resignation
there might be a good kind
God
where are you
I mean
in the flesh
please
in the God
or whatever form you take
to bring your presence
to us
to talk with us as you talked in the garden
or if a bush of
fire
is needed
well
the unconsuming kind doesn’t burn anything else
does it
I guess I’m asking
and we could talk
and if I deal
with abject
terror
I might remember that you talked this way
in a garden
with a naked couple
who were unashamed
and
I know a great deal has
happened
since then
but
God
I’d really like to know you
I’d really like to have
you know
a real conversation
my needs
well
they feel sharp today
and
you know there are problems elsewhere
too
and if we talked
and you gave me directions
then
I’d know how
to follow
though
I don’t how to build an ark
or lead anyone through any kind of
desert
but then
the orders you gave were new
to Noah
and
to Moses
or Deborah or Judith
who lived by calling and by prayer
and maybe found one through the other
which
I guess
means
something
for disembodies prayer
and
I so wanted to say
the books
the formal worship
aren’t enough
and
they’re not
but openness to ask and then to listen
or to listen to myself then ask
of you
I guess these could be enough
they would be like talking
like a conversation
after
all
sigh
all right
I’ll try
and though I could not wrestle with an angel
maybe
we could talk a little plainer
time to time
and I won’t ask for garden miracles
though
in the clouds or something
I could guess at least
in
something of
your presence
c l couch
photo by Alistair MacRobert on Unsplash
kairos in chronos
God is here
Immanuel
with us
we give seasons to
the coming and
arrival
which is fine for giving color
and collective
things to do
but the coming and arriving
and the leaving and
returning
all
are with us
which we might have better understand
when we were forebears
and the child
be
in the painting with all others wearing
dress of the time
the child depicted with all the miracles as well as
soteriology
provding
child
grown-up
teacher
crucified
and
God
and aren’t they all together all the eras
all the ages
that we own on our own
plus
forever thinking
c l couch
photo by Maegan Martin on Unsplash
racially speaking
the world
is of races
and is racist
now
how did we pull that off
I suppose because
we approach another people
ready
to take power
and impose it
as if
power were ours
and not lent from God
and for God’s judgment
later
I approach another color
and see
fascination
then
I hear it
but who am I
naïve
I guess
to find a thrill in meeting someone else
who clearly is not me
while racially I’m fine with me
but
I know my race and color
and here is someone who’s not me
whole
land’s worth
in fact
and isn’t that
terrific
and clearly as a world
we have not come
to feel that way
common
ancestry notwithstanding
and
could we not apply our art and science
our proclivities toward vision
our skills in
observation
with reception of each other based
on vision
sure
(and sure)
observation
goodness
there are stories
folks
of folks
and should that not be
grand occupation
that’s races
anyway
next
time maybe taking up religion
c l couch
I was looking for an image to accompany a verse on Gaza and, based on my selection, was shown all sorts of pictures of all sorts of people—the theme the site selected between them all was water—and the diversity, of the parts of our planet as well, got me thinking
photo by Dibakar Roy on Unsplash
a freeing prayer
honestly
for
today by yesterday
and with a hope against
tomorrow
I can’t breathe
and
I can breathe poorly
while I hope you might regenerate
inhale
and exhale
by nature and by spirit
and
how all might work together
toward a happiness
from you
and then like angels
seek and take
our
earnest assignments
open
anywhere
and so
plea
prayer
toward affirmation that we’re made and that
we’re sent like missions
in love
inside
outside
growing
to reconnoiter
(Joshua and Caleb)
then
to service
fixing
a breaking world
by action understood
and
or
by stillness of hearts
amen
c l couch
(I’m afraid the state of my poor breathing is both earthly and spiritual; maybe you in the world with me have your ongoing challenges, labors from challenges as well)
photograph by Josh Applegate via Unsplash
all is bias
(all is leaning)
the eyes are too big
in
the portrait
but
everything is bias
everyone
we lean
as the body’s not symmetric
neither are we
in
our views and
causes
and this is what we have
with
no objectivity
rather
wondrous in diversity
no weight to give to false claims
of
reference or authority based
on who we’re not
and
how the world
isn’t
find and claim
our bias
let it matter
then
together
all our views with all our
angles
add up to three-sixty of a planet
of ourselves
and
yes
to know the cosmos better
in the health of all
pluralities
nothing to win
or lie
rather
let an honest process have us understand
express
and progress
toward what’s distinct
and
what’s the same in
us
as
well
everything
when bias is applied
of course
to gain points
or
win the day
we could lie about our biases
to say
I’m with you when
not
as in
politics
or the political
way
to accomplish
anything
until it changes is made
up
and for a style of
lies
c l couch
photograph by Juan Cruz Mountford at Unsplash
libretto
God is a funny old thing
which I suppose
has not been said so often
and
maybe should not be said again
old
though
well
because you know
and funny because
there’s the ostrich
and the platypus
and auk
and us
and we’re funny when we’re not
tragic
such goodness and also
such corruption
and what to do with funny
old
us
not so ole
though we have tried the Earth
over ages
as an image
and are there parts of
the model we’re forgetting
the eccentric
parts
the kind
the giving when the bottom line says no
a resistance to build monuments
and let art live in
other places
other ways
that let stone breathe
and
even plastic we might build with
even to take the things with
which we poison
Earth
flora and fauna and let them speak
creative
while we go creative
first and also practical
because all
our strengths
are
strong out of
belief in ourselves
and
that’s the model
too
for God is all that’s good and also
useful
also beautiful
in all the ways we have been made and not
to judge so much as
dance
remembering the first inspirator
in
our notes
and in our steps
c l couch
photograph by Hans at Unsplash
try
the sun tries
and there’s wind to welcome
blue
to highlight evergreen
with leafless branches whose
slender ballets
look
tireless
and to hear some whispers whose
code
only known between the sky
and these parts
of Earth
try
regardless
and thank goodness
c l couch
photo by Mila Young on Unsplash
many and great
third light tonight
third candle lit
two days
ago
the parent and the child
traditions
illuminating
the brother of Isaac has
a place
as well
and will acknowledge the same father
when
it’s time
and then east of east
there
are traditions birthing meditation
and unity in
consciousness
while
west
of here
that admittedly was here
there is understanding of an Earth
that’s borderless
flown over by trickster
Raven
and higher
lower more
the Great Spirit
so
too
those with not tradition or
acknowledge none plus
the followings so many
more
on Earth
so many ways to count
measure
this day
not as the stars
though
as people here might be grouped
or
on one’s own develop
a philosophy
as well
ways to know the Earth and
Lord
of Earth
and
sky
and us for making
and for being there
c l couch
(writing from the eastern USA)
from the Dakota Hymn
Many and great, O God, are thy works,
Maker of earth and sky;
Thy hands have set the heavens with stars;
Thy fingers spread the mountains and plains.
(Joseph Renville)
photo by Roberto Shumski on Unsplash
gray time
it’s gray
as if the lightest fog in front
so
light’s ironic
without evidence
but
knowing that it’s time
Earth knows
while
it’s whole around the sun
fractured
since making and
in time
shall have the splinters going through
the core
and
all of us
gray like these days
shall hopefully have left
gone
to
another world that has
tectonically
so far to go
c l couch
photo by NASA Hubble Space Telescope on Unsplash
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