above the abbey
Tintern or Gethsemani
by nature drafting
c l couch
“Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey, On Revisiting the Banks of the Wye during a Tour. July 13, 1798” by William Wordsworth
photo by Mitchell Schleper on Unsplash
Abbey of Gethsemani, Trappist, United States
a story’s ending
exhale then outside to play
the next one will call
c l couch
photo by Hümâ H. Yardım on Unsplash
from time to time
and this is what I write
when it’s only me
beside
the solitary act
I mean
it’s only me in thought and typing and for
no special benefit
I think
though in it
something good or
clear
and both
perhaps
from time to time
and
sometimes
(to
confess
that)
things make sense
after
the verse
somehow
and is this why we write
and
it isn’t but what
happens
by surprise
on that occasion
and as the server says
these parts
awhile
c l couch
photo by Csabi Elter on Unsplash
The Warmth of Light
(light about light)
Am I done
I mean for now and
Not
Tomorrow
The brilliant light behind
Me
Through the window
Keeps on shining
Making
Dust-exposed squares upon
The floor
Which is fine
Against
A social expectation
Light is yellow
It is gold
It is precious as we say
Of gold
Against the grayness of
The winter
And too many days
That do not shine
At all
Until
Maybe toward sunset
When sunlight shall slide beneath
The line of clouds
Before
The night
To make a light-prized
If late
Day of it
More usual
Winter’s day
Rather today and
In
These parts
We have a gift
In part
Because the buildings
Aren’t so tall
And
Well
Because I’m looking at it
Even warmed a bit
By a ray
And you might be looking
And be warmed
Should the winter-light ironic
Be good
In your
Current situation
Otherwise if
Far
Far
South
(not
so-far polar south)
Seek a/c
While some might think
Too
Light on light
To write about
Though
Maybe the proof is in
To read
About
And
I don’t know
Maybe feel all right
After
C L Couch
Photo by Nadine Marfurt on Unsplash
St. Gallen, Switzerland
We Do This
I’m not really satisfied
Are you
I mean
I sit here
In an illusion of
Muscles
And health
And time and safety
To do this
And you are where you are
By
All that you have
And we express
Or try to
We make many drafts
Call them rough
Then save
Them for another time
Or we
Discard
And it’s not only writing
But
A wish for peace
Beyond the writing
Yes
Success
Even a wishing
Or a dreaming
Of prosperity
With support
The encouragement
Of others
We respect
Even
Who give over all the time
And space
For us
Or we keep writing
Anyway
(regardless)
We keep saying
We keep corresponding
And so
Change the world
While
No one else is watching
C L Couch
Photo by Lindsey Elsey on Unsplash
Practice over Years
(makes imperfect)
Silly
Practice
Silly
Bear
Silly
And old
Bear
Retired on honey
To the house of Mister
Sanders
(second S
backward like
Z
or zed for
England)
And could I live there
With all the honey
And all
The company
I am
(after all)
Silly
And old
And have configured
Me
To be
A bear of very
Little brain
Which is
In
No way
The way that I was named
My mother being
Very smart
And who liked the stories
And so named me for
The keeper
So to say
Of
The bear
Rabbit
The owl
And without doubt
The Piglet
Silly
One
By one
No doubt
But we shall all have tea
And that
(without doubt)
Is smart
C(hristopher) L(eo, could be Robin) Couch
Photo by Luke Galloway on Unsplash
Francis and Me
(not unlike/not really like Ben and Me, book by Robert Lawson, film by Disney)
I’m too tired
Got up because
I was up
Got coffee for the ritual
And pleasure
From
The ritual
I’m writing
Though it’s gunk-like
Like old oil
That hasn’t yet been cleaned away
Nearly
Enough
From the machine
Replace the batteries
As well
Or something like
For charge
Get into it
But it’s a push
Against the hours I have lost
Again
Against pre-morning
Early-light
Fractal illumination
I ask
Of myself
As audience
While illumination
Of all kinds
Tries
To creep in
Over the factual sill
And the one
To
The mind
Over the parts
That sense
And I happen
Out of nerd-like interest (maybe)
Or a patriot’s dream
To think
About
Pre-dawn
Near a fort
On a ship
Neither so far away
(to ask)
How soon did he
How soon
Did Francis spy
The flag
Then write while on the ship
After uncertainty except
The fact of
(not a doorframe but)
A battle
Overnight
C L Couch
(starting at 4:30)
“The Fact of a Doorframe” is a poem by Adrienne Rich (title of book, too, “Selected Poems”)
Photo by Jamie Morrison on Unsplash
Poeming Also
A poem on
Anything
Not so difficult
Say
A listing of ingredients
Gives rise
As an epic
Choose
Something else
You know
Something like a star
Track the wording
How shall the phrases
Speak
To one thing
Or how many
Craft
Revise
Get it out
Not
Done ‘til we do that
C L Couch
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash
[next one should begin "poeming also/really difficult"]
The Exchange
A gray day
A featureless sky
No help there
For interest
Or advice
So what shall I say to you
You know
I ask this
On most days
And sometimes
Write into an answer
Or write
Many things
And one thing turns out
Acceptably
I know the first
Judge
Of things
Is me
And I could be sorry
For that
But this is what I have
I have (or have) to write
You read
You respond
If only to react
And there you are
Writing
Photographing
Painting
All the colors at your beck
(for the words
as well)
And you’ll share something
And I’ll
Read
Or look
And if I’m smart
I’ll
Listen
As we listen
And be changed
Life in the blogosphere
Though actually
Life in art
And honestly
In business
Too
We have to find
Something attractive
To buy in
And there are laws of
I understand
Attraction
So there is exchange
And a go-around
Of growth
And opportunity
Back to art
Well
All of it is art
The theory and the vision
Adding the science of
Application
To expression
(expression
crossing
any boundaries between
the schools)
And I guess the part about business
Is a way of saying
The abstract
Is practical
While where
It seems not
It is necessary
As in vital
As in vita
That is life
C L Couch
Photo by Caryn Sandoval on Unsplash
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