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temptation

“the devil,” “elements” (2 poems)

(x = space)

x

x

the devil

(you say)

x

the tempter

the corrupter

the ruiner of things

resist

no thanks

go away

we’ll bring in professionals

xxxxxif we have to

diaspora

we’re spread apart

you like us this way

we don’t believe in

xxxxxtogether

should we understand

that we are three in one

because God is

(that is the pattern)

we can stand alone

xxxxxJesus

xxxxxJohn

xxxxxElijah

xxxxxMoses

xxxxxeach and all did that

goodness, we know that well

but to be together

find gentle,

overwhelming power in that

we don’t know that

not anymore

not since the last time

and the time to come

and meantime?

we are together all the time

we only need to turn

to find each other

share the tiny glory

in that

the tiny victories

that add up

or they don’t

breathe in

breathe out

let life happen

as it’s supposed to happen

our alone times

our together state

the glory of the Lord

shine through

all shapes and sizes

everything and everyone

inside creation

not the devil

that gave up all right

to enter realms instead

of nothingness

x

x

elements

x

matter merges

xxxxxspiritual and fleshly

xxxxxmaterial

xxxxxgrain and grapes

xxxxxtogether

xxxxxeach part

xxxxxand together

xxxxxchanged

xxxxxinto finer things

xxxxxcloser to purpose

xxxxxcloser to creation

xxxxxand creation

xxxxxand what is finer than

xxxxxa smidgeon more intentional?

xxxxxall the wonder

xxxxxsimple and refined

xxxxxis here

xxxxxmade from the start

xxxxxmade full

xxxxxby God

xxxxxJesus

xxxxxand the Spirit

xxxxxwho are here

xxxxxwhose substance

xxxxxwhose presence

xxxxxis in here

xxxxxand is in you

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notes

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I’m sorry, while drafting I couldn’t think of women in the Bible who stood or prayed or fled to be alone; now I think that Mary could have been by herself when encountered by the angel and in her response to the announcement and the will of God; Judith might have prayed on her own, away, as well; and Esther might have planned the salvation of Israel in the same way

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Photo by Mark Duffel on Unsplash

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Devilry

(x = space)

x

x

Devilry

(the passing mischief)

x

I suppose the devil

Is after me

In a suburban way

After you, too,

I imagine

Maybe there’s a strategy

Maybe the strategy

Is chaos

Lack of plan

To ruin all the plans

x

Temptation, certainly

And also despair

A bright life

Too bright

To cover all the rest

The real pain

The real faith

To get us through

x

The real hope

That’s in the jar

After all the evils

Have escaped

That move around

Outside

And try to set up

House or shop

Church or

Place of work

Lanes of traffic

Bars

Or at the store

x

More so the aim

To find a place inside

To take our rest

And better

Resolutions

x

It’s not a grand

Or grandiose

Establishment,

A studio

With garish sets

Ringed

By biggish cameras

Managed

By phantoms

x

It might look like

The nicest place

We know

Only off in ways

We can identify

Should we be ready

And aware

If only of ourselves,

Our close-in loves

x

Deviation

Hell

The hell of it

Is that it is a trick

As all the stories say

The diabolical

Looks like everything

And is

Nothing

Maybe sound and fury

For a while

‘Til the ending

As the better stories

Say

x

Give in

Or not

It seems easy, I suppose

The wider path

The golden opportunities

The promise of

A winning ticket

While the other way

Purportedly

Is narrow

But certainly accessible

And it gets wider,

Wide enough

For two or more

x

Not to moralize

But moralize

One way is always easy

Joyless

But easy

The other way gets hard

But promises

The peace, we know,

That passes

Understanding

x

Though we always

Understand enough

For the

Irascibility

(and ability)

Of will

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C L Couch

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Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash

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