hanging out at the motorpool
you tell me people you don’t know but love
keep dying
I tell you I’m sorry
but there’s not much we can do about it
now that the cat’s out of the bag
I keep thinking about the crisis unfolding
on the border between Ukraine & Russia
wondering what the hell Snowden
has to do with it
you know I’m dying don’t you
you say
but since I can’t see you I say yes
in all probability you acquired the virus
I don’t ask if you’re vaccinated because
I could give a rat’s ass
now beginning to wonder why you bothered
to call
a decade ago I wouldn’t have answered
having been stationed in Afghanistan
keeping all the Humvees running
I can hear you breathing from the speaker
as if you’re upstairs in the bedroom
and I’m sitting at the kitchen table
pouring myself a shot of Jack
january two thousand twenty-two
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved