the right hand doesn’t know
(sometimes left people have it right)
God
I haven’t mentioned you
though I know
you’re there
we are in dialogue
it seems
I hope it is an angel
who negotiates
like the bush that burned
and spoke
and the angel who held
Abram’s hand
and changed him
in the harshest lesson of
obedience
and mercy
and not the voice of one
erstwhile
who cackles now
so subtly
so quiet-like
to say
do this
do that
my master calls
and through it
we will ruin everything
‘til everything become
inferno
and subservience
without the pleasure
from a lord
who gives none
which is a lot
to parse
while deciding
to go right
or to go left
listening to one
the angelic
and other one
the sinister
like the shoulders
in cartoons
only the stakes
though small
could become a trend
of listening
to one leaning
or the other
I might have let the demon in
so long ago
and while want the angel-voice
alone
have struggled ‘tween the two
two wills represented
and how long
‘til we know better
easily
domestically
or cosmically
while the stakes are only
turning right
or left
the angelic
or the sinister
which makes a left hand
of theology
and will
to work
and to believe
and within these
grace
to have it right
(or left)
and so be saved
c l couch
photo by Nguyen Minh on Unsplash
I Do Confess ’t
God
I feel fat
Like the fat
That Gertrude
Said of Hamlet
Meaning
Tired
Or unprepared
Or
You know
Fat
I think
You’re with me
On the inside
And guide me
From there
The presence
Of your
Spirit
Prompting
Poking
Whatever motion
Works
And I
Recalcitrant
(and fat)
Do not get it
Push back
With my own will
‘Til near
Destruction
Sometimes
And
Sometimes
Even after
You’re with me
When I’m
Slow
And wrong
Through the thickness
Of my flesh
That hides
Everything I want
To hide
Awareness of the harm
I cause
In all directions
To all souls
And do I do
So much
Or
Take too much credit
With vanity
Somehow
In deprivation
When
I know
You can ameliorate
Reach out
In dreams
Or more directly
Touching the vibrations
Of heart-wisdom
In the hurt
And maybe
For the moment
Lost
C L Couch
QUEEN He’s fat and scant of breath.— Hamlet 5.2.313
Photo by cal gao on Unsplash
Making a Manifesto
I’ve been unfaithful
It’s too easy
To look the other way
Or ignore you altogether
With an attitude
And yet
Don’t I say thank you
When the good things happen
And help me
When things are awry
And aren’t you there
And don’t I know that
So maybe
It’s not so bad
I think of you quite often
I think about creation
In a treatise-sort of way
You are more
Than a proposition
An idea
Some kind of certifying
From an argument
Within a forum
You are you
The best
And one who made the best
Even the better parts
In me
And anyone
My friend
Or enemy
Maybe that’s the problem
Too many things being
Inimical
And I have to find my own way
Through
At least inside my head
And for my heart’s vibrations
Reason
And good feeling
I’m afraid both must be
Pursued
And satisfied
And I guess I’d say this
For the inner life
That is then realized
In attitude
Behavior
Anything by way of profession
Of anyone
Still
I could think of you more often
And believe
With a readiness
That is both abstract
And material
Belief and action
In the world
So forgive me
Please
I ask for the thousandth time
Today
(well, maybe a few days)
Help me with my system
Help me
In my actions
Help me to help
For I am not good
In any other way
But to be listening
And ready
Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash
I’ll be gone for a few days. Depending on issues regarding connectivity (good issues, problematic), I might not be here, per se, in that time. If not, then I should be back soon. Thank you. Be good. Be safe.
—Christopher
(x = space)
x
x
having been incarnated
x
oh
God
we say
you’re born
you’ve slipped inside
the pacing
of the world
flesh cells
adapting
to our measure
to our growth
and our decay
three score and ten
how does it
feel
x
I guess you knew
what this was
and is the human part
surprised
by mortal beats
the skipping
of the heart
outside
the rhythm
as we say
of the spheres
x
and are you well
will you
catch cold
or get mumps
have influenza
as our children must
from time to time
it seems
x
and you
will endure
(you must)
though it won’t be
so comfortable
with chicken pox
x
and then
grown-up
to feel
all that we feel
and think inside the vacuum
the shell
of thoughts
inhabiting the skull
and not much further on
nothing like
the mindset
you must know
inside eternity
and Godhead
x
and there are feelings
in the chest
desire
for the nation
yes
and only
for your own
because you are
humanly
entitled
x
yet what shall you have
when your body
it turns out
is for a cause
even
perhaps part of a plan
to cheat mortality
like the stratagems
of Pharisees
or statues of
self-styled kings
or emperors
x
Rome and Judea
and there is Parthia
and Britain
way-off China
and there’s India
and there are first people
everywhere
who belong
where they have moved
and stopped
and finally
no place to move
with what they have
for moving
x
all the people
of the Earth
post-Alexander
and never having known
Alexandrian expansion
or Roman roads
connecting
a known world
x
yet
are you here
for these
everywhere
which means
you might be here for us
here and now
x
I suppose
the other two
of you
will out
while you alone
are limited
while you must live here
with only us
for easy company
and reaching out
like us
often alone
sometimes in groups
though only through the shell
as we must beseech
mortally
unto the Lord
with questions
asking of a will
we do not understand
yet we believe
is there
x
how frustrating to be human
welcome here
we wish you well
we really do
because should we encounter you
there are stories
about something special
from you
something even
we don’t know
rescuing
about you
even in the flesh
x
c l couch
x
x
photo by BoliviaInteligente on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
God Help Us
x
God help us
Everyone
And God will
We only have to ask
And sometimes
Not that much
We call it grace
And miracle
Held and dispensed
By no one
But the Lord
x
So light a candle
Safely
Or do not
Really nothing is required
No tired rite
Or something new
For invocation
And our supplication
x
There is no order
Memorized
Say help into air
Or at the ground
Or leave it to the mind
A receptable
For meeting
x
God is here
God is there
God waits
On our interest
And our need
x
Ask
Receive
Try not
To fret the timing
There’s an answer
Every time
That serves
That aids
That loves
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Christophe Maertens on Unsplash
x
corn was a gift
you know
for those who landed
from those already here
x
maybe we could greet each wave
from ships
at borders
in this way
x
a generation
and a kind
welcoming the other to new worlds
as our own
x
(x = space)
x
x
Talking and Walking
x
Now talk to God
At last
Waiting
With all respect
Withholding judgment
‘Til we’ve had a word
x
This is right
And this is wrong
And I guess
I knew that
Though not always
The particulars
x
Who can see
All consequences
x
And I have other questions
That I mean
Less rhetorical
x
How do I do it all
How do I bring it home
Really
How do I live free will
And obey things
All together
x
How do I think
And love
How do I formulate
A plan for life
Then wait for its
Dissolution
x
How do I say
This is good
And this is not
When complex understanding
Mixes everything
x
How do I live
In this old world
The human part
That has such hate
And hides its greed
Inside an
Annihilative plan
That is at work
So far from me
With those who have
Stolen the riches
Of the planet
And seek to dupe
All malleable
And thinking people
x
Where is the love
Inside the hate
And how do I live
With both
x
That is
How do I live with who I am
Who I was made
Like everyone
To be
And to be
Well
Me
x
How I live
Lord
I do not know
Too many exits
Or rest stops on the way
They are inviting
Too many paths
It seems
Narrow and wide
And in-between
x
Which way
x
The world is too complex
For the simplicity of love
And faith
Maybe of hope
As well
x
I clang my cymbal
Except I don’t
I live in quiet
Desperation
Sometimes
With the age
Also frustration
Remaking tiny parts
Of my world
To say
That’s better
There is hope for the rest
x
And is there
x
The world made by you
We are in your image
To look like
Dare I ask
To act like you
x
Are our actions
Part of our likeness
In your image
x
We make things
I guess
We destroy them
Too
And you have ordered things
Destroyed
x
Nothing lasts that we make
And is it practice
Then
As in
This all being a rehearsal
For the real show
That is
The real experience
To come
x
I should add question marks
For grammar
Though there are so many
Plus implied
And beyond me
And I think you know
Where are the pauses
Where I do take a breath
Before the next
Thing
That I wonder
You are patient
Except when you’re impatient
x
Well
Maybe love is complex
Too
Or maybe its simplicity
Weaves through the complex
Showing a tapestry
In wisdom
Or in time
Your time
For all to know
x
Who knows
While we live
And wait on Earth
What secrets
You might keep
Or is there a real truth
That you keep none
x
Love and faith and hope
There are precedents
And these might be lasting
One link into another
Through the ages
And tomorrow
And in next moments
After this
Amen
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
prayer in a circle
x
prayer in a circle
at the table
or
while standing
anywhere
x
it’s beautiful
attaching words
to statements
supplications
even
questions
with our doubts
x
the prayer is over
we are stronger
knowing
something to affirm
and in a kind
of pledge
to do the next thing
with spiritual
aplomb
and just plain niceness
(yep)
to each other
as the circle visually
fades
to purpose
x
c l couch
x
x
photo by Igor Surkov on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Grow Us
x
Will you grow us
God
Give us the chance
Even with tense peace
Our contribution
To the means
x
On an Earth
That has its way
But
We push against
For what we think
Advances us
x
Maybe with some relenting
Rather
Enjoy the Earth
As is
The wisdom
In the higher places
Thin air to breathe
For penance
x
The living in the valleys
Towns and farms
For habitation
And for food
That daily bread
We talk
About
x
Also forgiving
Tempered in forgiven
x
So that
As is
As defined
Ain’t bad
Especially when
We’ve changed so much
x
We could stand
(like plants)
To remember
Even renew
With
Re-expression
The peace in what was made
And is
And still is
The promise of return
From no investment
Save faith and some respect
For having
All this wonder
Bestowed
x
Plant us
As in Eden
And water us
For life
Not to keep us
Stuck
But to grow us
Free
Out into the world
Anthropocene
For now
Maybe better in alliance
With the one who planted
First
And still
Tills with real peace
In
Genesis dynamic
x
Amen
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Good Time, I Hope
x
God
May I talk
With you
x
My health might be improving
Just a little
By just a little
And I thank you
In part because
I want to make a lot
Out of a little
x
I want to ask your pardon
For my sins
Though really
I want to assume
Upon a doctrine
Not to have to talk them out
Remember things
With you
x
Or again assume
You know them
Anyway
And will excuse me
On my asking
Even broadly
x
Clearly
By tone
I think I’m wrong in that
x
But for your pardon
Even with my fractured approach
I thank you
And I love you
Have I mentioned that
x
I feel confused
About what’s next
x
I mean
I know there’s heaven
Though I don’t know
Heaven
But honestly I mean now
The now that I know
As best I know
And what to do
I don’t mean tired questions
Lived for decades
Without answers
I could grasp
x
I mean today
And for a little direction
Into tomorrow
x
Could you help me out
If I’m feeling better
With a little better-ness
What shall I do
x
Keep healing
I suppose
Try to bear
And wear
Virtue a little closer
Then to
Try to be positive
And send positive
All the while
x
That is
Maybe for a change
Keep doing this
x
Now
It seems
I hope
I hope I found a little something
This time
That had been piecemeal
Over time
And now should be
Seamed together
For a broader cloth
You might accept
For a flag
Or coverlet
Or on the table
Where we gather
To remember
And negotiate
Earth
Or
Eternity
x
You’ve been listening
Over years
You have been listening
I’m thankful
x
Even in pain
Your presence
For my life
Since when there’s void
There is too much
To bear
x
Well
Thank you
Lord
I’ll keep working
As it is
And feeling
Of your presence
More than doctrine
In my life
x
C L Couch
x
x
This is personal
And cosmic
It’s for you
All verse is for you
Food
For ingesting
Water
For the thirst
You maybe did not know
You had to have
Me
Too
All to have
In being
x
Photo by Immo Wegmann on Unsplash
x
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