eyes laser-focused
on the knuckle curve
crossing the outside lower half
home plate umpire more than emphatic
his fists doing the one-two jab
taking the batter out without
ever knowing what hit him
may two thousand twenty-five
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
we had a wild & wonderful drive
crisscrossing west virginia
but in the end
it must have been just a dream
having found ourselves
back in boring kansas
november two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
strawberry sunrise
on a banana split sunday
titanium knives and red plastic spoons
furiously flashing atop cutting board counter
magically dishing out culinary happiness
one cool concoction at a time
november two thousand nineteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
for some reason
stitch and sew
repeats in my mind
like a child’s doll
eyes wide open
looking past
the lonely horizon
those loose ends
eventually tear open
momentarily
put back together
surgically restoring
lines of vision
and seamless smiles
july two thousand nineteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
are you talking to me
in syllables never making sense
blowing raspberries
and shaking about
like a fart in a frying pan
you came into this world
rather unexpectedly
cries and stretches and smiles
demanding everything
and nothing at the same time
july two thousand nineteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
your imagination started
long before creation
inspired by compositions
streaming through space
emerging from the dark
you selectively choose
what comes naturally
like the ripest apples
hanging on the vine
june two thousand nineteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
do not confuse my words with reality
they are conjured at night while my eyes
are rapidly interpreting current events
sometimes seizing the moment
like a champion in the ring
other times adrift at sea
neither lost nor found
but diligently tracking familiar stars
eventually finding my way back home
april two thousand nineteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
there is precipitation in the sky
improvising as falling ice
pinging partially-filled glasses
and producing magical notes
music piped into the city square
unexpected dancers sporting umbrellas
smiling under artificial light
twisting and twirling and portraying
life as a grand affair
february two thousand nineteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
Tongue stuck out and twisting
Pepsi bottlecap between thumb and forefinger
pocket knife in other
spooning out the corking from the metal
The rounded cork disappears
inside the T-shirt
reunited with the bottlecap
between the fabric
nineteen ninety-seven
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
full moon with stitches
off-white and slowly revolving
like a knuckleball
in the alleyways
pick-up games start at daybreak
broomsticks and duct tape
tying run at plate
runners at every corner
bus driver pitching
final shot arcing
sailing over skyscrapers
shooting for the moon
september two thousand eighteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
we will cross the river
the artist and I
and we will find a new outlet
to call our home
and we will sleep as one
falling in and out of
romantic daydreams
evening sun hiding her
eyes behind decorative fan
rising moon reaching out
to gently awaken us
so that we may create again
july two thousand eighteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
you come to me as a spirit
poking and prodding and
whispering sweet discretions in my ear
but I am fast asleep like a bear hibernating
periodically shivering
but mainly motionless and soundless
secretly enjoying a series of
interconnected dreams
leading me from one kiss to the next
july two thousand eighteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
so here I am held in some detention camp
along with every living soul I ever knew
one by one they are called away
until eventually I find myself alone again
selfishly gathering their freshly strewn petals
june two thousand eighteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
it’s not easy to survive without love
someone to touch
if only for a moment in time
attempting to describe
that which can never be
like a sunset in wintertime
that was meant for only you and me
june two thousand eighteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
all things are eventual
if not downright equal
why not let them play out as they may
instead of contemplating
various scenarios inside map rooms
where alternative endings
are inherently undesirable
may two thousand eighteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
so many songs about saturday night
up and down the radio dial
forever cast into eternity
thanks to artistry and antigravity
and there you are behind the curtain
hairbrush in your hand
belting out your favorite songs
younger siblings doubting your sanity
may two thousand eighteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
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