he was in the backseat
telling me how to drive
I recognized him
from social media
& the local news
I told him to shut up
but he kept blabbering
about the rights of
pedestrians
how the hell
did you get in here anyway
I shouted over his voice
I thought you died
a week ago saturday
march two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
the sun won’t rise for a couple
hours more
but already the roads
are snow-covered above
and icy below
in most neighborhoods
the morning paper never arrives
and to anyone
daring to venture outside
experiences soft wood burning
and blackbirds squawking
up and down the streets
automobiles idle in driveways
or along curbsides
warming up to new ideas
(earlier a deadly accident
occurs on a lonely street corner)
you cannot hear it
nor can you sense it
you cannot even fathom it
until it slowly disseminates into the air
over a relatively short period of time
december two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
they said nobody got hurt
when the madman driving
the sunday school bus painted blue
loaded with dozens of inner city children
went belly up in two feet of snow
somewhere along highway 13
inside the old bus without seat belts
nearly all the little ones were improperly
dressed for the outside conditions
and when the madman
lost all control of the vessel
everyone inside stumbled and tumbled
on top of each other
screaming for the almighty himself
to appear out of nowhere and save them
notwithstanding a little frost bite
it was a miracle nobody got hurt
february two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
that man you once knew
full of anger and pride and misguided
intentions
he’s gone now
I made sure of it
I got him drunk on his own whiskey
and drove him far out of town
kicked him out with just a knapsack
and a flashlight and a pocketful of change
told him to never dare come back
I was just glad I didn’t have
to threaten him with my pistol
and as soon as I get stitched up
and cleared to go home
I’m going to bury that damn
thing out back
for the very last time
february two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
high speeds through clouds made of ice
wings molting then unraveling
hands grasping for someplace to land
as bodies busily spin in darkness
like lost souls in space mountains
with no time for substantive thoughts to evolve
time stands still for a matter of forever
twisted turning steel opens triangular windows
disappears into a brand new universe
while every living thing in its path
expands and contracts like a comet’s tail
breaking apart only to reconnect
february two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
his eyes squinted
at the cherry red end
as he drew smoke
to his lungs
sitting in the dark
in the old cloth chair
crushing the butt
into the tray
a hot piece flies off
and lands in the cushion
his weighty eyes closing
from sheer exhaustion
august two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
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