seasoning scene-setting dark gray passed over by the wind that pushes through some texture in the sky the merest hint of blue between uncertain banks of white before the short day leans a near western horizon closer until the solstice fires might invoke or simply ask for change c l couch photo by Vadim Sadovski on Unsplash
simpler green day near
solstice calls the summer start
then shorter green days
orange autumn day
equinox incites the fire
by red longer night
winter silver blue
longer days the promise bear
by solstice we met
spring the ground awake
spring equinox pale-promised
pastel growth begins
c l couch
photo by Bozhin Karaivanov on Unsplash
first full days
the day
twenty-four
and slightly less the light
from
day before
new season in transition
to the next
already
as our placement of the calendar
has set
and should we move
the season’s
markings as was done
still is
else-where
or when
so that midsummer
say
is the middle of the summer
and
so around
coda
the wars
certainly are
the vastly greater issue
with
especially cessation
come to mind
and
maybe
to the table
and there’s the warming of the Earth
that’s down to us
regardless
how we count
better to have seasons
in
whatever way
that are
redemptive by our ownership
cooler
how about all and
everyone
by our strategies
and practices
c l couch
from the solstice
photo by Simon Berger on Unsplash
2 haiku about the seasons
the spring the winter
autumn summer seasons are
negotiated
green brown warm silver
blue cold red orange umber
cool yellow gold hot
c l couch
photo by Joshua Fuller on Unsplash
3 poems about things turning such as certain times of year
hurry up
hurry up
let’s get me out of here
not
to the grave
despite my age that is closing in
on the classic threescore
and ten
but more peace
as I keep asking
which means I’ll need the wherewithal
to get there
which I think means
money
and assistance
more assistance in the way
of people
who are stronger than my heart-disease-ridden
body
can manage anymore
though
I’ve always needed help to move
who doesn’t
though now the urgency
is different
I believe
one more place this time
perhaps
one last place
in which to live
and
you know
hope
to live
please
which goes for a plea
I guess
I mean beyond the wordplay
in that we plea
yet
add a couple letters for more courtesy
with which
to ask
plea
as in deal
as in crime
plea
as in asking because it’s not only desired
but also it is urgent
what we want
or need
or offer in an intercessory
way
a petition
as it were from you
through me
and not that that should make so much
a difference that it’s me
but asking
anyway
on your behalf
of God
or the spirits of the world behind
under
perhaps
even
to add in some miracle
by magic
which isn’t doctrinal
I suppose
but how close the miracle and magic
maybe in the timing
at least
as in
was the miracle the parting of the sea
since by those who
know
purportedly
not an unusual occasion
though parting in the time
to save
the Israelites
and even close upon the enemy
with hurried wheels
following
with many deadly points from spears
and arrows
and yet
whatever passed for armor could not save
but they were
saved
the refugees
those who would become the desert-dwellers
as if to earn the promise of
new land
but
to bring it forward
there are needs
there are miracles
and
(arguably)
of magic
and I wish
not that it’s a lamp
inside a cave
I pray
(more earnestly)
that
what you need you have
possession
or direction
or some healing
as only the one who provides
may provide
knowing
what and how to time
miracle
magic
and everything
my friend
it’s time
another ashy day
goodness
we’ve had a few
days
right
for Lent
I guess
we can wear these days
upon our foreheads
should we wish
late is wan
but shows some color
after all
light gold
a kind of uneasy glaze upon
it all
not that the day is
bad
that’s up to us
and it isn’t hard to look at
but I think the day should have more green
and I’d think you would
too
not only for the sake of light
but the beginning of
you know
that verdant time
note
hurry up
please
it’s time
(titular frame based on a repeating part of “The Wasteland” by T. S. Eliot)
Shantih
photo by Anton Luk on Unsplash
Long Earth
Thinking
About day and night
In the spring surprise of
Noting
Blue light persisting
Layered
And
Dissolving in to dark
And yet the longer time
As Earth considers turning
Back
Leaning to favor
Days of planting in the northern
Half
While the southern part
Has winter
A cycle of
Waking
Hibernation
Still for a billion years
Two billions or so
Until a final pressing
To go away
To land upon another world
With the surprise
Discovery
Of its own planetary cycles
And its seasons become
Our own
C L Couch
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Outlook
It’s
Sun
And yellow on brown
For trees
While the sky is an ashy blue behind
I know it’s Lent
And maybe this is a somber
Spring day
Maybe a calling to
Remember this is what happens
After
Winter
After March’s lion
March’s lamb
Straightforward observations
With ingredients of
Folklore
Added
Even to the speaking of the sun
The day
To us
Unusual
After all
Like a little revolution
A little anthropomorphizing
Is a good thing
Which we’re gonna do
Anyway
Thinking of a sun that smiles
Looking for
The face
In the moon
Tonight
C L Couch
“I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing . . .”—Thomas Jefferson
Photo by JOSHUA COLEMAN on Unsplash
lyrics on a day that’s cold and cold at least in the MidAtlantic
Suburban Wait
Winter light’s
Too bright
For cleaning deeply
Finally
Dispiriting
The leaning light
Shows everything we’ll never get
To or
Even want
To get around to
Those dust-bunnies shall
Keep their warrens
After all
While we wait
For the easy lighting
To clean by
Which
Will happen
You know
Spring
Roll
Roll in the hay
Roll out the barrel
Mister
Yankovic
Roll on home
Now
There might be rolls
For dinner
Rolled oats
Though I don’t know what
These are
Roll the dice
Roll to win
Field Work
God
You love us
Anyway
Which is remarkable
Not inexcusably
But
Unconditionally
Which splices doctrine
Maybe
But you can handle that
And so
Should we
The field of the Lord is vast
There are no mines
No
Not ever
Only living things
Mythic plants
That spring back as we pass over
Them
So that everyone may have
The chance
To pilgrim
Toward
What’s next
Possessive Tense
The dogs of God
The cats
The bunnies
Too
The aardvarks
And the platypus too silly
Some
Might think
The insects
Too
There might be reasons
For mosquitoes
What is tall
What is
Low
What is brief
What has long life
On Earth
The Earth is the Lord’s
Too
A place on which to keep
The complex
Living things
And
Well
Among these
Us
Use Words
(as you are able)
I love you
Honestly
I know
(since I’m in me)
You love me
I think I know
Not quite as
Whose woods are these
I know
(not with the same divine
assurance
frankly)
So you might have to say
From time to time
Though if you
Always do
(flawed occasions notwithstanding)
Then
Maybe not so much to say
But
Sorry
Still
To say
C L Couch
“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” Robert Frost (cited)
Photo by Kevin Cress on Unsplash
Seasons’ Reasonings
(or is it reason’s seasonings)
What do I really want
To say today
And shall I break
From
My agenda
Even of pressing needs
For aren’t they all
Seeming-
Exigent
I want
To say
Simple and plain
I guess
As folk
As others
Say
And it’s
God loves you
And
While God loves you
In
The strength and practicality
Of love
Without the pink and lace
So much
Until it’s time
For these
In my land
After the groundhog wakes
And the better President
Is born
And then
Another tussle for
Too many
With
In fact
Pink isolation
Like
Too-often
Christmas green
While all of it
We know
As blue
(though
yes
Elvis’s Christmases
are blue)
Until and in between
These times
That is
Most of the time
And
Yes
And even then
(the betweens of in-betweens)
God loves you
God before us
God behind
Us
And God beneath
With God above
And also
On
Our way is
God beside us
And is there more to say
With hope of heaven
Interesting
But unknown
‘Til it should be happening
And
It hasn’t happened
Though love has occurred
And on all sides
Of time
And will
Exists
And does go with us
Inside
Outside
Everywhere
There’s where
And love
You know
The reason for creation
For creating anything
We know
C L Couch
(Saint Patrick’s Breastplate is cited; sorry, the pun of the title and subtitle, I imagine, only works in English)
Photo by Andy Holmes on Unsplash
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