a poem for a prayer, a poem of a real story with (by me) a made-up lyric
first light
God
I ask again
for steps out of the pit
for evil to be vanquished
(the
antique word)
if only enough for
daylight enough when a
last step is taken
and
even gray daylight
for a shadowed kind of existence
might
be reached
good
enough
evil down enough
to raise me up
with all good comrades
here
(good perhaps another antique
word)
enough
if once street-level
we might
if
we may
talk with you some
more
the time when Seamus Heaney had to write something
(based on a story he told us)
she said
on arriving at the party
to find that
everyone had brought a gift
to the poet
well
go upstairs and write something
and then
I suppose he read
to us
what we had written
for the family
and in particular the baby
as in
you are born
and now you are named
you have been christened and so
liturgically
official
and we glad to know
what
to call you
for first your parents have decided
though
the law of nicknames might
apply
welcome
baby
from the mind of God
into the world
earthly and when things are allied
celestial
(Heaney visited the school, not yet a Nobel laureate)
c l couch
photo by Tony Litvyak on Unsplash
(x = space)
x
x
A Jazz Singer
(for Paul)
x
The jazz singer
Being Jewish in a
Family
x
Wanting to be famous
Have a talent
To be
Tested
And a wish to be excused
From doctrinaire
Behaviors
While accepted
For the seder
Or when showing up
As the schedule
In being famous
Might allow
x
A public
Served
Entertained
Inspired
Is that enough
Is that acceptable
Against
Acceptable
Through generations
x
And the ones
Unprodigal
Who keep it all
And might remember
Those
Who do return
x
Remember whom
The empty chair
Is for
And would
In turn
Be welcoming
From the prophet
Of the one
Who reconfigures things
To save
With pleasure
Inside notes and rhythms
For a larger
Needful
World
x
So keep the second chair
Upon
Returning
Leant against the wall
And ready
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Poor Evangelist
x
I am a Christian
x
I hope anyone who
Needs to know
For good or ill
Knows that
x
The things is
I don’t mind if you are not
x
In fact, if you are from
Another faith
I’ll find that interesting
And want
To know
Something of your story
x
It’s bad evangelism
I know
And I’ll be glad
Typically
To tell you more about my faith
x
But I am entrenched
(without the trenches)
With respect
x
I want
To respect your tradition
Or your lack of one
Or somewhere in between
x
I think this is what we need
In the world just now
x
With respect,
We might withhold our fingers
From the buttons
x
We might shut up our cant
Or rant
Instead to listen
x
Stories are personal
And of a people
x
After and while happening,
Most stories deserve
To be heard
x
Shut down the hate
To hear
And have your circle of perspective
And acceptance widened
x
Hope to be treated
The same way
And that the Earth will hold
Together
From our destructive devices
Not only military
While we listen
And by impulse,
The way we are constructed,
Learn
x
To say
To welcome
And to hear
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Robb Elementary School, After
x
Irony of welcome
We know this
You are welcome now
Not your guns
Not your murderous intent
You may have a troubled mind
And still come in
There are counselors
In school and life
But really you should come here
For a reason
That not only fits the mission
But also the constituency
x
Parents of our learners
Patrons of
Our special programs
Library volunteers
Or other signed-up, cleared
Helpers
We want our school
To be good
We want to welcome you
Bienvenidos
x
C L Couch
x
Outside, underneath the name Robb Elementary School, there is a greeting, Bienvenidos. Welcome to our school.
x
x
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Indiana Bible Study
(a neophyte in pandemic time)
x
I was an interloper
Not really
I had been invited
But I knew no one else
x
It was a discussion
Of Saint Paul’s mission
To a group
In a letter to
Another group
See, I was late
x
This was on Zoom
And I cannot work it out
Sometimes I was
A black square
Sometimes an image
That was true
(I brushed my hair,
beforehand)
Sometimes I got to write
I was never heard,
Which probably
Was just as well
x
I was welcomed
(thank you)
And got to hear
(thank you)
The stories of others
Shared as insight
And later prayer requests
x
My friend and I
Talked afterward
(over the phone, which
I can manage)
With a promise to
Rehearse the technology
x
But here was a group
To join
That has a life beyond
This meeting
‘Til the next one
And I was invited,
Which is evangelism
In itself
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Fré Sonneveld on Unsplash
Power Line Grids
x
Philemon’s Pitcher
(Advent, anytime)
I pour water from the Brita
And think of Philemon’s pitcher
A wonderful story
I’m not sure about the judgey part
But the provision part
Is glorious
If you don’t know
(and if you do),
There was an old couple in
Still more ancient Greece
Living near a town that was
Beautiful in appearance, though the
People there were
Took glory too far
They were vain and unwelcoming
Of those who were not they
They lived well
Strangers were not taken in
Nor impoverished neighbors,
Such as Bacchus and Philemon
They lived poorly
In a hovel
They had worked hard,
But now there was nothing
And one evening they set out
The last of what they had
For they would surely starve by
The next day
A cluster of worn grapes
A pitcher filled with drops of bitter wine
They last meal together
Then two persons appeared in the
Doorway,
And they asked for comforts
Food and afterward a place to sleep
Wife and husband exchanged a glance
Then apologized
To strangers
We have little space
And our food is poor
But we are glad to share with you
If you will, be welcome here
With us
The visitors were pleased and thanked their hosts
And sat down to eat and drink
What might not even share among
The four of them
But when
The wine poured from the pitcher,
It was wondrous
Rich in red and filled with
Savor once tried
And when the grapes were offered,
They appeared full richly on the plate
And were sweet to taste
And satisfying
And the four at table feasted
On small miracles
Once sated
All lay down to rest
What coverings there were,
Bacchus and Philemon presented
To their guests
And in the morning
The couple woke beneath marvelous cloths
And their raiment appeared richly sewn
Their hovel was a house
Of polished marble, the furnishings all
Castle-grand
They walked outside into the sun
And in the valley where the town of
The conceited lay,
There was now a lake
Whose surface shown in judgment
Nothing more was seen
Then they knew
If not before
That they had been visited by gods
Who rendered service rendered
From the welcoming
Like that of kings and queens
And thought unasked for
Reward turned into recompense
And so we know
Something of receiving strangers
Who give no cause but need
Be inclined to welcome them
For we might be entertaining angels,
Unaware
C L Couch
https://grabcad.com/library/pitcher-of-wine
Jazz Mass
Syncopated praise
Offbeat words and rhythm
Liturgy and litany
We have our ways to get
Involved
Invocated presence in
Bright colors through the
Music that we see and
Feel as well as hear
All are especially welcome
Here, for come-as-you-are
Takes new meaning
That which is not day-by-
Day is especially
Welcome now and here
It’s all right, though, the
Day-by-day folk are
Welcome, too
Everything is solid, yes
Though with haze
Around the edges
A cloud of unknowing
Truths because all of
Us might not know
What note might be
Arriving next
What might be played
What might be heard
What might be
Received from God
Snapping fingers,
Tapping toes, humming
As if the tone were
Sitting right with us
Because it is
And we might be
Changed for this time
Of many times—6/8,
4/4, 5/4, 7/8—however
It Gospel-goes
Out of the blue
Out of the blues
(a contemporary form of
Christian worship)
(response to Denmark’s new law)
First Words Depending on Where Refugees Arrive
Welcome to our nation
Give us everything you have
Welcome to our nation
We need to assay all you own
Welcome to our nation
How will you contribute?
Welcome to our nation
We have to screen you first
Welcome to your nation
Let’s get you settled here
clcouch123 
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