a day like no other

(x = space)

x

x

a day like no other

(16 March)

x

we had our Ides

tomorrow is Saint Patrick’s

famous days

while

this day is ordinary

formless

without expectation

to do with what

we will

thank goodness

x

it is a Lenten day

for seasons

and liturgic calculation

and it’s important

as a day in forty days

for thinking

and for faith

for faithful thinking

x

but otherwise

it is alone

between two famous days

so different

that we cannot call today

a bridge

it simply is as is

x

and ready

for whatever

we might

unfamously do

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Adli Wahid on Unsplash

x

Magic Acts

(x = space)

x

x

Magic Acts

x

The day is

Here

And I am glad

And it’s a mess

And I

Am glad

x

Snow would vie with rain

Ice with streets

That are only wet

The wintry mix

They say

That sounds like salad

In a bag

I could select from bags

In the store

x

Thank you for

Messy days

Indeterminate;

I think I see

A patch of yellow and of green

On the tree out back

And now it’s gone,

That is,

The patch of light

And not

The tree

x

Yes, it is

Strange magic

Or I think it is

And I have a movie on

That I barely see or hear

Because

The day itself

Is more compelling,

And I can keep the background

Images

And especially the sounds

For the distraction

Of tinnitus

x

While looking better

At the black and brown

And white

And listening for wind

That pushes everything

x

A moving day outside

With patches

Now and then

Of yellow and of green,

Brighter parts

And shaded

While the sun and moon

Trade places

x

And is that not

(sorry,

kinescope

and nickelodeon)

The more compelling

Magic

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Susan Wilkinson on Unsplash

x

Salut

(x = space)

x

x

Salut

x

The day has

Gone from blue to gray

And if so

That’s what we’ll have

But still it is the day

And it is ours

Not to possess

But to keep

As in maintain

Improve

In gratitude

x

A paean to the planet

Only gods who are

Not there

Desire;

Praise is fine

But better spent

In care

Like rearing children

Or taking care of grown-ups

In their ages

(maybe six and seven

out of seven)

x

In other words,

Do well by Earth

While it is

Under you and over you

And inside you

For planets

And our home among them

Circling stars

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by redcharlie | @redcharlie1 on Unsplash

x

Open Sesame

(x = space)

x

x

Open Sesame

x

An easy day

Because I’ve made it

A combining of

Forgetfulness

With compromise

As virtues

x

The pleasure in a cup of coffee

With a story

For companionship

x

If willing,

A companion

Who forgets and compromises, too

x

There we’ll reach and leave the summit

Of the day

x

Tomorrow

I or we might have another

x

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Martin Adams on Unsplash

Sunflower in the Sky

Geneva, Switzerland

x

Superlative Thursday

(x = space)

x

x

Superlative Thursday

x

The caffeine’s worked

A little

Now what to say?

I hope this Thursday’s

Grand for you

You could stand some grandness

As a gift

Don’t question

Anything deserving

Simply have the goodness

Offer oblations, if you must

Or find something

Good to drink

On your own

With a friend

Have an ordinary Thursday

That is to say

Extraordinary

Go between the world’s words

Or these

Where there’s rest

Breathing without agenda

Have peace instead or anything

You want here

Then move

You might find

You’re a little better at moving

Make it Friday

Yay for Friday that

In the culture’s

Easier

x

And if it’s not Thursday

Make this happen

Today

Even if it’s Monday

(ugh)

Even if it’s Friday

(yay)

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Maxim Berg on Unsplash

x

summation

(x = space)

x

x

summation

x

its been a day and i havent told you anything ive been in pain and there has been some amelioration through being still and water food when I was hungry

x

ive been praying prayers as time rick goes by for welcome home to those whove died healing for those in hospital or in pain for reasons that take us other places or simply to the heart and mind and spirit of a promise

x

now the day is over night has drawn nigh to paraphrase another older song more sleep for you less pain for you more health in the morning or reverse that if you work at night third shifting

x

c l couch

x

x

photo by gilberto parada on unsplash

x

The People First

(x = space)

x

x

The People First

(Indigenous Peoples Day)

x

Today on the

Convenience of a Monday,

We acknowledge

Indigenous Peoples Day

x

A day for dance

For songs whose lyrics

Most of us don’t know

x

Set before

Except for math in certain years

The arrival of Columbus

On a day

And on that day

First time

Complicit in

The Taino

Vanishing

x

We inveigled

Tricked

Overwhelmed

After learning to survive

Pushed the people

Pushed our teachers

And, yes, first adversaries

Onto arid land

At last

Unless a virtue be discovered there

Then moved farther on

xxxxxArtificial islands

xxxxxAre trending;

xxxxxThe people could build

xxxxxOnto the ocean

xxxxxUnless we wanted

xxxxxSomething under

x

What shall we do this day?

Not give anything back,

I’m sure

x

Feathers

Leathers

Colors

How to live with nature

When even nature’s scant

Colors of the earth

And of fauna

Movement, teaching of the seasons

Life with the Spirit,

The hand of God that pressed

The mountains

And the valleys

Plains between,

Ridges and runnels

Of the fingers

That should be

Filled with water

x

Truths of land and air,

Interesting add-ons for us

Supplements for mortal life

Maybe next year’s

Vacation

x

What is the hope

For a people pushed

And pushed off,

As if unwanted by the created world

Yet placed onto the world

First,

First people here?

x

Well, there is a day

I think better have the day

Than not

It offers balance

Maybe pain with recognition

Suffering with acknowledgement

Especially against

The time to come

In two days’ time

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Mike Newbry on Unsplash

Utah, USA

x

I could be sorry for the we-they attitude (and I am) except it’s what we (they) have. Hope for a day to come when we can mesh and moosh the pronouns because the better unifying has happened.

x

Rocking

(x = space)

x

x

Rocking

x

God is with me

As I tilt back and forth

Considering the day

The possibilities

Though first counting

What is real

In the atmosphere

In my awareness

As the spheres pass through

Vibrating oh, so slowly,

With the timing of creation

Slow with majesty

And an offer

To commune

And (much more) slowly get it

Then to rise

Into the day

And its new hour

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Syed Hussaini on Unsplash

x

Prayer Starting Day or Night

(x = space)

x

x

Prayer Starting Day or Night

x

God keep us

This day

Or night

Through everything

God keep the family

As families

Arranged or redesigned

But families

x

Teach and affirm

Our hopes

Our plans

If you speak to us

In dreams

As Joseph dreamed

And Joseph

The magi

Several saints

Then offer clarity as well

The humility

The dare

In hearing from you

And then acting

After

x

Who knows your will

But we must know

Your will

We have your words set down

Help us to study

To inform our prayers

Enlivening the prayers

That do not change

x

Lord, love us

Forgive us

Save us

And spirit us

So that

We might not be led into temptation

We might dwell with you

As is said

And offered

Invited

Forever

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash

x