nonetheless with craters]
a glass of white wine
sometime after 5 or so
my flat heart would skip
[if you like red then write red or say it when you read it; part of you will do that, anyway]
I love you and more
scenes after each other then
hope for a real act
[discussion in a scene in a movie]
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photo by Huỳnh Chương on Unsplash
2 poems about angels
angels at the apocalypse
they all be working
I imagine
though I guess there could be some
held in reserve
I don’t know if our angels will have time for us
but then
I don’t know how many there are
even
if a third fell
how do we count these
and I doubt on
the head of a pin
Jesus said
legions
but he was audience-aware
maybe we’ll have our guardians on
assignment
still
with enough to fill the final battlefield
archangels
leading
taking care of their eldritch own
and all good beings might
weep
in
conquest
and by victory
ourfield
the wings are never long enough
not wide enough
not
wild enough
you’ll note
that birds
except the hummingbird phenomenon
tend toward having
twice
with length of wings as of
their bodies and how
much
more majestic
fearful
wings proportional unfolding from the centers
of the angels
we rarely indicate their power
or
the awe they should invoke
if
a fraction of the might of
their maker
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photo by Marek Studzinski on Unsplash
“Angels in the Outfield,” a story by Richard Conlin, which began a film franchise
haiku for relentless spring
the war goes on and
spring arrives the north of Earth
over all that’s gone
there’s green without doubt
spring has subsumed winter time
spring world for a while
USA times change
seasons over politics
is only green hope
pink and white the gift
Japan gave us cherry trees
Tidal Basin spring
climate change is heat
eighty degrees moderate
missing cool spring
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[well, I wrote some haiku for spring; I should have selected one poem to post, but the theme of now it’s relentless spring rather got to me; as such, altogether there’s a good deal of repetition; yet I hope you find these appreciable and hopefully enjoyable]
[giving USA three syllables by the way we pronounce it]
[it probably doesn’t matter, but I mean the verb of “moderate”]
photo by Arno Smit on Unsplash
two poems, rather confessional (maybe more in the classic sense of apology as an explanation or defense or maybe I’m expressing sorrow, too, maybe all around)
can’t
I can’t get what I want
can’t
get no satisfaction
there’s a song by the Beatles
too
that when they sing and in the video they’re always
running and
I know the song but can’t remember it
just now
running where
and do we know watching them
and
do they know if only in character
or is it only the running
for
entertainment all that
matters
pacific
not going to church again
I ruined it by
not
sleeping and I don’t know how much trying
to lie down and forced back up by
sickness from the place
and
well
from
me
and so I feed my doubts and maybe God
is with me
on my side with having doubts
while
still affirming
still
loving me and maybe welcoming
my soul
I mean
I’ll go to church
I’ll
simply do it in the homey way
literal as I have been
going since mornings have been hard
with insomnia from
the illnesses
and
by in these I mean mistreatments
the probably of what I want
on Earth
when more often I’d just as
soon not wanting anything but here I am
and human
by
which wanting is fine
is good
as long we don’t twist or untwist the ways we think
when thinking low
is
the way to get what’s wanted
created desire
after all
and given with all pleasures
and
good
dreams even good wishes
in
there somehow as we
have been made
and
are loved throughout
ambition
goals
humor
sex
humorous
sex
they’re all fine in their created state
approved and to have and share
express and own
well
co-own really
that’s the best
now
who am I and what I want that’s
all right because maybe
I can have
it
as you should have yours
the co-created things you have and
also desire to
go after
well
and I don’t know for you but
I am older and rather
classically
sick
and tired
and cannot do so much and so
must compromise
will
and will
you know
and so
well
I will
I know I want some peace
sometimes I think
more than
love
though peace is a form of love
when hale
not
to bother
or be bothered
is what I have been
thinking
which is not a bid for isolation as much
as a wish for style
and
how to greet and interact
with
others
even in prayer
as God
might have it
might
take me
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(“A Hard Day’s Night” and I attended church on line)
photo by Vincent Y @USA on Unsplash
Crystal Cove State Park, California, USA
applying what is read to the realities outside
the poem appeals
to hope
to strive
to find
to yield
we should be so lucky as to call a final voyage
and then at the dock find
the ready ship
thinking “Ulysses” by Tennyson
Frodo departs
the wound never healed
did it
Weathertop
nice name for tn outlook more than
a small battle
in
the night when all we hoped for
in our travel was
food cooked in our fire
and rest
after
but they came
and not
for the sullen hero on our side
would
have prevailed and did
so far as to lave a wound
that
has not healed not in the land behind
these shores
and so after
all the travail even of
victory
it must be time to go for now not qualifying
anymore
if
ever was to stay
to live through future parties
beneath the large tree
now
a park
as all might grow anew after the war
and yet
departure for
the ones who bore the most
it seems
with
promise of a haven
behind blurred lines
as
surf and land compete
even for the sure place behind of
healing
and
other blessings
near the conclusion of The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
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photo by Ray T on Unsplash
for seasoning 2 poems for spicing
by c l couch
there was the ambulance across the street
watch over my neighbor now
who has been taken
blinking
somewhere else
and
must be to greater care
and
I could wish we knew each other now
from before
rather than indifference
irritated
through the ceiling and the walls
commencementation
rejoice
O young
in thy youth
and maybe
I don’t cite but leave
the song
the verse about the law of liberty
to consider
singing
standing
before owning
from what imprisons all
that
could turn
begin
the change
toward freedom as I’m wondering
through sacrifice
and
service
the youth could know
our world
your
inheritance and judge us
yet
expend the greater energy
fixing
up the Earth our habitat
for walls of wood
or
stone and planning rooms whose metal
rusts
and better yet
I have to say
the morals that sustain
us
yes
those
and maybe you’ll stop reading if
you got this far
but love must
say
and recommend
the way for
you
the last of us by which to move
to have our being
and live
(referencing an anthem that cites James; the book of actions of the Apostles)
photo by Nick Nice on Unsplash
playing favorites
in the ninth chapter
my favorite Bible story
when the parent
comes to Jesus
for
the child who needs healing
who is thrown by fits
into fire
such an extreme for healing to
which Jesus
says
believe and the child be renewed
to
which the parents
must reply
I believe
and help my unbelief
the formula presented
yet
before Jesus especially
even to doubt
but must
be honest
and the response from Jesus is
that
the child is healed
not that epileptics must be healed
though sick children
from whatever
reason
should be
and for all we are and all we aren’t
we have to open all our hopes
and fears
before the Lord
versing
my second favorite
is a cluster of
verses
from the Psalms about a third through
the verses about
creating a clean hearts
a heart that
is in me
by God
by God
in fact
to renew
as has been made
create in me a clean heart
O God
and renew a right spirit with me
and
cast me not away from they presence
and take not
thy holy spirit
from
me
again
an honest plea
for healing of the self
I guess
even to be close ‘mid all the snares
outside the circle
working in
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(for the series, from Mark 9 and Psalm 51)
photo by David Trinks on Unsplash
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