jdubqca

poetry by j matthew waters

Archive for the tag “conflict”

04 Aug 2022

the world isn’t full of love


the constant call to arms
loudspeakers in the city streets
projecting all the romance languages

young boys & girls tilt their heads
counting years on their fingers
virtual tactical gear painted on their skin
marching to the snare & the bugle

a caravan of tarp covered vehicles
transport wet-eared recruits
populating newly formed camps
outside the danger zone

soon the city will be empty
and children in their infinite wisdom
find what the world lacks is love





august two thousand twenty-two
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in In the City, Poetry, War Poems and tagged , , | Leave a comment
23 Jul 2022

shadow boxing


it’s better to have the gloves on
you never know
what might come out of
left field
where the shadows start to creep in
around six pm

though the stadium is empty
your mind sees it standing room only
like back in ninety-nine
having lost your way returning
for a hometown match

the moon that night
was high above & bulging
as you kept swinging & missing it
until eventually tiring
setting yourself up
& knocking yourself down





july two thousand twenty-two
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry and tagged , , | Leave a comment
06 Sep 2021

outside afghanistan


it’s not explainable
be it fish or fowl
or alien invasion
so many miles
from the shoreline

out on the lake
I saw it unfolding
in slow motion
like a weather event
swiftly moving in

how none of the
witnesses rememberedOUT
a thing is baffling
leaving me on the inside
refusing to look out

from what I hear
I’ve made the short list
but now I’m absent
far removed from the sea
& probably landlocked





september two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Aliens, Poetry, War Poems and tagged , , | Leave a comment
30 Aug 2013
14 Comments

not wanted


call off your eagles
nesting in my trees
they belong back home
protecting your streets

those sharks in the sea
circling near the coast
free them from their wrath
far away from my church

the seven nation army
breathing down my neck
marches on with dignity
only few understand





august two thousand thirteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry, War Poems and tagged , ,
06 Apr 2013
10 Comments

the chocolate revolution


there’s a revolution brewing
and it’s going to be loud
and dangerous and downright
unintellectual for so many

old women stand in long lines
buying magazines for their men
while inside dogs stay huddled
behind yet intact furniture

unrecruited men and boys
hide behind alleyways
reading the latest reports
from handheld devices

a voice from the loudspeaker
claiming to be the answer
promises free tickets to paradise
and chocolate for everyone


april two thousand thirteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry, War Poems and tagged , , , , , , , ,

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