I shall lay bare all my sins
by way of the written word
etched onto paper
recorded in the cloud
available twenty-four seven
long after we’re all gone
while in the present
privacy is of no consequence
brainwaves like tree roots
interconnected & quite alive
conversing in a language
all their own
february two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
they’re talking on the streets
how it’s much safer than
metropolitan america
oh how I laugh
not interested in going back
my passport surrendered
so many years ago
—I’ve since developed
a new language
dutifully translating
unknown poetry
february two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
I wanted to converse with you
in your native tongue
but all I could do was listen
and nod and smile
comprehending your every single word
but unable to respond accordingly
you’ve been gone now for what
seems like days or weeks or months
the concept of time incalculable in my mind
retreating back to familiar places
I practice words & phrases
spoken half a world away
painting pictures and
connecting dots from here to there
where words once meant everything
march two thousand nineteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
she looked to be western but I couldn’t
be sure
not the way she kept
looking away
I had never been this far from
home before
but I was certain
I could fit in
if only I cut myself some slack
when I first arrived
I locked myself in a room
familiarizing myself with local programming
misunderstanding most
everything I heard
eventually I rationally concluded
that if I’m going to make it here
it’s imperative I learn to walk
my convictions soon placed me
at a nearby café
ordering something
refreshing (without cheating)
seriously considering my next move
april two thousand seventeen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
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