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poetry by j matthew waters

14 Oct 2020
2 Comments

when someone knows you better than you


man in the street approached me
diagonally jaywalking
to meet me at some sort of
geometric vantage point

my eyes pretended not to notice
but his voice grabbed my attention
having me starting to believe
all he wanted was directions

my bad for talking to strangers
for quickly I found myself
in the middle of a well-rehearsed
plea for the dollars in my pocket

seemingly fit & perfectly articulate
I declined to take the test
and abruptly carried on with my day
insults & accusations included




october two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in In the City, Poetry and tagged , ,
13 Oct 2020

a face in the crowd


zooming in
smaller places get bigger
like a google map
in the palm of your hand

venturing further
into the inner city
the picture becomes clearer
contrasts run aplenty
between feast & famine

quickening the pace
and light on foot
you naturally touch all
hands reaching out
carefully connecting the dots
one face at a time




october two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in In the City, Poetry and tagged , | Leave a comment
12 Oct 2020

new life stirring


what’s the next big thing
trembling beneath the surface
like some alien embryo
implanted before time itself

everyday something new
infringing on true consciousness
like a magician on stage
subtly manipulating nature

this movie is a remake
its ending always evolving
depending upon the edits
and your passion for new life




october two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry and tagged , | Leave a comment
11 Oct 2020
3 Comments

death by night & day


there’s a storm in the offing
eying to replace the warm november sun
stone cold vengeance slowly moving in

spring long gone & summer faded
what wickedness comes this way
unstoppable death fast approaching

hunker down but remain vigilant
fear not the influence of faraway stars
steering you artfully well into february




october two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Nature, Poetry and tagged , , ,
10 Oct 2020
4 Comments

where was I when all the trees fell


I don’t even remember the year
destruction in the rearview mirror
the leaves never did turn color
come october
people walking the streets afterwards
shaking their heads
and talking to complete strangers

the evening sky
was littered with smoldering dust
making the waning gibbous
look like a dirty dish
covered with smudges

I remember someone knocking
on the front door
silver flashing on shirt pocket
and on the right hip
asking if I knew the year




october two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry
09 Oct 2020

the artist in the parlor


she didn’t like to be photographed
though being drawn
was another matter altogether

she didn’t like pickles or salmon
or dinner parties greater than six
always preferring to sit (or lounge)
in the living room or parlor
taking in conversations
and open to most questions

during dinner she liked to keep quiet
communicating by way of
visual contact instead
excusing herself before dessert
retiring to the parlor
with anyone who would join her




october two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry and tagged , , | Leave a comment
08 Oct 2020

learning virtually


who does he work for
everyone raises their hand
the camera does not lie
clutter in the background
and glitter in the air
some say the answer is obvious
like stink on a skunk
others pleading the fifth
as if they’ve been paid off
but when either party is called upon
the truth suddenly escapes them




october two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry | Leave a comment
07 Oct 2020

post modern pandemic


interesting times often lead those
living barely on the surface
finding solace in dark & sullen places
often where fallen angels convene
discussing in greater detail
their strongest of all desires
and their willingness to obtain them
at all costs




october two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Micropoetry, Poetry and tagged , , | Leave a comment
06 Oct 2020

temporarily suspended


I bought one of those metal
tea kettles that whistle
mainly to study more closely
my own reaction to the
sound of pressure

I’ve been working on the
same New York Times
crossword puzzle
inking in one answer per day
these past fifty days

In less than a week I’d say
the picture should be complete
and then & only then
I’ll be more than ready
to get back in the game




october two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry and tagged , | Leave a comment
05 Oct 2020

breaking the chain


that’s just plain wrong
these dreams I’m witnessing
they do not belong to me
last I checked I’m not working
for any damn fool

and so here I find myself
playing detective again
night after bloody night
solving the whys & wherefores
of vampires & werewolves
working backwards
from the end to the beginning

everyone in this world
seems to know my name
repeating ad nauseum
you’re not welcome here

the feeling is more than mutual
I whisper beneath my breath
returning to a specific point
and standing tall




october two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Dreams, Poetry and tagged , | Leave a comment
04 Oct 2020

catch and release with daughter


it didn’t take her long to independently
cast her own line
and before you knew it
we were frequenting cold water streams
hundreds of miles from home

there must be a good spot here
I can feel it she told me
her eyes darting constantly
as we meandered against the flow
pausing when spotting rainbow trout
well within sight
motionless & suspended above the bed
in groups from three to seven

these will never bite she said
but we’re bound to find a cool pool up ahead
and so reeled back in
advancing further toward the inevitable




october two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Fishing, Poetry and tagged , , | Leave a comment
03 Oct 2020
2 Comments

mountain pass


the air is dry but the ground is wet
it’s that time of year small changes
begin to quietly accumulate

as you rummage through the
remnants of autumns past
you swipe through abandoned cobwebs
absolving them into nothingness
using only the palms of your hands

artificial light reflecting off your eyes
you unknowingly digress in time
ancient secrets like recent memories




october two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Nature, Poetry and tagged , ,
02 Oct 2020

walking across the coals


the natives are dancing
celebrating all colors of the earth
methodically attaining a controlled frenzy

this fleeting life is anything but
this much they teach us

in the beginning we’re all on our own
incapable of understanding the cycle

the coals are burning
shades of red & orange & yellow
like leaves turning in mid-october




october two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry and tagged , , | Leave a comment
01 Oct 2020

on the high seas


forgive my apathy
I’m long adrift in no man’s land
examining all life around me
as if for the last time

offbeat winds blowing
in contradictory directions
stars steering me at night
offering empathy

this invisible me
like a thimble in the raging sea
believably staying afloat
white flag waving high




october two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry and tagged , , , | Leave a comment
30 Sep 2020

repainting the town


we’re going to paint the town
it’s only a matter of deciding
which color

and therein lies the dilemma

while red is the obvious choice
it’s become socially unacceptable

along those lines you may as well
eliminate yellow or any shade
of black & white

politics aside I find myself redefining
the painter’s palette
offering the world brand new colors
but asking you (& only you)
which one we’ll be going with




september two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry and tagged , , | Leave a comment
29 Sep 2020

everything’s all right


lost in sight
this idea of flight
wings freshly pressed
hanging in walk-in closet

a voice inside
recalling the ride
as if only yesterday
the universe became free

oh that song
it’s been so long
snapping your fingers
whistling with perfect pitch

eyes intertwined
repaired over time
memories wide open
these unburdening wings




september two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry and tagged , , | Leave a comment

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