the story continues
like a child who’s questioning
the reality of death
the story continues
like a child biding time
like the changing wind
moving from one thing to the next
the story continues
like a child looking in the mirror
like a child escaping at will
the story continues
like a child defying
the powers that be
october two thousand twenty-two
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
from snake to mouse
to predator bird
your understanding
naturally progresses
in complete alignment
with the slightest of stars
soon you’ll be able
to build a birdhouse
a boathouse
a townhouse
soon you’ll be able
to hold a heart in your hand
at some point
you’ll be showing others
how to interpret their own dreams
humming by the fireside
thread & needle in hand
mending leathery wings
november two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
never imitate but be yourself
my mama once told me
but who am I mama but a boy
like all other boys
wondering when I will become a man
never hurry son and never imitate
learn to love yourself first
but who am I mama but a boy
dreaming of going to war
and dying a courageous death
oh no child you will never go to war
take that silly notion out of your head
learn to never imitate and remain yourself
even when you are lost and alone
but mama I don’t want to be
lost and alone
I want to go off to war
and never come back
and make you as proud as you can be
february two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
the industrious child spent
his morning picking up the fallen fruit
of the maple tree
placing them one or two or three at a time
into a plastic orange pail
as his mother sat on the glider
on the front porch
rocking the little one to sleep
comfortably in her arms
both bundled within a shawl
a cool breeze made the boy’s cheeks
as pink as the tulips that bloomed
nearly a month ago
and when the pail became filled
to his satisfaction he disappeared
into the house
only to reappear in a second story window
where he proceeded to pretend
a fleet of military choppers
converged behind enemy lines
june two thousand thirteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
a child slips away
for just a moment
crawling between a railing
so many stories high
falling in slow motion
your hands reaching out
unable to grasp
the law of diminishing reality
april two thousand thirteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
on the most sorrowful day floral arrangements
accompany the winding road
as the birds of the field sing their joyful songs
nearby wildflowers weep and sway
newly clipped roses wrapped in paper produce
smiles once believed long gone
wherever a child is knee-deep in raw color
never let time pass away
april two thousand thirteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
enormous yellow bus
makes historic stop
at the corner of oak
and every avenue
daddy holds his little girl’s
hand as the two of them
stand speechless staring
at the flashing stop sign
the door swings open
and curious feet disappear
into a swarming world
of pushing and pulling
march two thousand thirteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
after falling down against my will
decades from the past
represented themselves
as colorful pixels
slowly dissolving
into near nothingness
in due time my consciousness
resurrected itself
as a beautiful child
and there was nothing
i wouldn’t do
to start walking again
january two thousand thirteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
the orphan child grew
into a selfless man
always helping others
despite the failure
to ever comprehend
his own abandonment
october two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
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