The Impoverished

(x = space)

x

x

The Impoverished

x

It is another day

To wake up into misery

Sometimes a vivid

Dream

Takes me to

A place that is not

So spectacular but

I want to live there

And I wake up

And I’m here

I wake to the gray skies

Of war

Or my child is

Still sick

Or my child is gone

My children

x

There is my own pathology

It hurts

And there is no promise

Of change for the better

x

I wake into many

Who have problems

And they seep

Or crash into awareness

I have no money

Or my clothes are poor

My shoes don’t wrap around

My feet

So I have trouble moving

And I’m seen first

For the problems that I have

x

I’m seen first

For the problems that I have

That’s how my friends know me

Or my family

Or anyone

First, I am the sad one

Or the needy one

The one with problems

I am an individual

Also a family

Or a nation

I grow to hate waking up

Like this

I grow to hate waking up

Can someone make

The day better?

Can I?

x

A song could name this

But is no breath

For singing

There is no cause

Or there is

And I forget

It’s been too long

x

I could say, Help me

But I don’t know how

Sometimes it’s

Antagonistic

The responses that I get

When I used to ask

Mostly it’s apathy

With closed pockets

I never get close to,

Which is fine

I don’t want your pockets

I want my own

x

I want what I used to have

Or maybe never had

I want what I need

And a little more

So I am ready

When I hear of

Need

Someone

A family

Or a nation

x

To give out of what I have

And a little more

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Peter Herrmann on Unsplash

The Other Way

published 2 hours ago

x

Puritan Winter

(x = space)

x

x

Puritan Winter

x

Snow covers

Rain reveals

Ice seals it all in

Now comes the

Revealing time,

The winter

Against all our

Boasted showings

The green is gone

The brown and black reveal

Who we are

What we have

How plain it can become

Without verdant protection

Without the sheen

Of summer

x

But this is good

We have the chance

To be ourselves,

To rely ourselves

On heat

And goodness from above

Below

The goodness of our neighbors

And the sovereignty

Of God above

Below

Wherever is

Creating

And the mortal need

x

C L Couch

x

x

Migrating birds over the misty forests of Norway.

Photo by Fredrik Solli Wandem on Unsplash

Heggenes, Norge

x

Civil Conspiracy

(x = space)

x

x

Civil Conspiracy

x

If everyone had what they want

Aberrance aside

I mean a place to live

That is secure and likable

Food

For need and a little more celebration

The chance to learn

Some might say we have those things now

We don’t

Water that’s safe and without fear

A measure of peace

In our days and nights

Would this be a better world?

Of course, it would be

How otherwise?

A job

That’s not a dream deferred

So that we rise

Oh, yes, we rise

x

Join me a campaign, will you?

An open conspiracy

To find the smaller and the larger

Ways,

Practice them

To meet the needs of others

And ourselves

That’s it: no more profound than that

x

C L Couch

x

x

Extinction Rebellion September 2020 Protests for the Launch of the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (CEE Bill) across the City of London

Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona on Unsplash

x

For Those of Us Not Good at Praying

(x = space)

x

x

For Those of Us Not Good at Praying

x

Good God,

Please grant us

Clemency,

A fancy word

In church or court

For mercy

But don’t be fancy with us,

We need help, that’s all

x

Simply and, well,

In miracles

There are hungry people

Many sick with disease

There is disease of mind

As well

And those who want

Their way and want

The rest of us as well

And there is evil in that,

The kind you say

In your book

Is under the sun,

Meaning every day

And most likely every hour

x

So we must pray for food

(safe water)

And for freedom

A cure when your nature

Hurts us, a cure when

Others try to bring us down

In the other way

x

We might be

At traffic lights, just now

Sitting in back seats of cars

With ear-pods in

Our ears

Or other things

Distracting

Sorry, we get around to this

Too late at times

Well, most of the time

(most of us)

We are not saints

Whoever they might be

We are only

People in need

Amen,

We should say amen

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Kristy Kravchenko on Unsplash

Minneapolis, United States

x

Something Is Going to Happen

Something Is Going to Happen

 

Something pleasant

For a change

Something with a little spice

A little love

Things that try to set the tone

Are doing so by doling fear

Anger, hate

Too easy an agenda

Hiding other interests

While we’re distracted

 

Time for some calm

With which to see the emperor or wizard

I don’t mean CBD

Though that might be interesting

I was thinking maybe

Meals

And walks after

Feeding all types of needs

In consideration

And respect

Maybe we’ll find out that we like each other

 

And if not

We’ll have had the meal and the walk

Food and easy exercise

And did I mention who’s invited?

Everyone on Earth

 

C L Couch

 

 

photo by Arisa Chattasa on Unsplash

rainbow snack on hot pan

 

Praxis

Praxis

 

Something good happens

Something bad,

Something horrible

We move on

 

In our lives, good news

Or bad, sometimes horrible

We move on

 

Where are we going

That requires constant

Moving minds,

Restless spirits always

Leaving, never resting

 

In places of crisis?

 

No time taken to repair

To sit still and know

That we have talents

To make better

So many we encounter

 

Training missed in

Intuition, empathy

Things that rarely pay

 

Victories without profit

Save soothing, maybe saving

Souls

 

Next time, we might say,

As we meet

Then walk around

Needs on the street

Or next door

Or so much closer

Truly

 

C L Couch