central Texas
one death we struggle
getting over
so
so how to comprehend a hundred
deaths and
more
storms and floods
destroying
like Time’s rolling sons in
the old hymn
taken
the material and
lively
debating over quick response
especially in a time of
cutting funding
for
all kinds of services
mostly
though a matter
now
of rescue
and the dreadful counting
receiving
aid
enduring then
to take
on
against all pushes of despair
considering
instead how to rebuild
“O God, Our Help in Ages Past” by Isaac Watts
Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the op’ning day.
(excerpt)
flooding town next over
(from mine in Pennsylvania)
Carlisle
one day
for storm floods
that were
severe
boating on streets
through town
no chance to pass through
radiating intersections
all the trees and parts of trees
that fell
and the delicate
dangerous dance
with
electricity
now nature helps to dry
in its irony of
having
delivered all the water first
the human focus next
on
taking
finding stock
and then rebuilding
c l couch
photo by Wes Warren on Unsplash
(haiku about the gathering storm)
bright day turning haze
storm wind blowing through tree leaves
as the sun leans west
c l couch
photo by rhett sorensen on Unsplash
“Unsurvivable”
Hurricane
Helene
Has killed through
Its own force
And
Maybe we’re complicit
For
The lack of means
We should
Provide
Even
Long before
I don’t know
And in the moment
Don’t care
Probably as much
As
I should
But I have family in its way
And maybe you do
Too
How about we pray
Then find
Additional ways to
Help
How about no matter
Who we are
Or where
We pray
Then find
Additional ways to
Help
C L Couch
Photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash
Debby
the storm has arrived
our part in it
the water runs
through branches of the trees
as if the branches
sponsor
and organize
a fountain from the sky
out front
it’s hard to see
through screens
and wide drops on the screens
their rivulets
translucent lines
that add
a close-in feeling
to a field
of fog
or mist
the falling rain
all from forever
flash-flooding
well
is flashing
as a warning
today
a kairos
to the organized
who have
a rush hour to maintain
it’s called areal
when the flood
be truly
local
when the streets become temptation
for drivers in cars
sure (drivers
that is)
it can’t really be
that deep
and really is
there are the parts
south and east
mostly
I guess
where like the ever-
rolling-stream washes crucial things away
like lives
and also stays
for days
I’m inside
dry on the second floor
I think
and with power for now
don’t think that I’m
not grateful
for I am
and hope you might be on the better
side of high and dry
as well
busy with bags
or something else or
wet
resting
from it all
I can only hope
straightforwardly
and
yes
and
pray
that you are safe
my dears
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photo by Ayla Verschueren on Unsplash
The Sea of Galilee
(that also goes by other names)
I’ve heard it preached:
a storm on Galilee
that must be something else
to see,
to hear,
to feel,
to smell,
to taste.
To wonder about
disciples
living fear
about the squall,
waking Jesus
for salvation,
Don’t you care?
Yes,
I care
that you are saved
(to paraphrase).
And then
Christ
commands the storm
on the water,
in the sky,
maybe at the shore
to be quiet.
And it’s quiet
over Galilee.
C L Couch
the preacher preached this morning about this sea, though anything I say above is of my own accord, especially anything doctrinally incorrect
Photo by Sylvain Brison on Unsplash
Sea of Galilee
the wanderer
(after losing everything)
winter arrives
there might be a storm
of ice and snow
in days
I’m not ready
but I’m never ready
not when I have so little
with which
to endure
I’d sell my soul
for food
and warmth
but God won’t let me
there is still the notion
of my soul
that is
assayed as worthless here
but might
be worth something
set on a scale
for heaven
so I shall
persist
until my spirit
has run dry
of blood
and will
and pray to God
that I’ll be taken easily
once warmed before I die
and only so much
before
having arrived
I’m washed in comfort
and apology
in paradise
c l couch
inspired by “The Wanderer,” a poem from a millennium ago at least, and by pressing issues now
photo by Noah Silliman on Unsplash
(x = space)
x
x
2 poems—a dragon and the presence of the Lord
x
x
A Dragon Calls
x
Sigh
A dragon calls
With a harness
For a human
And a land
To fly me to
Or bring me back
As I might choose
x
Thank you
Dragon
I’m sorry if I can’t
Pronounce your name
Though I think it time
To say yes
And fly away
x
A wizard might arrive
With a great horse
On the porch
Though that is the final story
For another day
x
x
In the Presence of the Lord
x
I’m thinking spiritual
The presence is
Well
Everywhere
I’d like to think
Imbued in everything
x
But after making
And our due to credit
The rock does not have you in it
Though the storm
However much we feel
The preternatural push
x
I might find you
In the molecule
Or on the comet
Inside Leviathan
Or in the upholstery
Of the seat
Next to mine
On the plane
x
But that’s because
You are in my own
And everyone’s
You make it
And your own it
And you lend it
x
And inside the nucleus
You are there
In each one
You are there
Not a pantheistic impulse
But to say here’s love
In each particle
Sub-particle
Don’t miss it
x
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Laith Abushaar on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
In Mexico and California
x
Hilary’s been visiting
With water
Wind
Pages of destruction
Formed by words
Of storm clouds
We run away who can
There is great sense
In this
Those who can or must
Weather
Well
We weather
Waiting for her to pass
Astarte
Or Ba’al
Some god in the storm
We do not sacrifice
On stones
Or inside fires
Elijah’s altar
Would be dowsed
By Hilary
And so prove the faith
When manifest
The truth
Is given
Wait
Maybe wait as those
Who wait upon the Lord
Except for the things
That are destroyed
And us
Left in the center
Trying to stay
On the mortal side
Of all this
How long until
The juggernaut
Leviathan
Has passed
Here
We could use water
Someday shall the satellites
Serve us
With such saving deliveries
To here
From there
Both termini
The people
With our properties
Yes
Our things on Earth
Kept
As rescuing
And keeping can
Stay live
As you and others
Can
Nothing else matters
Until this
Until us
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Alexander Jawfox on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Storm Chasing
x
It’s on the screen
Best that I can do
Storms are coming
I want to stay
In here
It’s an illusion
They could get me here
I have vague recollections
Of black and gray and green
Clouds looking to form
A funnel
While I drove beneath
Mainly though
It’s stories
On the news
From the family
From driving by
After
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash
x
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