deep thoughts reside
on the far side of the moon
where the sleeper catcher
infrequently visits
an otherwise quiet mind
gradually over time
subconscious spirits
escape past the dreams
quietly acting out
a world I yet to know
may two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
Bring me back pictures
from Paris
or better yet email them
as you take them
with your lovely friends
who really aren’t your friends
but hired sycophants
who follow you
all over the world
Bring me flowers
from foreign lands
prove to me that you still love me
and want me around
even though
you left me here
daydreaming
in my horseless chariot
wondering where you are
may two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
View the French translation version by Gyslaine Le Gal by clicking here
She was known as just Chocolate,
an orphan of Ghanaian
and Brazilian descent
and survivor of the shipwreck Barbados.
She was raised as the Master’s daughter
on a cocoa bean plantation in Ecuador.
Her instincts for creative engineering
introduced blended flavors to the world
never before imagined, finding favor
with candy confectioners and connoisseurs.
After years of industry recognition
her status changed to “overnight sensation”
when by accident she amalgamated
her sweet namesake with peanuts and butter.
may two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
a murder of crows
bide their time
on the outskirts of town
waiting patiently
as the virus
gripped the residents
with fever and fear
death by death
the murder grew larger
their calls becoming
creepingly human
their strategy
instinctively fine-tuned
and well orchestrated
the devastation
never aired anywhere
no mention of crows
nor intelligence
of any pandemic
ever germinating
in an alien field
april two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
Soaring lightly
he set his sights
on an unnatural rustle
beneath oak leaves
near the creek’s bend
Circling round
he gradually descends
into a slow spiral
easily snatching
a couple of snacks
for he and his girl
april, two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
You can’t leave candles
burning all night,
she said.
It was then
I imagined
how people lived
before Edison.
Are you kidding me?
I asked,
amazed the house
had yet to burn down.
april, two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
I wasn’t scared
just slightly out of it
plus these bloody marys
don’t do anything for me
all day
Later in the evening
reaching for a needle
I sometimes wonder
if Mister Doctor
knows I’ve always
told him the truth
I hear the economy
in Mendocino County
is doing just fine
in my mind
I am already there
tending my own garden
april, two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
It starts with a clap
a flash
a distant sound of despair
one mississippi
two mississippi
three mississippi
Fireflies marvel
at the electricity
searching for shelter
in the open air
one mississippi
two mississippi
A child scrambles
in three directions at once
finds protection
in her mother’s arms
one mississippi
This fiery night
is wickedly bright
but through my eyes
is beauty in disguise
one
nineteen ninety-two
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
Armed with knowledge and truth
angels wander along a rocky coast
occasionally glancing
at the multi-colored sky
breathing in virgin air
and tasting salt-water
from a never-ending sea
that crashes and rolls onto itself
and toward those who wait
with extraordinary patience
for their time to be called
march, two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
I took the 7:10 into the city: an hour
ride taken so many times.
Most of the faces inside the car
I had seen before, others I had not.
I sat motionless, pretending
to be patient, wishful today
I would find the woman
whose ring I recovered eight day ago.
Reaching into my pocket
I pulled out the gold band
and held it between my thumb
and forefinger, her reflection
developing inside a circle
I would forever adore.
march, two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
You can’t force it
she said.
It was then I realized
I kept making decisions
without thinking
what might happen
to my beautiful Queen.
Lost and searching
for something magical
to capture my eye
I slowly realized
my quest for patience
was nothing more
than an elusive wish.
february, two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
We drove through the cemetery
in the dead of winter
until we found the blue canopy
flopping in the wind
Many inches of snow had fallen
the night before but the plow
had cleared the lanes
A bright sun and dress shoes
hit the asphalt with purpose
As many as a hundred faces
converged on the canopy
in steadfast silence
Gusts of wind arrived from the west
and tossed snow off the roof
and onto the gatherers
Familiar prayers were recited
between coughs and sniffles
and one woman’s weeping
When a bugler played
a familiar lullaby
the vacant faces drifted
in varying directions
whispers of sorrow filling the air
january two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
we dove into the waters
and found a way
to not only survive
but thrive
without the usual oxygen
we once took for granted
january two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
Her photograph had faded
over the years
its corners bent
the once off-white border
discolored from finger-oil
Over time she slipped inside
a plastic sleeve
her visage turning softer
her smile faraway yet forgiving
To be sure no words matched
the strength of her photograph
her haunting thoughts
filling my dreams
january two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
Mama always sat on the glider
on the front porch, slightly
swinging and knitting away
on a scarf or such,
looking up every now and then
to keep tabs on her chickens.
january two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
Beyond the atmosphere
enjoying the colorful scenery
flying really fast
Earth is my dartboard
and I am way off base
I wish I could hit the ground
but I am just one
out of trillions
flying beyond
any gravitational pull
I would lie
if I said I was part
of the dinosaur extinction
Would be wrong
if I said
I was a twinkle
in someone’s eyes
Truth be known
nobody has any idea
where I landed
beyond any planet’s horizon
january two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
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