Babe

(x = space)

x

x

Babe

x

Advent 4

That sometimes falls on Christmas Eve

Smooshing our liturgies

Though sometimes it is Christmas day

For greater smooshing

x

We light four candles now

From sources

Matches

Friction inside brass cases

Long metal sticks with flames

Other candles

x

There is a fifth candle

Waiting

Which doesn’t stand for anything

No merging of symbols

Or guesses at tradition

It is Christ’s candle

It means Christ

Alone

x

The baby born at last

Who came to term

In Advent

And in that

A hurrying of the season

One month

While eight months somehow

Happened somewhere else

In ordinary time

Perhaps

A mother

Would know how to count

x

But Christ

Soon will be born

Another season

Lasting something like

Twelve days

Twelve days to celebrate

To sing like angels

With the fact they sing

Though nothing

Like their song

Their heavenly keys

Supernal rhythms

x

So this is the last

Before he comes

Anticipation’s nearly done

And (nearly) all our candles lit

We know

We are illumined

As much as we shall have

Before arrival

This final lesson

Only

x

In that

Christ arrives

Christ arrives

Not only once a year

Though once

As a liturgical

Baby

x

There’s

Dedication

While the rest of the time

He’s pretty grown

With grown-up things to say

x

Though he elevates

Other children

In the notion that

Innocence

Unworldly honesty

Make the way to lead

As well as

How to live

x

So ask for blessings

On the child

For we might not know

Where God ends

And the human part begins

x

There might be surprise

And pain

To have come into the world

The way as all

Like us

Who arrive

And now to live here

With us

For us all

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Anna Vander Stel on Unsplash

x

Exiled

(x = space)

x

x

Exiled

x

Oh

God

Shall we have

A good season

Together

The year has started

And now

Another season

x

Intentions

Overlap

You come into the world

And you are here

The Earth tilts

And always

Has

Far as we know

x

Turns

Like a top

A toy to such as you

Though you

Are not a giant god

That way

x

You play

But not with us as

Playthings

Upon the Earth

An unrolled

Plastic battlefield

x

We toy each other

Which is

An eldritch lesson

We came up with

On our own

x

Objectify

‘Til someone doesn’t matter

Like Cain

Like everyone in western Asia

Like anyone who’s different

Over here

x

We need a season

Need the time

But shall we be reborn

With remembrance

Of a real birth

To save the nations

Ransom

Captive Israel

Then all the rest

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Jorge Fernández Salas on Unsplash

x

so much to bear

(x = space)

x

x

so much to bear

(Advent 3)

x

white candle lit among the read

where I attended

pink candle among the blue

or purple

elsewhere

or four white

or five

or whatever combination

serves

three candles now

four for Sundays

then the fifth pillar for

the birth of Christ

x

we love

our small flames

they are romantic

they bring us close to

see

to feel

small heat

grand symbols

the joy being close

Christ is born

to save the world

remembering verse seventeen

after sixteen

protested in the games

x

incarnate

incarnadine in poetry

and in fleshly Bethlehem

that might or might not be

accessible

because of war

or

who knows

issues regarding

ownership

x

the birth is also

inside

the spark of faith

breathing

as at birth

born again

we say

x

Eve restored

Adam

wandering

may cease

knowing who he is

at last

for there is another

showing the way

for masculine

and feminine

for fully human

taught with the help

fully divine

x

prophecy says so

but we carry

prophecy inside

as well

let everything

burn three times

in remembrance

in faith

renewed

extinguish

and turn out

take them with you

x

Angels we have heard on high

we have heard the angels

they are in the sky

x

no wonder

for the wonder

we should be afraid

and the first thing that they tell us is

don’t be afraid

don’t worry

we are here with good news

our assignment

telling Mary

telling Joseph

telling you

that the child is born

at last

for all the prophecy

so that both might grow

and everything

into completion

x

c l couch

x

x

(the third Advent candle for the third Sunday is often associated with joy; this candle is lit also to recognize the shepherds who heard the news from angels and journeyed, then, to Bethlehem)

x

photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

x

Saint Light

(x = space)

x

x

Saint Light

x

Lucia

Giving birth

In spirit

And calendar

To solstice

Then to Christmas

The festivals of days

Sung by ancient voices

Variously doctrinaire

Also enculturated

Now

x

Santa Lucia

Lights

On wreaths

In Scandinavia

Illumined

In other nations

Other places

Say

In Syracuse

On Sicily

Where

Then

And throughout

There is

The song

x

Special food

(everywhere)

As well

To match the time

The separation

From

Ordinary drives

Today

x

Christian

And also enculturated

Much like the season

We inhabit

Of so many

Days

The stories

With their membership

On hearing

x

Close to solstice

So also for

The timing

Of these broader days

Say longer nights

For fears

In all of this

x

Small lights in the darkness

‘Til banks of angels

Set the stars on fire with

Announcements

x

Here is the day

Here is the sky

Fear not

Winter is not the end

We promise spring

With longer days

Dressed

Inside

Outside

Green and health

x

So for these colder days

To north

And scalding days to south

We without angels

Maybe

Maybe offer news

As gospel

Good news

And

Oh

So many stories

To tell each other

Through

Seasons’ hardships

And hard feelings

x

Also then

Some for

In fact

Bonfires

Like the angels and the stars

Though mostly

For the axis of the Earth

x

The smaller lights will do

But sometimes large

For dancing near

x

‘Til later on

In spring

And then the fall

The equinox secure

The balance in

All better things

x

on Santa Lucia Day

(13 December 2023)

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Jr Korpa on Unsplash

x

Bilateral Stimulation

(x = space)

x

x

Bilateral Stimulation

x

Two candles

What do they mean?

That it is Sunday

Sabbath day

A day in Advent

Second Sunday

The candles on the wreath

Have meaning

The wreath has meaning,

Too

The lights remind us

Of the spirit

Also of faith

And how one fortifies

The other

There is more prophecy

Remembering

The job skill

Of the prophets

In not only future-telling

But foretell the present

As well

x

What is happening now?

There are wars

Not for the first time

There drought

And the effects of drought

There have been

Flods as well

Ironically

We and nature

Have our moments

x

There is politics

To trouble a way through

All

While not addressing much

And proposing less

Unless we press

Where governments allow

Or where they don’t

And here the prophets

Help us,

Too

x

Two candles

Twice as strong

For support

Twice the light

For inspiration

Two times

The investment in the season

In our learning

Or reminding

Of an illuminated world

To come

Plus how each of us

May offer light

Into the world

All wintry to the north

Summery to the south

Though one

Season everywhere

Just now

x

Adore the story

In the advent

Of the Lord

Into the world

Light the way

Even with small lights

Even the light

Of one

Though look for lights to add

Look around

Let senses say

Shadowed

And unshadowed

We have each other

In all seasons

x

C L Couch

x

Advent 2

x

x

Photo by Rainer Gelhot on Unsplash

x

A Gift from Western Asia to the World

(x = space)

x

x

A Gift from Western Asia to the World

(on the day of Saint Nicholas)

x

God

It’s dark

The light is coming

Like Immanuel

Who’s here

And always coming

To the call of the season

Advent

After all

x

Like the advent of the airplane

Or hybrid roses

Bred intentionally

Everywhere

x

For good or ill

We co-invent new things

And yet in a dark street

Like my own

With one light for company

You came into

The world

Seemingly deserted

Certainly bereft

Of a savior

Who would match divinity

With barbarism

To save us

All barbarians

x

Who knew nothing

Of an inner life

With you

Except by accident

Of prophets

And some other heroes

So that we knew of virtue

And your name

Beyond your name

But in a real way

To have such things

Well

We were lost

x

And in that town

Razed and rebuilt

So many times

Under one light

You came

Nicene

Human and

Divine

To bridge the damnable gap

That we had built

Through consequence

Of sin for will

And simply keeping

Only

To our side

x

To bring us over

Come to us first

As at the first

There was creation

And now

Reconciliation

For the one-sided

Who remain

Lost that way

x

And shall you give by grace

To every generation

Hope in each one born

Offered many times

In each one’s

Life

To appreciate what’s on the other side

Of you

And us

To model the walking over

Four ourselves

And for our children

x

And shall we call this grace

Of something else

It is the same

The offer of salvation

Through bridge-building

In the flesh

Of your child

The child that’s you

And us

Somehow

x

The advent

And the miracle

On arrival

x

Such wonder

Such bliss

A reality

In the making

That the world needs

And typically doesn’t know

Until we meet you

And teach us

All about the bridge

Live on both sides

At last

And then offering

By will

To take us to the middle

And we both

Also with steps of our own

Pass to the other side

x

All of which to say

Merry Christmas

Maybe we’ll see you

In this room

At this place

On Earth

And everywhere

And at the bridge

The most

Extraordinary gift

You are

For us

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Darya Tryfanava on Unsplash

x

Ransom

(x = space)

x

x

Ransom

x

And is it Advent

Yes

It is

x

Starts today

Blue or purple

For your liturgy

x

Time to remember

That he came

A human

To the Earth

x

Vital for doctrine

Afterward

Though mainly as a child

We remember now

x

To pause

To ask

x

What child

Is this

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

x

annunce

(x = space)

x

x

annunce

x

do not be afraid

it said

how not to be afraid

before an angel

calling

might have been a good

lesson

from my mother

x

I bring you

good news

but I am betrothed to

a good person

and

the families

are not in conflict

so

what need have I

for

further prizes

x

you shall bear a son

not by Joseph

but by

the Spirit of God

pause

well

pause

what will they say

what will he

believe

am I being offered

something

may I say no

x

I know the fall

of Eve

was from will

to know the truth

of good and evil

and I hope

I know the truth

at least enough to

decide

x

I shall say

yes

what other answer

to an angel

and my Lord

and if it was foregone

then

I will risk

divine trickery

or naivety

to choose

and then to say

x

yes

angel

yes

to God

x

as it is

I know I risk

sanction

and refusal

doubt

and rejection

and if there is reason

these reactions are

reasonable

x

but I will

go with God

and go to Joseph

and to

mother

father

and shall hope

and in hope

prepare for motherhood

as a complex surprise

in my youth

rejoice

O young woman

in thy appointed youth

pause

rejoice

x

c l couch

x

x

Ecclesiastes 11:9 (ASV)

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

x

Photo by Bartosz Kwitkowski on Unsplash

x

The Day before Tomorrow

(x = space)

x

x

The Day before Tomorrow

x

Last day in Advent

Made it

Whew

Rain, snow

Overwhelming cold

We should be postal carriers

To endure

It all

Strange meeting place

This junction of

The Northeast, MidAtlantic

The weather comes

From north or south

Or east or west

I’m trying

To get used to that

It’s only taken

Twenty years so far

There are forecasts

But better to wait

To know what happens

Though encounter

x

How to plan a picnic

Must be an undertaking,

Strategy

Requiring options

(bring the ants)

Sometimes the living

Is absurd

If not cartoonish

But these are the days we have

And the environs

Those who stayed

Or passed back through

Appalachia

To stay

x

And all the world has

Its places

Its challenges

Its practices

x

And now (among

the practices)

It’s Christmas Eve

And there are days in Hanukkah

This year correlating

Come

To light our way

The world could breathe easier

Except in Ukraine

In Myanmar and Yemen,

Oppressive parts of China

And of Russia

And in the manipulative

Shadowed corners

Of the USA

All the places where we watch

For detonation

Also the human heart

The battlefield it remains

x

Sin and virtue

Pounding and pushing

Pulling circulation

Strain

(Sturm and Drang),

The devils on the inside

On the outside

Rendering Christmastide

So perilous

x

And yet we sing into

A night

We wish were silent

Save for children’s cries

For all the reasons

Children cry

Among them to receive

First oxygen and hope

Into the world

x

Render the night

Impossible in virtue

We’ll sing it,

Anyway

We’ll kneel

We’ll try to light our way

We’ll quietly acknowledge

Neighbors

Some will party

And some will do nothing,

I suppose

Though the world is affected

By what we do this night

And for a thousand years

And in the time

Remember birth and

Death

And everything

That circulates a world

Keeps it moving

In the spirit

In the flesh

x

Though maybe for an hour

Let all mortal flesh

Keep silent

And in fear and trembling

Stand

To receive

To hope for blessing

In the night

x

Let fighter planes

Fly so carefully

Perforce keep watch

Like shepherds

Over continents

And there might be songs

At crowded borders

And the lines

Kept distant

From welcome

Because mines have barred the way

x

Peace on Earth

The ersatz wish

Some must believe

(yet some must believe),

Withholding war

The practice

That must be enough

For now

x

Into the world

The child comes

The children come

And everyone

And everything

Now have responsibilities

To keep it together,

To throw

And try to seal patches

The worn places

And to keep watch

For the tearing places

On the outside of Earth

And, you know,

On the inside

Heaven

And hell

The human heart

x

Anxieties may end

Because it’s here

Our plans are done

And in place as they are

Out of necessity

Of time

As chronos

So might we have

Christmas

For a day

Twelve years

Perhaps a brief era

If only hours

x

A spiritual time

A cultural invention

Arms reach out for a change

Hand in hand

In brave hope

To sing a silent night

To sing in glory

Once the vigil is completed

And there is indeed

There really is

A dawn of hope

x

Glory and hope

Amazing

Because a child is born

That for a time

Affects the government

In minds

As well as capitals

Until when all time is done

And in a kairos of eternity

It’s Christmas day

And all the other graceful days

Together

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Monisha Selvakumar on Unsplash

x