the lessons of the day
fade into obscurity
all serious examinations
that once occupied
a troubled mind
now a single fleeting thought
with no place to land
the path is narrow
and the journey is far
taking a lifetime or more
to reach any sort
of conclusion
whether hallowed
or simply hallucinogenic
february two thousand twenty-five
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
what do you got
I ain’t got nothing man
what about you
what’d you got
well I got these two feet
down below me
and I know they take me places
places I ain’t never
seen before
october two thousand twenty-four
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
the train departs
on the hour every hour
never late
never early
but always mostly full
it you want to leave today
then baby you got all day
and if you don’t
well the train keeps going anyway
—every tomorrow
the train departs
on the hour every hour
never late
never early
almost always full
october two thousand twenty-four
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
I walked along the river
its current
streaming through
bone conduction headphones
I turn the volume up
using thought commands
—the early spring leaves
in the very tall trees
growing greener
by the minute
the eagle sees the crow
but not vice versa
hawks circling overhead
escorting me along
the shoulder of the road
zeroing in on the welcome sign
at a trailhead
the river reminds me
home is further from the truth
suggesting its best
to stay close to her banks
may two thousand twenty-four
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
the heart quickens
& eyes sharpen
arms & legs working precisely
the mind machine-like
& built for lightspeed
racing through darkness
becoming forever new
april two thousand twenty-four
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
in a deep trance
I was asked what I could see
and I replied
I could see it all
the beginning
and the middle
and the end
in a deep trance
I was asked what exactly
is the end
and I replied
the end is like being alone
inside a boat built for two
floating down the river allusion
april two thousand twenty-four
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
I am drawn to that which is beautiful
like the moth to the light
the pursuit goes on from lifetime
to lifetime
from one century to the next
and yet
there are distinct hesitations
throughout these forward progressions
allowing time to question
whether or not
you have seen these faces before
I saw you just the other day
but I was quite certain you had changed
and though I couldn’t remember your name
you called out mine
as if we were long-lost friends
I looked at you with puzzled eyes
and flashed an awkward smile
an artificial light appearing out of nowhere
telling me it’s time to move on
june two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
they closed the high road
for reformation
or so says the orange sign
attached to the electric fence
blocking the entrance
to the mountain road
it’s no wonder the locals say
the entire system
has suffered from misuse by
political scientists
and secret police
for some hundred years
once the lights sail past
the stratosphere
the high road will reopen
and pilgrims camping
at the base will resume
their arduous journey
april two thousand thirteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
for centuries the survivors
of the forgotten world
journeyed to the ancient city
to marvel at the concrete
and glass that once gave rise
to an infallible dream
unable to imagine
such destructive forces
the children picked wildflowers
growing from the ash
waving them in the air
pretending to surrender
january two thousand thirteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
i applied for fortune
but none was granted
and i alone sought justice
for this slight
traveling the earth
i refocused my energies
seeking wisdom
beneath the rock of ages
praying for maturity
to never surrender
october two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
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