a wing and a prayer
(2 poems)
marathon magic movies
I wish I were a wizard
a good one
as in
good at it
I could change the things
that frustrate me
and are
only things
the things that
do not fit
the things with
parts
that do not work
so well
as they did
once
or I could make
new things
out of unused molecules
of things
that broke
and-or I gave up on
a while ago
a wizard
for convenience
though
maybe I’d have to
pick my sides
as well
though it seems
that wizards often
stood between them all
to force and even host
negotiation
then
once all was done
return
like Cincinnatus to the farm
rather to the cave
to rest
and learn some more
of magic in the world
and the world
itself
perhaps
for which
the magic serves
obviously spiritual
do I want to say
something
obviously spiritual
always
thought it always seems
to come with
something secular
as well
and that’s because
I am here
while you are there
(and here)
and your host moves
in between
what do you say
what does love say
why can’t I
serve these all
the time
doubtlessly
with only a little more
than what I have
and what I am
and this
prevaricates
this elongated pause
while at the edge of things
that wait
even indifferently
for my
participation
the world waits
in emptiness
and need
and with too much of it
held hostage by too few
behind the gates
of hell
that we are told
cannot prevail
against
our own rock
our body in the faith
that set on it
these gates
even with those
who push from the inside
cannot
shall not
stand
wow
all this from me
and those like me
have faith
and share in faith
to love actively
and maybe not much more
which is
Herculean
beyond classic labors
that shall
tell a new story
a second set
of revelations
as it were
so I believe
and sit with those
who believe
then we shall stand
and nothing bad
what has chosen to be evil
shall prevail
but at the last shall hide
and have its final
bastions
thrown apart
by faith
togetherness
and love
which sounds simplistic
to be simple
but there it is
like Jesus
or another Lord
accessible
by anyone
no secrets
or secret knowledge
simply
believe
together
and together
love
and though it’s not
the most important thing
well
to win
c l couch
photo by Jr Korpa on Unsplash
(x = space)
x
x
Story Us
x
Fairytale
Castles
While the reality is
The plumbing’s bad
And certain walls
Are falling
x
A tower remains
That the wizard uses
To live inside
While keeping magic from
The rest
x
We are on our own
Who dwell in stories
To learn
To plan
To find our allies
And to stack against betrayal
x
With what wisdom
We might gain
(maybe there is
a library
with unmolded volumes
even waiting)
And gold to find
From earth
Or from
Negotiating
Fairy folk
Outside
Who know the treasures
Of the world
And keep the access
Well
x
Riddles
Reminders
Priorities
Cautions
And cares
x
A final chapter
Next to last
Comes first
In which we learn to cast
Spells from the past and
Something new
Plus teach our dragons
To light up
The fires that we want
In better places
x
A battle
Maybe skirmishes
For if smart
There won’t be melee
And the knights
Find better ways
To show off
Service
x
While heroes
Without armor
And with blades
Of wit
Shall better solve
And save
The castle
And the day
x
C L Couch
x
x
x
(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
Memory of Father
x
I have a memory
Not so long ago
So it might be true
Of visiting my father
They had let his hair grow
He looked like Gandalf
Or Saruman
Or Merlin
x
The silver hair was beautiful
We talked
I left
Next time I saw him
His short hair was back
He looked like Hemingway
A compliment of sorts
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Joshua Brown on Unsplash
x
Look at It Another Way
I’m thinking of a cave
Yes, there could be crystal there
And, yes, I suppose there could be
A wizard there
How about two wizards
She can wield the power from
The spells he formulates
Realizing brand-new combinations of
The elements that otherwise
Might have kept on sleeping
In the deeps of earth and time
A retelling
A fantasy
But as with everything in all dimensions
It could happen
C L Couch
Crystal Ice Cave
California (USA)
Jesse Barden (photographer)
https://www.nps.gov/labe/planyourvisit/crystalicecavetours.htm
Allow Me
Let me introduce myself
I’m the one who’s on the other side
Of the story
No longer can I qualify the
Hero set on a horse
Questing for a sword with which
To win a realm of
Sparkling towers and one to be rescued
Inside
Who might instead
Rescue me
(I’m not that good at feints and lunges)
Maybe I could serve as a
Wizard (fine word from Arabic,
because the calling is exotic—would an Arab
ever find me exotic?)
I know little of enchantments
But when it comes to mistakes to
Learn someone against,
Yes, I’m there
It could be fun to mentor someone who could be
A monarch
Or a tailor or a teacher
Or a plumber or any child to
Grow up someday
I imagine, too,
It will break my heart
As all good teachers feel
With a loss
Or a win
C L Couch
clcouch123 
Recent Comments