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service

obeisance

obeisance

and my back hurts
and
the pillow doesn’t work
as if
it should

no anodyne
then
except for faith
and to endure
not
back pain so much as the stressing
of the heart
to do
better in all pain
still
to love
and even to obey

and what do you want
Lord
if not for me to love
and
serve
you
best I may
and the people whom you made
as well

and I am one
and
so get some love as well
which is
enforced by law

you know
those great commandments

and my back still hurts
and
yours might
too
or something like

c l couch

Matthew 22:36-40
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

photo by Arjan Stalpers on Unsplash

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second Christmas

second Christmas

[The] master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

and I’m not sure how
all this fits
for what have we been in charge of
but
ourselves
so how by degree then for
eternity

for which we answer only for own

and yet by gift
by
talent given
as
well as our spirits

we might use to serve
and thus
there
is accountability
for
how much done by how much
invested

or lost what we have to someone else
which sounds
harsh
and unloving

and
despite how we might treat each other and
ourselves
we want an easy
judgment after
as
we think we are assured
with
the promise of an advocate

and yet
certain things are demanded
and
we will be forgiven though the call
is there
to keep using what we
have
that by the Lord
was gifted and so
assigned

and not
to do this for a show
but
in the quiet like
Saint Nicholas

as man or woman
one
or more
share
the gold of who we are and what
we have

not
to amaze but one
perhaps or
few and then to accept
the source of amazing that
is
someone else

who
gave us how much and to how many give
by truth and
love
employing

c l couch

Matthew 25:23, part of a parable (NIV, mostly)

photo by Liviu Florescu on Unsplash

0

pink planet

so Fathers Day (USA) is this Sunday (June 21) when I thought it was last Sunday; I wrote something for Juneteenth last Friday and don’t remember if I was in a fog remembering that date as well; I often think I should write and post before the day and rarely do that; well, by mistake or intention, there are two poems before the days for reading before or on each day

June 14 was indeed Flag Day in the USA, and it was Mitzi’s birthday



pink planet

not enough to be alive
sorry
but it isn’t

there must be more
there must be someone to
assist because
we’re made
to help

call the subject Eve
or a friend or a stranger
who
were the wives of Cain

and
so to serve
not unhealthy or a victim
for
in either then
we are enough

but once life is secure if not perfection
then
we must have something else
something more
even
beyond tending and
keeping

rather
the human to serve

and should the presence of the Lord
suffice and
for an anchorite or mystic
but
the rest are made this way by
God

to be
also to serve

more than either one
alone as if on or in
a world
of
one
and we’re not crafted in that fashion

we know because
I look at horizons typically
and before the edge is reached
to
take in

there’s you

c l couch



photo by BoliviaInteligente on Unsplash
there could be inhabitants though it’s yet hot from formation

0

unbelieving Sunday best


unbelieving Sunday best

I
think I should go
I have some coffee
to ready me
chemically
and maybe throw enough together
       there is hot water
       with some handsoap
       nearby
       and clothes
       that should pass muster
       one
       more time
and so acceptably for an hour or so
then
back to exile
and the loneliness
but have had the hour
for faith and companionship
while keep
the faith
let go of the rest
as illusion
I
belong

enough to hope to find
other
than I the healthy
perfect you
and
if unbeknownst
you could leave with me
then
who knows
sometimes I could enter
faith and love
not needing to believe in these
or
that they are for you
yet also
me

coda

sip the coffee then
ten minutes to get ready
ten to get there

eight
and eight

c l couch


photo by Creab ThePolymath on Unsplash 
Accra

0

church gone


church gone

as in I went
to church today
was
driving
and
drove in because I know
the church is pretty
and probably
for something
more

saw cars pull and people going
inside
so I went in
as well
hoping I could
I don’t know
make my way by gestures
forgotten
words
half-remembered

but
worship
anyway

the church was lit as much by
morning light
I think
a stark shadow rendering
in silhouette
the gigantic cross of
Jesus

I listened to the homily
about the special
day
today
of guardian angels

of angels
everywhere
I’m sure

we gently waved to each other
maybe
a legacy of the pandemic
and we smiled

I did not take part in
the Eucharist feast
since
it was twenty years or more since
confession

(I
don’t
think I would have been caught
out)

we left
I left
got in the car
resuming my drive
more
or less
to nowhere

into a world that matters
where
and when
(yesterday)
my
niece is
sick with cancer

c l couch


photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

0

The Explorers


The Explorers

Gagarin
And then Shepard
And all those who strived
To fly
And couldn’t
Because the experiments were
Unsuccessful and
Also
Something untoward happened

Loss of life so that others
Of us could go
Up there

Frank loss
Before Gagarin
After
Shepard

The cost like that paid
By
Icarus
To soar toward the sun
More than
The waxen body’s made

And yet
Crazy
And extraordinary
We go
And keep
On going

‘Til the satellites
Than the ships
Then
Space stations

Now
Moon
Once down though now
To live there

Now Mars
Inside our time
Our
Reach

It’s danger clearly
Also
Vision and new
Industry
Even good for business
(tin foil
and the microwave from the moon
race)

Though more the skill of hands
Pushed by minds
And hope
To take
Us there
And there and there

C L Couch


International Day of Human Space Flight

Photo by Planet Volumes on Unsplash

0

replacing a cell phone in 2025


replacing a cell phone in 2025
(to my family first and then the artifact)

hi

my replacement phone is on the way
I wasn’t sure if had paid the insurance on the phone I had
(now run over)
but I had

I couldn’t access my account at first because they wanted to send a verification text
to the phone that’s smashed and splintered and (thus) no longer working
but there was a phone number that I called
and I spoke with a real person
who asked me for a PIN I didn’t know at first
and I tried a couple numbers in my head
and one of these numbers worked
then it was confirmed for me (by the real person) that I had indeed paid the
       insurance
and so could get a new phone
for which I was given new numbers to try
phone number of the insurance company for the cell company
some sort of activation number
the number to call back once I had the replacement phone

on line again
I filed the claim
and now am assured (electronically) that a new phone is on the way
I might have considered an upgraded model
but received no enticement to that effect
and so
I’ll have the same kind and model of cell phone again

I’ll let you know when my mobile number should be working again

thanks

christopher


photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

0

To Serve with Love


To Serve with Love
(and what more)

I am very tired
Lord
And what do you have for me
Anyway
To try
And in the promises
Accomplish
Until the will is to move
Something else
Along
And there is a part
To play in
That
And with unknown others to complete

And so
Let my service for you
By
Your will
Maybe have
In part
Divine surprise

And if I suss well
Be
Satisfied
With the enormous will
I do
Or will not know

If in
A cloud
Of unknowing

C L Couch


Photo by Daoudi Aissa on Unsplash 

(The Cloud of Knowing is a medieval text of Christian mysticism.)

1

or does it hurt to ask

(x = space)

x

x

or does it hurt to ask

x

I wrote a lot this morning

was it worth it

all of it

should I ask

it was something

something to choose from

or I’ll have to write some more

something timely

and to share

we’ll see

I shouldn’t ask

but rather keep going

using up electrons

paying for energy

electrically

and bodily

electric bodily

x

c l couch

x

x

photo by taner ardalı on Unsplash

x

1

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