cherish is the word
the spooky tree
I just heard mention of
a “spooky tree”
trees are spooky
I suppose
or can be especially when given
the Hallowe’en shape
and
association
though trees are green as well
and the green parts
we are drawn
to
for all they are as well as
what they mean
green
la vida
(not loca)
we have had an equinox
lately
and so we’re on a kind of edge
or cusp
in
not so much
the sky-shape of the moon
and how the stars
are
traveling
or even tables of tides
or even
Zodiac zones
we are on a line
an edge
a cusp
and spring should follow
normally
though we have put the seasons on an edge
as well
through what we’ve done to sky
water
and ground
our edge
(related to the others)
is made up of
resolve
which the other things with lines and such
can’t muster
we choose the Earth
we choose
the sky
the water
and the ground
and we choose each other
in the kind of
relation
that comes with deciding our part
of the cosmos
(sometimes
consideration is that
big)
what shall we choose
and
how to live
we have a cusp for timing
there’s no point in
despotism
we can be equal in each other’s eyes
and
all selective senses
and
yes
there’s good
and there is evil
and they need attending
for each is in the world
as each is
in
and from
each of us
we have to keep a world
governments and industries
we should value life
our lives
in whatever motley way we have life
once
we have it
and it goes on
the isms have their place
though they should be mollified by
things
mentioned through ages
befitting
old
and new
and renewed
c l couch
“Cherish” is a song written by Terry Kirkman and recorded by The Association. “Cherish” was released in 1966.
Photo by USGS on Unsplash[--]Soaring, snow-capped peaks and ridges of the eastern Himalaya Mountains create an irregular white-on-red patchwork between major rivers in southwestern China. The Himalayas are made up of three parallel mountain ranges that together extend more than 2,900 kilometers. [From USGS.] (And it looks a bit like a Hallowe’en tree. From me.)
One Word for All the Words
I don’t know
What I want
To say to you today
Except
Love
As a subject
And a verb
And an object
More a complement
Because
Well
Enough objectifying
Of and in
Our world
The love
That comes from God
Though it must also be
The love
Coming from each other
The love of self
The love of neighbor
Well
That’s God-
Determined
Certainly
But it must work through us
Through all our words
And all our action
Because
Love’s always expected
We can’t help it
There it is
It’s how we’re made
And how we can’t
Unmake ourselves
We’re creatures of love
Made by it
And kept by it
Today into tomorrow
Mostly
In this moment
When we’ll respond to anything
Our of our love
Our desire
Our delight
Our disappointment when
Something else might be dispensed
And so received
Even in a drowning way
The meanness
(both kinds)
And frustration
Which can be overwhelming
Then
Don’t we don’t face it
We know what
Might happen
Next
Because it’s love
Sorry
It’s love
That is beneath
Every motivation
Every word
Every movement
God is love
And for our fleshly lives
It might be
At least think and feel
More important
We are love
And must be love
That like dreams
Maybe should not all
Always
Come true
C L Couch
Photo by Harry Borrett on Unsplash
Be Happy Museum Kraków, Karmelicka, Kraków, Poland
Published 2 days ago
Out of Cosmogony
(that is, 2 poems from out of the arrangement of things, however fancifully)
The Place of Drones
Should someone set me
Atop
One tower or the other
Of the gate
On the bridge
That is not golden
Save in metaphor
Well
I better be an angel
Delighting in
The lack of restraint
Being so high
And so perilous
A perch
That I could slide
Down the cable
Or merely leap
Into the Lord’s
Good atmosphere
Between the particles
The humans
Tragically
Provide
And is this how
The angels
Who aren’t demons
Do it
Which is
To set themselves high
Or low
To have the better vantages
Scouting for assignments
Maybe the demons
Lie this way as well
With
Or without wings
Sacrificed
Mything Pages
And
Do I have
Anything for you
Today
How about
A word of God
That was a word
In the beginning
To make
Everything
Thus
Setting precedent
For spells
Inside fantastic
Stories
About making smaller
Things
Admittedly
Though wondrous
In eldritch hue
And timing
All the same
That
Someone said
Is the meaning behind miracles
The usual thing
And yet
The timing
Is extraordinary
Is saving
In fact
Of dwarves in trees
Or the royal child
Trapped in
The tower
Before
An evil pretender
With forces
Breaks into
The easily
Barricaded chamber
While such
Are stories
And creation
Is a story
Too
Recalling
That the myth
Is grounded
In the real
And our fantastic tellings
Overdone
Or undertoned
Are actual
When happening
Before becoming
Passages
And chapters
(John 1:1)
C L Couch
Photo by Syd Wachs on Unsplash
word
oh
I don’t know
the word should be
love
shouldn’t it
our shibboleth
perhaps
a password to know
the enemies
in our camp
to send them back
with a regret
if they
won’t join
with us
there is a battle
sad to say
a sortie
in a war
a war of ages
that began
who knows when
well
who on this
side
knows
is heaven’s rebellion
happening now
in fact
have a third
of angels
fallen
only recently
one third
waging war
as if to win
goaded by their chief
no doubt
to believe it
or
to act that way
and
love could stop the war
could stop all wars
if we could
bring it
to the table
and we can
it’s both
strong
and risky
to present
while those across might
react
with repudiations
then
bring their weapons out
from
hiding places
over hills
nearby
but it’s also
the only way
the only
way
that sticks
the only way that leads
to water
and to food
to shelter
and to safety
a
cessation
of hostilities
that will allow
if not incite
the
saving measures
allowing
peace
whether or not
it passes understanding
a Mispah benediction
clasping
without weapons
on
or close
and better
without weapons
in the mind
the war is over
who has won
invisible God
has won
the one who will
not gloat
or exact
spine-breaking
reparations
but will direct
the world
to rebuild itself
with help
from the angels
who are angels
for love
does this
love
does all of this
I learn this late
we learn this late
but there is time
for some
and more
in time we have
and time
beyond
time
love without
conditions
since there is too much
time
on the other side
(once there)
these
so do our best
for now
let love
be love
and to impose
with hope
and without
strategy
(consider the war
above)
or expectation
love
the word
and then the word
amen
c l couch
photo by Feliphe Schiarolli on Unsplash
(x = space)
x
x
The Conditions of the Prophet
x
What shall God say today?
Not to me
I am not a vessel
Until God doesn’t mind the cracks
And grime
Under the rim
And maybe not:
Maybe God calls on us
To call
Who are not unblemished alabaster
Uncracked
Ancient yet young
To appreciate
x
Well, there are no museums here
Not inside the person
If there is a purpose
And I’m told
Rather explicitly,
I’ll follow
Though there are conditions
x
I can’t be crazy
Or made crazy
There must be gentle tones allowed
Simplicity
Would be instructive
While dignity
Would be grand
x
If these can be traits
In a manifesto
Then I’ll call it
x
And if these traits
Cannot be followed, well,
I’ll follow
Share the word
With the same conviction
Sigh,
No conditions
And apologizing for
Conditions
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Bruno van der Kraan on Unsplash
x
(x = speak)
x
x
LoveSpeak
x
What does God’s love say
In the face of danger?
Through many dangers,
Toils, and snares
God’s love says
I’m here
The love is here
The source is here
The host is here
We’re here
x
Though there be anger,
Scorn, and fear
From enemies and friends
Alike
Because doubt and unbelief
Might have to have
Their way,
The love of God is first
And follows
Like the currents inside Earth
And over,
The moving pillars
Cloud or fire
That are before
And after
x
Alongside in
The truth of companionship
But I can’t see that
You can
It’s more than senses
With which we perceive
As best we can
x
Presence and love are better
They are inside
And out
They speak without words
Until it’s time for words
x
When we have ears to hear
And cannot hear,
Count on the company
Of the divine
To know us better,
Pick us up
If fallen,
Go with us onward
Leading, should we ask
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
x
“Amazing Grace” (the hymn) referenced above
x
(x = space)
x
x
Shaping the Word of God
x
You know,
It didn’t come with numbers
Chapters and verses
I guess the whole thing was recited
As a book, we say
x
Then we moved on to another
The community
x
The interpreting community
Setting doctrine
As a group,
A denomination
Or on our own
Without a magisterium
x
Tricky doctrine-setters
How do they avoid a lie
In designation?
x
Maybe with the humility
Of Pietists
Or the Amish who
Set salvation as
A conditional process
We hope we’re saved
x
Meanwhile, we have
A book of books
Providing order,
Which is fine
Except when God is wild
In the wilderness,
Awaiting Moses
Beside the symbol and reality
(one comes first)
Of the burning tree
That will not consume
x
Remove your shoes,
Moses,
This is not a nine to five
This is a place above the desert
Thin blue air
For food
And doctrine from a flame
And from the words
One hears
Through the host
That is speaking
x
And if the order is to play,
Then be grateful
For bare feet
x
And we believe?
Our committees
And our meetings
All things gilt or burnished
For the Sunday best
To be best?
x
Might we go to Sinai
In a Thoreauvian way
Take all the time we need
Outside of shoes
To think it through
The bush will burn
There’s time
x
If need be,
Chronos will slip into kairos
For a while
x
C L Couch
x
x
Photo by Raimond Klavins on Unsplash
Saint Catherine Monastery, Mount Sinai, Egypt
x
(x = space)
x
x
In a Word
x
The gospel in a word is love
So goes a song
And it is
Gospel, song, or word
x
The reason for the actions
And the stories
The meaning of everything
(there, you were wondering)
Is love
x
Love precedes judgment
And is precedent
It precedes creation
And was the reason for it
Don’t worry, it is practical and smart
It is reasonable
And sounder than reason
For it lasts and is unwarranted
It outlasts our philosophy schools
And business strategies
And even plans for war
x
It fortifies all decent purposes
Makes relations possible
Between all sorts of people
Plans
And nations
x
It ends war
Keeps many wars from starting
It is the reason why we feed
And water
And clothe
Ourselves and everyone
Everywhere
It is the reason why we go to work
Or school
And why we come home after
It is home
And family
And self
And God
Civil society
It is why we move forward
And come back
Strength for today
Bright hope for tomorrow
x
The first song concludes
(at least in my youth group)
Love your neighbor
As we’ve heard
From long ago
In many texts
And songs
x
As it is
As it really is
Our lives go on
Conclude
Having begun
With love
x
C L Couch
x
x
“Great Is Thy Faithfulness” is a hymn from the 1920s by Chisholm, Runyan, and Schrotenboer. The other song alluded to is called “Love, Love, Love, Love”; it is a more contemporary song and is often sung as a round.
x
Photo by Michael Maasen on Unsplash
x
(x = space)
x
x
Word Processing
x
In the beginning
There was God with the host
There were earth, darkness, abyss
And water
There were words
To explain
To initiate
Decrees
Then division and formation,
Creation as we know the story
Happened
x
Later when the story’s told again,
We will say
Everything was made
With a word
The word could have been gravity
Or love
It was love
x
C L Couch
x
x
(Einstein is quoted claiming that the greatest force in the universe is not gravity but love.)
x
Photo by David Carboni on Unsplash
x
clcouch123 
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