it was a friday night
and there was dancing in the streets
four whole city blocks
cordoned off by the police
a live band playing on each one
half the city joining hands
and dancing the night away
showing the world
just how easy it really is
september two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
little yellow submarine
somewhere in the south pacific
well armed with nukes
& waiting to be called [when the
time is right]
when the next armed conflict
accidentally starts
on purpose
likely by a lone lunatic
w/a tricky trigger finger
september two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
blame it on faulty wiring
the red one in the black socket
& vice versa
the white wire left ungrounded
all causing a slow smoldering of sorts
like a hot cigarette ash
accidentally dropped inside a couch
gradually deteriorating the inner workings
eventually causing me to be completely
out of my mind
september two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
I saw her outside
my office window on a
warm september afternoon
dressed in short jean shorts
& a blue tank top
pacing back & forth on the sidewalk
smartphone covering her right ear
her left hand holding
a retractable leash
the end of which secured
a relatively small black pussycat
attempting to go against
the grain
september two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
I sat in the quietness
of the evening
believing my visions of
september daffodils
& october madness
had merit
I told myself
time itself will tell the story
the natural light
in my peripheral
fading minute
by precious minute
september two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
black goat
grazing atop a craggy hill
thoughtless
going thru the motions
clouds up above white
& immovable
blocking the midday sun
unnoticeable to the
black goat
grazing atop a craggy hill
september two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
diminishing but not beyond recognition
this stale state of mind
requires a new kind of wake-up call
one in which the soul within
is stirred but not shaken
a reminder there is more work
yet to be done
in the morning the radio & the sun
& the birds of a nation
reminds us there is good reason
to pause & reflect
to take one step backward
before taking two
into this uncertain future
september two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
holding hands on a park bench
each looking out toward the river
neither saying a word
as if their thoughts alone
commingled on another plane
birds unseen but plenty verbal
hardly imitating but
participating in the vibration
witnessing & believing in
the power of love
september two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
of course there’s a hidden planet
inside our solar system
most likely the opposite of earth
—red & purple & black & orange
populated by peaceful loving creatures
who go about their business
without polluting the air or water or land
without needing to document
a list of things one shouldn’t do
especially unto others
september two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
battling winds & tide
we do not need a new enemy
one leaving us w/real-time bruises
flashbacks refusing
to fade away
we live to fish & survive
not to defend saltwater territory
by raising arms or clenching fists
provoked into protecting
what is rightfully ours
august two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
the mountains look like
giant snails
inching their way
toward the bay
the serpentine river
snakes its way
through them
unceremoniously
high above the big sky
—like open arms—
reveals the magical mysteries
each & every night
august two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
it should have been different
than the way it transpired
the way the garden progressed
into a disarray of entanglement
above & below ground
the tame intermingling w/the wild
performing some kind of erotic ritual
—onlookers in awe & disbelief
mouths open & eyes fixated
unable to shake off the images
emblazoned into their psyche
august two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
the little hustler
running errands for the boss
testy like a rat
demon in disguise
changing appearance at will
little angel boy
his face is ageless
now you see him now you don’t
cool breath fills the air
august two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
at work at the desk in the studio
open books
& scattered papers
given life by the light & the breeze
sweeping in from the lone
south-facing window
the artist’s movements ever so slight
advancing steadfastly
from creation to eternity
august two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
time is slowing
leaking from my body
I can feel it
like a premonition
knowing without understanding
how soon I will be like a stone
on the bottom of a river
anonymous & inanimate
—unseen by the naked eye
july two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
he’s gonna be a millionaire
simply by breaking the law
revenge is a powerful tool
especially when used by a fool
releasing the attack dog
after the subject’s surrender
july two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
jdubqca 