jdubqca

poetry by j matthew waters

Archive for the category “Animals”

Woman of the House


The cat roams the house
like it owns the place
talking to humans only
when hungry or wanting
a door open

She can be found
where the sun shines
like on a window sill
or in complete darkness
like a closet
depending upon her mood

She makes few friends
and is absolutely in love
with the woman of the house
which is sometimes her

Even now I’m not sure
why I ever give her
the time of day
or her very own poem



january two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

The Cow Whisperers


A team of urban gauchos
surround a wandering cow
on a colorful street in Delhi
the sacred animal managing
to snarl traffic for over an hour

The arrival of city-hired cowboys
with their oversized truck
and ropes and bells
bring applause and protests
by the neighboring swarm
of residents and tourists

Calls of instructions compete
with the constant honking of horns
some warning the cowhands
not to harm the beast
while others suggest transporting her
to the nearest butcher shop

Eventually the cow catchers
convince their newfound friend
to mosey up the plank
and into the truck bed
casually whispering into her ear
the grass is much greener
outside the city



october, two thousand eleven
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Art the Beautiful Pheasant


Art the beautfiul pheasant
so wanted to be a partridge
dreamed of living
in a pear tree
on Christmas day

Boundaries kept him at bay
limited his Las Vegas odds
of surviving
Iowa fields
for another season

Art the beautiful pheasant
forged ahead in colorful pride
turned shrubbery
into a birdcave
and survived the winter

Such ingenuity and foresight
found favor with the gods
aided the bird
and his clan
to march further south

Art the beautiful pheasant
so wanted to be a partridge
but settled for life
in a sanctuary
on the Mississippi



december, two thousand eleven
copyright j matthew waters


Painting by Renée C Winkel (click to enlarge)

old mac donald


cows in line
chewing the fat
talk about their day
without a care
in the world

kids in bus
ride out of town
bonafide field trip
learn a bunch
at the farm

lunch at noon
golden arches
where kids and cows
eat and teach
respectively

 

december, two thousand eleven
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

can’t you see


walking in i felt a presence
had just left
leaving behind a draft
coming from the return vent

a lone light shone
above the kitchen sink
highlighting the drip
that hadn’t been fixed for days

i thought i might find
a note on the counter
next to sunday’s newspaper
instead found a grocery list
along with a few coupons

the cat sauntered on the tile
and rubbed up against my ankle
sounding off in a bluesy way
somehow knowing
change was here to stay



december, two thousand eleven
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

In This Place


Diving deep inside your mind
I found the place
You speak about so often
Where laughter sounds like
Pretty cries and memories
Are but a movie seen
So many times

In this place I heard
Hummingbirds feeding
On red Bee Balms
And in the distance
Silhouettes walked
Into the falling sun
Along the coastal sands

In the background music
Could be heard
And after a while
I pretended the voice
Belonged to you


august, two thousand eleven
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Check out the YouTube video poem by clicking here

Into the Earth


In my mind I draw a square
in the very center of the garden

From there I dig into the earth
using the seasoned spade
usually reserved for plantings

The hole slowly turns into a cube
as three mounds resemble
Egyptian resting places

Further down the soil
becomes hard and cold
the clay malleable enough
to mold eternal companions

Satisfied the opening
is mathematically sound
I hold the spade at my side
sweat falling off my forehead
silently instructing the child
to bring forth her loved one
to the newly built altar



november two thousand eleven
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

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