Behind the big tent
The little boy
Continued to learn
How to command
The juvenile elephant
His truest friend
Since birth
All the while
The juvenile elephant
Felt sorry for the boy
Reciprocating
In her own way
february two thousand twenty-four
copyright j matthew waters
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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
I’ve seen this before
it’s what some call a repeat
déjà vu if you will
like a herd of elephants
lumbering across the sky
I’ve seen this before
magically recasted to the TV
runners on second & third
the next three batters
striking out looking
I’ve seen this before
rain falling like stars
washing out the elephants
and delaying the game
probably until next year
august two thousand twenty
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seventy-seven bush elephants
masquerading as one cumulus cloud
slowly trek across the desert sky
bulging like a waxing gibbous
hired archer standing atop zeppelin
back bending backwards
held in place by ropes & pulleys
aiming to deflate the entire herd
may two thousand twenty
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all rights reserved
sun falling fast behind frost-covered hills
shades of pink glorifying the horizon
variable winds swirling and sweeping
speaking in languages I’m sure I once knew
images of elephants coming to mind
marching high in midday sky
sporting hides bordering on pink
drifting in and out of cumulus clouds
turning hot and sticky summer days
into something inexplicably cool
november two thousand eighteen
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all rights reserved
Hop skip and jump
all the way to bank & back
nickels in pockets
pennies in shoes
The ice is thin
but surprisingly strong
watching in amazement
elephants marching on
Many moons smile
only a few may frown
there is orange in the sky
nobody seems to forget
Listen here and listen now
silence and fireworks
commingling on purpose
resting up
for the unrest
january two thousand eighteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
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