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poetry by j matthew waters

Archive for the category “Nature”

07 Feb 2016
14 Comments

windchill minus seventeen


on the coldest of sundays
I read the paper in bed
sipping hibiscus tea
radio station streaming
top forty songs from 1972

though the sun shines brightly
casting diagonal rays
at my concealed feet
its perceived warmth is merely
an allusion of spring

sometimes I turn my head
and count cardinals
flying past the window
probably insanely curious
as to when I’ll make
my next move


february two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Nature, Poetry and tagged , , ,
30 Jan 2016
2 Comments

a thaw in relations


inspiration lies low
like ursa minor in hibernation
like tulip bulbs
stirring in february soil

blue eyes painted over
darkened skies
peek past wintry clouds
and toward a brand new day

open arms warmly welcome
a once elusive sun
promising to thaw a world
hopeful to rise again


january two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Nature, Poetry and tagged , ,
28 Jan 2016

escape velocity


my clairvoyant dreams paved the way
for so many to get out of this place

there was no time to pack a case
no time for goodbye hugs or kisses

pretending to be pretty is a futile endeavor
when there is beauty in eternity

the difference between life and breath
is as a minuscule as the smallest molecule
intrinsically gradual like the transition of seasons
cycling within this world and the next


january two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Nature, Poetry and tagged , , , | Leave a comment
09 Jan 2016
18 Comments

four season poetry


in the unpredictable spring
the poet writes of rain and birth
welcoming freshness
unfolding everywhere

in the hot summer sun the poet
writes of sweat and stifling heat
lemonade and iced tea
and the faraway sounds
of the ice cream van

when autumn approaches and
death is sure to follow
the poet writes of impending doom
and desperate days to come

but when winter arrives
and sub-zero temperatures set in
the poet remains silent
except when northern winds
or black bird wings
bring back to life
backyard metal chimes


january two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Nature, Poetry and tagged , ,
12 Dec 2015
4 Comments

behind the darkest of days


dense fog rolled in
long before the awakening
muting streetlamps
seen as glowing orbs
dotted along lifeless streetscapes

behind the shroud
crows gather atop barren
unseen trees
calling upon a breakthrough light
delivering beacons of hope


december two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in In the City, Micropoetry, Nature, Poetry and tagged , ,
01 Dec 2015
21 Comments

the death of a silvery blue spruce


they rolled into the cul-de-sac
on a cold and lifeless monday morning
equipped with trucks and chains
saws and chippers and ropes
called upon to put to an end
what seemed to be an eternal bond

in her glory days she stood
taller than a timeless story
beckoning christmastime carolers
on the longest of nights
lifting the spirits of the dead
lighting the neighborhood in primary colors
bursting from within teardrop shaped bulbs

I loved her now like I loved her then
her indiscriminate arms
folding and weeping
forever welcoming weary souls
needing a winter place to call home



Note: this poem prompted by Poetics: Secrets of the Universe via dVerse Pub


december two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Nature, Poetry and tagged , , ,
08 Nov 2015
2 Comments

the power of the river


it wasn’t my idea to swim downstream
though I was thrown into the fray
one might say
by no choice of my own
my mother creating a vacuum
by pulling me toward her
tricking me into naturally pursuing her
by simply going with the flow


november two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Micropoetry, Nature, Poetry and tagged , , , ,
23 Oct 2015
2 Comments

finding her motivation


creative moon snaps
black and white photographs
from the far side
where nobody can witness
her weakness
for the human spirit

her desire to curtsy and
spin from heel to toe
diminished eons ago
today simply curious
sitting from afar
like a waning wallflower

stages of many desires
camouflage her emotions
leading on
then pushing back forces
desiring to uncomplicate
her true intentions


october two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Nature, Poetry and tagged , , ,
17 Oct 2015
4 Comments

assorted tulips and daffodils


first freeze came overnight
like a woman’s hard slap
on an unwashed face
but when the sun came up
unopposed
I knew it was going to be
a good day

I imagined little ones running ‘round
chattering like robins competing
to be heard
gathering resiny pine cones into
yellow buckets
stored in the garage as
dead-of-winter kindling

meanwhile atop the hill
I move about on hands and knees
digging up and dividing bulbs
replanting the baby ones
giving myself plenty of reasons
to make it through
another Iowa winter


october two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Nature, Poetry and tagged , , , ,
18 Sep 2015
7 Comments

beyond twenty questions


there’s nothing in the past
worth dwelling upon
(at least none that I can remember)
and while the future may be clouded
by chances of earthquakes and tornadoes
I can only hope those ancient westerly winds
will soon bring a serenity
as lovely as la niña

once my fuzzy thoughts gave way
to clearer skies
all the little ones rushed out of
the bushes in a swarm
surrounding my sandaled feet as I
continued to walk through the wet grass
their curious minds abuzz
pleading for me to teach them more about
magic carpet rides and flying saucers

I told them digging deeper into the ground
is simply preposterous
instructing them instead to set their sights
light years beyond the stratosphere
where the sun can never hide
and life is like a dream


september two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Nature, Poetry and tagged , , ,
06 Sep 2015

coming out of ground


inside old boxes embers glow
building roses out of ashes
and lightning strikes

crashing cymbals introduce
a new species of climbers
busily hurrying to reach the sky
zeroing in on unknown territory

you wish to go with them
but as a mere mortal
all you can do is wave
and blow kisses
praying and hoping
they’ll find their way home



september two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Aliens, Nature, Poetry and tagged , , , | Leave a comment
13 Aug 2015

chorus practice


cicadas alive and loud
sounding off above and below
sunny treetops
sublimely casting wavelengths
across the heavy air
noisily rhythmical to anyone
subconsciously dreaming of
reaching faraway places




august two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Micropoetry, Nature, Poetry and tagged , , , , | Leave a comment
29 Jul 2015

swan nebula


born from the oven
released into the unknown
they race beyond their years
like children unborn

glowing warmly and bluesy
from river to stream
new moons sneak right along
stealthily like fugitives

weaving in and out of realities
neither earth nor sea
can prevent their creations
turning old life into new

though cycles may change
outcomes seldom do
starlets always shining
the oven never cooling




july two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Nature, Poetry and tagged , , , | Leave a comment
26 Jul 2015
9 Comments

as seen through innocent eyes


there were dancers in the skies
and songsters in the trees
gentle breezes crossed their minds
casting shadows creeping deep

swollen clouds darkened the pond
scattering notes upon the sheet
flying fish breached the surface
grasping for truths unseen

wildflowers earnestly gathered
producing lively waxing smiles
a child’s hand but a crystal vase
clenching secrets worth their while



july two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Nature, Poetry and tagged , , ,
05 Jul 2015
2 Comments

why can’t this place be any better


looking from afar she’s a beauty
dressed in variations of blue and white
spinning in place like a ballerina
poised and full of grace

born into a seemingly endless era
she has lived and died countless times
only to return to confront the dangers
the natural order of things create

unconcerned with the scars modern
minds have fatally placed upon themselves
she feeds on mere mortal wounds
knowing time will heal all things



july two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Nature, Poetry and tagged , ,
19 Jun 2015
4 Comments

we should go there more often


we used to go there often for inspiration
but when the well ran dry
we hit the road and looked elsewhere

cruising down the highway we listened
to all the greatest hits
asking ourselves repeatedly
where do all the good ones come from

lady luck seemed to be nowhere in sight
so we stopped for a fortnight
at somebody’s cabin
smoking hash and drinking gin
hoping to awaken those rhythmical spirits

we pretended there was a sasquatch
down by the lake patrolling the perimeter
throwing rocks at strangers
from behind the brush

when evening rolled in we started to hum
and strum some simple chords
the earth beneath our feet
beginning to tremble



june two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Nature, Poetry and tagged , , ,

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