early to bed
so it’s another gray day
leaves bouncing
lightly
against the house and in a move
I don’t understand
there
has been some turning
one brilliant
tree I passed
just
the other day
I guess
maybe there’s a thirst
maybe a wish for a literal kind
of
cold comfort
maybe the green’s already tired
early August
in the north of east
and
yet it all seems out of time
though it isn’t
my time
to call at all
leaf-peeping
which sounds like a misdemeanor
might
come early to Pennsylvania
too
soon leaf’s-blood
come
sidling if not pouring out
with
a bright and subtle wish to notice
that the changes in our
climate
make
a difference
could be an occasion
of an invitation
only
with the big changes coming
closer to
when they should
a slight
note also to notice that it’s warmer
then
is should be
enhanced
by us
and what shall change
we drop the temperature
we burn finally
like
wildfires
or it’s an interpretation of
worldwide
a
nuclear winter
ongoing sounds pretty good for
ordinary against an
ending
c l couch
photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
days of dozing dogs
the wishes
would be mine
though I guess
these
days belong to dogs
bloodhound-looking dogs
reclining
on
a porches
in days that are wet and heavy
without the break
of rain
and this way ‘til September
when we hope
the change in
name
alone
will make a difference
c l couch
photo by Barnabas Davoti on Unsplash
TV says so
it was a newsperson
summer’s
over
I hear
and is that so
no
more extended day for play
vacations must be done
or not
happening
and all sights must be set on school
all shopping and
all
interests
and we might plead
not a student
or
a teacher and have that apply
except the seasons of the culture
are determined
by
180 days
and yellow buses
flashing lights and how to
plan
for holidays
as
well as what
to hope
by way of learning into
training for the generation taking over
once
the time of graduation speakers
done and paper handed out
suitable
for
framing
and
well
regarding end of summer
well
say it isn’t so
Joe
though Joe had to admit
it was
so
c l couch
photo by Max Böhme on Unsplash
the green is greener
summer lush is on the way
so much trying growth
c l couch
photo by Hans on Unsplash
“Green Delight”
two weeks in
there is
sun
and no new color
no brightness after fading into fall
the irony of
seasons that they meld
and then they live
set
on their own
c l couch
photo by Alexander Lunyov on Unsplash
dear God about the seasons
I see red back there
the colors turn
I guess
the last spell
coldish
helped
the sky is blue-gray and bright
there are green leaves
in shade
pre-fall then
and beautiful
for
what it is
plus reminding to us all here
up here
what is to come
while in Australia
and
New Zealand
it is
changing
well
symbolically from white
to green
and of these
the season-tones
I have
I
should gift-thank-you
and
I do
while thanking
and
respecting
of the people
way down
south
as I must think of these
down
while I am up
and
it would be just
to have an upside-
down
globe
to have the downside up
and become
the normal
up
regarding our perceptions
let south be north
for a while
c l couch
photo by Faith Lehman on Unsplash
imagining heatwave accommodation
(3 poems)
having a green day
when I think on Robert Louis Stevenson
his verses for children
I imagine a pastel illustration
pale colors of
children at play
there is a swing
which might mean there a book
I’m thinking of
with the picture at
the front
or with
the title
a green-bound book
it seems
though what other color
to represent the liveliness
of play
a green day
washing the gloom away for
children with
a swing to play on
and
with care
summer accommodation
and shall we say
let’s have
a day
get out there
if
shaded from the sun
so that only the light of life gets
through
an appreciate of the colors
paled
beholding all the surfaces
the textures
sights and sounds
things to smell and taste
leaving
what
why
to hear in the surfaces and textures
too
and course through the hours
with a purpose
do our jobs
then toward earned play
(if
a child then with
the understanding that it is
the child’s
job)
to have some trusted company
trustworthy enough
for jobs
and play
a fullness in
the day
accrued regardless of intention
but
but the mind and body worked
into completion
then
the fullness of the night
with rest
while third-shifters
must go
the other way
to
have the filling hours
should we get there
I recall
a picture of a fountain
at La Alhambra
adding imagination
with
the wish to be there
if a moment
to let the spray strike me
the lavishness of
water
for play
in a dry land
how many tour
while I can only hope each time’s
a
treasure
c l couch
photo by Sebastian Yepes on Unsplash
more or less a cycle about the summer heat (and never satisfied)
ashen
rain would be nice
and cooler weather
or
rain and keep it
tropical
for compromise
we need rain
I need rain
I keep on asking
don’t I
sorry to be a pest
but it’s the dust outside
from jackhammering
and
cigarettes
all by the workers
whom I don’t want
to begrudge
anything
having work
getting paid
sponsoring their lives
it’s the detritus
I suppose
what is left over
that I’m breathing
after the job
lean in
lean into it
some things work like
that
work better
with the angle and assertion
but for some
things
such as fast sailing
lean away
and go no other
angles matter
a direction sometimes
matters
oh how happy we’ll be
to breathe in ocean air
something
about
the chemicals reacting
I am sure
but
it feels good
regardless
of the science or
religion
not
to say don’t believe
in either
frankly
but
to relish in inhaling God has
given
and we dissect
if it’s only air
By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea
You and I, you and I, oh how happy we'll be
hot
how does it go
it’s too darn hot
not
in the desert
mind you
though it is a dry heat
I hear
and have
experienced
funny
how one thinks
the desert is just fine
when
there are things
of course
it will do to me
and
you
if we’re not careful
and that depends
on how much intrusion
humans
have made with stores
and
gasoline
cold water
and snacks
meaning
thank goodness for
Seven-Eleven
where
it’s hot
sing
too darn hot
song by Cole Porter
when we wish
yes
it could rain
and then rain
and then there be a flood
with
the demon sidling
what do you
want
you’re never satisfied
the irony
of
what we need
and
dare we ask a genie
one of the djinn
as a trickster
or might we trust
better angels
and overall
divinity
to presume on our behalf
discretion
and
parameters
in other words
rain
please
enough rain
please
c l couch
photo by Anna Goncharova on Unsplash
On a Cold Easy December Day
By the way
I’m this brave
Before
The winter storms should come
Like in the moderating days
Of warmth
From spring to summer
I am appreciating
Even the end of fall
When
All pretty much
Has fallen
Covering
What is preparing to go deep
In hibernation
Soon
And now
Maybe in the midst of winter
With whatever’s fallen
Then
I can be brave as well
Even inside
White banks
Long columns of ice
Along the street
As I try to get by
And don’t
We all
In extreme heat
By correspondent measures
Opposite
The frozen time that should begin
Well
Any moment
Now
C L Couch
Photo by Will Turner on Unsplash
Hidden Ice
Hooker Lake, New Zealand
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