throw paint at the wall
to get a clearer picture
of what’s in the room
—having dried overnight
return & peel back the colors
the painted elephant
is like a shameless chameleon
a reminder you might not
arrive at any conclusions
the first time around
january two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
all the colors on one spectrum
it’s destined to happen
just you wait & see
all the colors
she would tell me
and I would be waiting
waiting & wanting more
but that’s all she had to say
all the colors
finally I acquiesced & repeated
all the colors
and then only then
did I begin to understand
april two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
looking for something a little
less abstract
maybe patches
of blue green grass
apparent yet sublime
like colorful skin inside
an eggshell white dress
traveling by way of foot
well grounded
and full of hope
a constant eye
on the celestial sky
critically interpreting
all the various shades
february two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
flip style
box top
magically opens
revealing sixty-four crayolas
fingers and voices counting and
calling each by name
eyes sparkling
cheeks blushing
lips smiling
the youngest and oldest of minds
opening up to new ideas
born on white sheets of paper
may two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
i left the house unlocked
with all the lights on
and ventured down the hill
in the dark and in the cold
within minutes a warmth
surprised my cool thoughts
as the faraway wall of clouds
evolved into pink and red
and purple and blue
as my meandering mind
marched further away
a bright red fire truck
appeared out of nowhere
blasting its dominant horn
and racing to save the day
a trio of three dogs named
java and cocoa and sally
halted in their tracks
as if envious of the dalmatian
sitting at attention and
riding shotgun
january two thousand thirteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
wishes will always live
in so many forms
health, happiness and wealth
something as grand
as world peace
or refreshing
as a family in harmony
strangely beautiful words
wish to find true colors
worthy of painting
a world beyond tomorrow
june two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
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