jdubqca

poetry by j matthew waters

Archive for the category “Dogma”

20 Aug 2016
5 Comments

lead us not into temptation


against all odds you are born into
a world that spins relentlessly
flashing both brilliance
and complete darkness

in matter of minutes you acquire
a lifetime of knowledge by visiting
the garden that for centuries
had failed so many

serpent pretends to be your friend
plucking fruit and promising you
a kingdom you cannot see
neither in this world
nor possibly the next

you reach out for a taste
but suddenly pull away
realizing that by giving in
innocence would be destroyed


august two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Dogma, Poetry and tagged , , ,
11 Aug 2016
2 Comments

center of the universe


I offered silence and I was
chastised by the god of noise

while the god of peace recessed
into a corner dressed in white

sitting on a stool she recounted
neither scripture nor sacrifice

proclaiming no territorial disputes
offering no reasons for forgiveness

all the while peaceful men wage
war in the four corners of the world

disbelieving the looking-glass
located in the center of the universe

reflects a world of possibility


august two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Dogma, Poetry and tagged , , ,
08 Aug 2016
11 Comments

until we conquer death we will never be able to broker peace


you kill for your god
you rape and maim and murder
all for your god

you carry objects in your pockets
a license to kill the guilty
along with the innocent

your god has made you judge
grand jury and executioner
and deservedly so
for he is a righteous dude
and his prejudices are warranted
even though he oftentimes transmits
disturbing orders
you have no choice but to carry out

all the real estate in the world
belongs to your god
and so you go out and capture
as many flags as you can

no questions asked


august two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Dogma, Poetry, War Poems and tagged , , , ,
27 May 2016
4 Comments

dreaming between the lull and the storm


there is deception in those eyes
seemingly innocent
but exposed
to a lifetime of atrocities

captured by the camera’s lens
they are frozen in time
and streamed live
to a world hopelessly paralyzed

relocated time and again
she hides her eyes and dreams
of the day
living with angels in paradise


may two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Dogma, Poetry, War Poems and tagged , , ,
01 May 2016
6 Comments

the strange animal from the sea

from the book of revelation

the dragon gave its power and authority
to the beast with ten horns and seven heads

I saw the beast emerge from the sea
looking much like a leopard
a crown on every horn
an evil name on each head
its feet like bear claws
and its mouth like a lion

though one of its heads had been slain
the beast returned it to life
amazing all who had seen
moving them to worship
not only the dragon but the beast
going as far to say no army on earth
could wage war against them

the beast boasted and bragged
insulting the lord during its 42 month reign
waging war against his people
until it ruled over every tribe
every race of people
every nation and language

and all those living since the beginning
worshiped the beast
those whose names are not
written in the lamb’s book of life
the very lamb who had been killed

I say to all who have witnessed
these things take heed
for whoever is bound to be a prisoner
will be a prisoner
and whoever kills with the sword
shall die by the sword


may two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Dogma, Poetry and tagged , , ,
20 Mar 2016

Oh thee of little faith


I didn’t come here to be blindsided
punched in the face
and kicked in the gut
all while trying to stand back up

I didn’t come here to starve to death
nor wander god-forsaken lands
once ruled by holy men
who failed so miserably

I didn’t come here to be ridiculed
for my beliefs
whether original thoughts
or inherited by a people struggling
to break free from persecution

I didn’t come here to be dominated
intimidated or bound
detained in a cage
and held for ransom
praying to be redeemed
by my lady of mercy


march two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Dogma, Poetry and tagged , , , | Leave a comment
01 Mar 2016

preparing for the unknown


he died in Vatican City on vacation
courtesy of a one-way ticket
purchased by an unknown agent

everyone seemed to know him
whether in Hollywood or
Mumbai or Ho Chi Minh City

born to the slums of Lebanon
it was a miracle he ever set sail
beyond the Mediterranean

his most youthful days gave way
to urban sand lots on Saturdays
playing host to cricket or fútbol
or american baseball

without a home there is no heart
especially before going to war
or so he wrote
about being reborn
about taking Waterloo by storm
about stepping out of the theatre
and coming back to earth
for that
once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage


march two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Dogma, Poetry, War Poems and tagged , , | Leave a comment
20 Feb 2016
5 Comments

like wolves in new york city


he said his name was jesus
and I started following him
up the jersey shore
and though I’d never been
there before
I felt like I was in the right place

there were dozens of us
musicians and poets
landscapers and local artisans
walking side by side
and consumed by
one man without possessions

despite threatening winds
we trekked northward
toward sandy hook
a bay he preached about
days earlier when the
sun was much brighter

I can take you no further
he went on to say
(my days are always numbered)
and it was then and there
he set us free
like sheep amongst wolves
howling in new york city


february two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Dogma, Poetry and tagged , ,
19 Feb 2016
5 Comments

figure painting


i could see you
out of the corner of my eye
my angel
wrapped in her own
feathery blanket

uninspired for over an hour
i picked up my brush
and hurriedly
lashed out at the paper tacked
to the easel
scratching our plumes
creating locks like thin-haired pasta
eyes ocean blue
half-open and watery
lips closed and
relaxed like a worn-out child

she did not move
and did not make a sound
while everyone else
looked the other way

satisfied
i picked up my things
and waved goodbye
told everyone i’d see them
again next week
especially
my tired little friend


february two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Dogma, Poetry and tagged , , ,
19 Jan 2016
2 Comments

flash powder


what have I contributed
to the cause
keeping the music alive and
guarding elephants
from poachers

I’ve given up aerosol sprays
and gasoline
marlboro lights
store-bought soup
and religion

how much more do I have to give

that constant humming in my ear
is that just a warning from
my guardian angel
or simply a reminder
how those widely admired
can easily be swept away
like a night owl’s prey
silently screaming

absolution doesn’t exist
in the blink of an eye
and even if it did
no act of contrition could
prevent anyone from
seeing the light


january two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Dogma, Poetry and tagged , , , ,
27 Dec 2015
11 Comments

House on the Rock


A stretch of granite stones
long ago embedded into
the hill by supernatural forces
was once stepped upon
by grazing sheep
herded by determined men

On this firm foundation
a house was built
made of marble and glass
hauled to the top of the hill
by man and beast
masterfully pieced together
by sweat and skill

Down below children gather
pointing skyward and
marveling at the dazzling light
sparkling like a star
whispering to themselves
the house of God is near


december two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Dogma, Poetry and tagged , , ,
25 Dec 2015

Tilapia Galilaea


At home in the sea
he embeds himself inside cedar planks
contoured and shallow and
pieced together by artisan mariners
who row and chant
a square canvass hoisted high
harnessing the wind atop low tides

Calling into the waves
his mesmerizing cries enchant
Saint Peter’s fishes
swarming and succumbing and blessed
to be inside the netting
hurriedly emptied into the boat
and saved by the grace of God


december two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Dogma, Fishing, Poetry and tagged , , , | Leave a comment
13 Sep 2015
4 Comments

a light never before seen


lonely preacher on street corner
gathers in unseen souls
wayward and without homes
wandering this earth in silence

they are drawn to his words
spoken plainly and unhesitatingly
giving them reason to break free
from their apocalyptic spells

come one come all and
join the parade he whispers
take my hand and follow me
into the light
a light never before seen
and destined to mend
your broken spirits


september two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Dogma, Poetry and tagged , ,
11 Jun 2015
2 Comments

a few years earlier


a little rain won’t hurt nobody
is what I remember Noah saying
not the dude in the book
but the bartender down the street

those potholes in the city streets
Carlos said grown men were putting
goldfish inside them after the big rain
betting on who would make it last

blocked off neighborhoods
pop up overnight
those trapped inside instructed
by the powers that be
to lay low
chillax is what one of them said
until flat-bottomed boats
can bring supplies

by the time the seventh day arrived
it was every man for himself

as far as the women and children
were concerned
well they were nowhere to be seen



june two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Dogma, Nature, Poetry and tagged , , , ,
08 Feb 2015
2 Comments

the woman and the dragon

from the book of revelation

looking back I saw a woman
dressed much like mother earth
giving birth to a king in the
land of promise and humility

an enormous red dragon
possessing master intelligence
and unchallenged authority
long ago recruited an army of angelic
host to destroy the newborn

and though succeeding at having him
put to death
the child was raised on the third day and
spirited away to his heavenly kingdom

since the deception in the garden
the red dragon has successfully ruled with
fiery abandon against all inhabitants

this mother of earth fled into the desert as
commanded by her lord
hiding from the red dragon during the
time of the great war that began in heaven
a war in which the winged general michael
drove the red dragon and his rebel angels
back to earth where they remained
forever confined

privy to all things seen and unseen
the lord of lords hid his people’s church
in a special place
as well as securing the believing
remnant of israel in the desert
near the dead waters



february two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Dogma, Poetry and tagged , , , ,
26 Dec 2014
2 Comments

more dangerous dead


twenty-five lifetimes ago
there I was
witnessing the truth with my
very own eyes
chronicling
the birth
the childhood lessons
the ministry of the baptist
(and his beheading)
the sermon on the mount
the riding into town on a donkey

since then throughout
all these centuries
I’ve watched this beautifully
tolerant notion of community
torn down and
snatched by ordinary thugs
manipulated and maligned
encompassing the earth
like thin strands of truth
woven from east to west

and if you pluck one here
or strum a few over there
you just might create
a little harmony

or a whole lot of war



december two thousand fourteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Dogma, Poetry, War Poems and tagged , , , , ,

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