jdubqca

poetry by j matthew waters

Archive for the tag “communication”

Dinner bell


She found me out back
sitting on the stoop
weeping

What’s wrong?

I composed myself
and looking down at the concrete
I shook my head saying
I don’t know
no sé no sé

How long have you been back here?

I wanted to say I’ve been back
here for years
laughing & crying on occasion
but for some reason
nobody ever caught me

Having not answered I heard her
change her stance by crossing
one foot behind the other

Very well—supper is ready if you’re hungry


march two thousand twenty-five
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

radio edit


I was in the garage fixing the radio
when charlie came in
cigarette and beer in hand
wearing wrangler blue jeans
and a sleeveless tee

what in the hell are you doing neighbor
he asked

I told him I was fixing the radio
(the one with the reddish-orange digital display
that usually hangs underneath the kitchen cabinet
the kind you have to use a pen or pencil
to advance the time of day)

he took a peek at me soldering the
red wire to the circuit board
was careful to blow his smoke
out toward the street

as I screwed the cover back on
he asked what in the hell I needed a
radio for this day and age
you know with the internet and pandora
or some such shit

to listen to the dead but of course
is how I answered
and I picked up my radio and excused myself


august two thousand thirteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Post Navigation