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poetry by j matthew waters

what’s your name

we used to rehearse our lines
in the lounge at memorial hall
back when you could
smoke cigarettes inside
and buy drafts of beer for fifty cents

I recall saying I would never
forget those lines but
they seem to have escaped me
and I am left with only a memory
of how the sunlight
bounced off the glass-framed
paintings hanging on the walls
making your eyes
appear as a certain shade of green
that for some reason reminded me
of the time I sailed the aegean sea

january two thousand thirteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry and tagged memories, poem, Poetry, reminisce

23 thoughts on “what’s your name”

mentalnotes1 on January 12, 2013 at 9:08 am said:

So simplistic yet so much power behind the words. Beautiful.

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- J Matthew Waters on January 12, 2013 at 9:11 am said:
  
  thank you so very very much xo
  
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The Course of Our Seasons on January 12, 2013 at 9:22 am said:

Just a stunningly beautiful poem – powerful last lines – really love this! K

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- J Matthew Waters on January 12, 2013 at 9:48 am said:
  
  Thank you so very much, Kathleen. xo
  
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luggagelady on January 12, 2013 at 10:26 am said:

I must tell you that ALL of your writing is magnificent, but this poem took me right back to my college campus senior year (25 years ago, yikes!) and all the details I thought I’d never forget — conversations, smells, songs, smiles, sapphire eyes, strong tanned arms…And then a lifetime passes and someone with your brilliance manages to catapult me right back there — if only for a beautiful moment. 🙂 Thank YOU!

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- J Matthew Waters on January 12, 2013 at 10:45 am said:
  
  Thank you so much, Shauna. I’m humbly grateful for your kind praise. I am also very happy knowing this poem has touched you. JW
  
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meiro on January 12, 2013 at 10:36 am said:

Very lovely indeed…., brilliant.

Warm regards,
mei

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- J Matthew Waters on January 12, 2013 at 10:45 am said:
  
  thank you so very much, mei. xo
  
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suzywordmuser on January 12, 2013 at 2:02 pm said:

This is really beautiful Matthew, and true of real life – memories are so like that!
Suzy 😀

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- J Matthew Waters on January 12, 2013 at 2:04 pm said:
  
  Thank you very much – I’m delighted you enjoyed it so.
  
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fridayam on January 12, 2013 at 3:16 pm said:

Oh I love this;)

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- J Matthew Waters on January 12, 2013 at 3:22 pm said:
  
  So nice to have you here, Steve, thanks so much.
  
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Whimsy Mimsy on January 15, 2013 at 9:34 pm said:

Oh I love this. (I just realized that I plagiarized a comment just above 🙂

It’s so poignant and delicate.

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- J Matthew Waters on January 15, 2013 at 9:37 pm said:
  
  thanks so much for commenting – i always enjoy reading your work
  
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Eric Alagan on March 1, 2013 at 12:49 am said:

Treasured memories linger 🙂

All else fades, I reckon

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- j matthew waters on August 15, 2013 at 9:43 pm said:
  
  Yes, that is so very true….
  
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Katie (@PunkRockPoet84) on August 15, 2013 at 9:21 pm said:

Love It!! Reminds me of rehearsing lines in college!! But we couldn’t smoke inside!! Lovely poem!! 🙂

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- j matthew waters on August 15, 2013 at 9:38 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much Katie – so happy you enjoyed this one and thanks for retweeting on twitter ;`)
  
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Simply Moraa on June 18, 2016 at 1:23 am said:

“I recall saying I would never
forget those lines but
they seem to have escaped me”

💔

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- j matthew waters on June 18, 2016 at 8:04 am said:
  
  thank you for visiting here….
  
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denise0904 on December 2, 2016 at 10:07 pm said:

I love this..such a beautiful description. You make her sound ethereal.

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- j matthew waters on July 30, 2017 at 5:22 pm said:
  
  Thank you very much, Denise.
  
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