one dollar bill
playing origami
be it bow tie
or butterfly
gold ring or puppy dog
wise old owl
or smart bracelet
collecting data and
placing bets
turning ones into twos
and twos into tens
and so on and so forth
february two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
never in a million years
was I supposed to survive the fall
plummeting from twenty thousand feet
arms like wings and widespread
gradually gaining control
slowly descending in sweeping circles
miraculously transforming
right before your very eyes
january two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
it’s never too late to change things up
perfectly fine to stop in your tracks
saying it’s high time to go another way
direction means less than motion itself
be it inward or westward or skyward
whether carving a new path
or repaving a once-abandoned one
when asked the spiritless question
where you see yourself over time
favor companionship over destination
january two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
children stretched across the library lawn
books selected from wooden crates
spotted randomly throughout the area
beach blankets spread out here and there
little ones sitting and reading to themselves
or out loud in small groups
the mid-morning sun shining brightly
across the green expanse
saturday morning visitors walking
in and out of the main doors
not a soul saying a word
january two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
listen to your heart
quickly picking up the pace
beating in five and seven sixteenths
for no good reason
if only to let you know she’s still around
able to get your attention with a simple
snapping of the fingers
eventually quietly settling back down
minute by minute
and retreating
to a healthy resting rhythm
december two thousand nineteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
strawberry sunrise
on a banana split sunday
titanium knives and red plastic spoons
furiously flashing atop cutting board counter
magically dishing out culinary happiness
one cool concoction at a time
november two thousand nineteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
we’ve been here before
admiring this land of possibilities
minefields once again restored back to
their original condition
long before anyone ever set eye or foot
colorful fields described by word of mouth
to those who had no idea such beauty
existed in this contradictory world
descriptions eventually voice recorded
illustrated onto rock and paper and cloud
made especially for generations yet to come
october two thousand nineteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
I listened to the sad sad story
how the war had taken its toll
it left me wondering of the fields
and when they would ever bloom
the story never seems to end
borders constantly changing
women and children marching on
poppies pinned to their hearts
october two thousand nineteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
the explosion in the wildflower field
sent all the horses racing far beyond
the imaginary fence line
violently shaking the earth
these parts had not witnessed in
anyone’s lifetime
leaving the elderly trembling
and the little ones crying
making all the machinery within a
thousand mile radius inoperable
the only other mode of transportation
quickly dissolving into the dying sun
september two thousand nineteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
surrender not
neither to friend nor foe
rather carry on with purpose
for there is work yet to be done
listen not to nike nor nemesis
for neither are on your side
instead look inwardly
and find yourself
august two thousand nineteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
for some reason
stitch and sew
repeats in my mind
like a child’s doll
eyes wide open
looking past
the lonely horizon
those loose ends
eventually tear open
momentarily
put back together
surgically restoring
lines of vision
and seamless smiles
july two thousand nineteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
are you talking to me
in syllables never making sense
blowing raspberries
and shaking about
like a fart in a frying pan
you came into this world
rather unexpectedly
cries and stretches and smiles
demanding everything
and nothing at the same time
july two thousand nineteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
from the potters ground angels surface
stretching their newfound wings
and joining the early morning choir
fear not the voices inside your head
they’ve been put there for a reason
moon and stars will eventually fall
from an endless watercolor sky
once filling your expanding mind
july two thousand nineteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
your imagination started
long before creation
inspired by compositions
streaming through space
emerging from the dark
you selectively choose
what comes naturally
like the ripest apples
hanging on the vine
june two thousand nineteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
birth is like a microscopic bang
transmitting near-silent primal waves
quickly creating its very own tiny galaxy
struggles elapse in the background
ongoing and inaudible to the human mind
unmistakable to the almighty creator
to what degree the energy advances
is an invaluable period of time
[no matter the linear length]
from the very start to infinitesimal finish
may two thousand nineteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
I’ve not kept pace with current
events or the latest trends
their importance taking a back seat
to larger issues begging explanation
such as the meteoric rise of trigger happy maniacs
unleashing a wave of unforgiving tipping points
turning my little corner of the world
into something other than beautiful
may two thousand nineteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
jdubqca 