I do not have a place
to call home
for I am but a visitor here
or so I’ve come to learn
I did not have a say
in how & where I landed
and I am well aware
this land that I occupy
belongs to someone else
there are many connections
yet to be made before moving on
desirous of making amends
with the true inheritors
of this bountiful land
march two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
march unleashed the lion
and suddenly everyone
started breathing again
it won’t be long though
before she’s dead & gone
naturally replaced by
wildflowers & pollinators
march two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
it is summer again
though this time it’s different
aerial artists spelling out words
across a clear blue sky
resonating with how you feel
there is no changing of the guard
or replacing the old with the new
there is only forward progression
as if living inside a movie reel
with each passing summer
something new dies
and as another night draws near
you find more artists in the sky
spelling out their names
march two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
or whatever it is you are calling
yourself these days
I’m beginning to believe
you’re stepping into a brand
new world
slightly the same
but maybe edgier [or tamer]
just can’t quite
put a finger on it
I recall you asking me
if a cat has nine lives
how many more shouldn’t we
it’s all about the math
you went on to explain
and me vividly remembering
writing it all down
march two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
it was the middle of march
and the big chill arrived right on time
it was a saturday
no sun no rain no moon
the house was full of silence
never had so many souls
walked about the place
words limited
children practicing sign language
in the living room
there were two birds
sitting in the bush
as if overseeing the whole
proceedings
boldly defying the stone
planted there in the grass
march two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
Afraid to die not afraid
which is it man
please make up your mind
But isn’t that the way it goes
everything is temporary
making decisions & then
reversing them
perhaps by way of public opinion
or simply because you don’t
know how to think for yourself
I used to think everyone
was afraid to die
but yes how naive & foolish
that now seems
having come to witness
the rebirth of man & woman alike
march two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
there is a song playing
in the other room
sounding somewhat familiar
but too faint to make out
of course the other room
is incapable of playing music
and so you venture there
to see what is what
the curtains are open
and so are the windows
you stand in the other room
as the song draws to a close
march two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
listen there is so much more to learn
before moving on to the next plane
but for some reason you’re stuck in a field of mud
not one soul within shouting distance
when the rains come you’ll be able
to make your way to a better place
but in the meantime there is so much to consider
now that you’ve scored more time
moving forward or back matters not
it’s the constant motioning you seek
as if you’ve acquired the wings of a hummingbird
now so very busy but going nowhere
march two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
and so they bought it all
hook sinker & line
by a man who wanted to be a god
somehow convincing the majority
there are greater days in store
as long as you are strong enough
able to instantly get over your
dead mother & dead grandmother
for the sake of the motherland
and yes but of course as long as
there is history yet to be made
march two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
there’s much happening in the background
but it’s always been that way
this time though it’s closer to home
and with it comes a fear factor
the neighborhood’s not been the same
well before things were shut down
clamped down
locked down
new voices in a new language
broadcasting over the airwaves
it’s not difficult to learn something new
as long as there is proper motivation
like not wanting to die anytime soon
march two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
I’ve been googling how to become a god
and I’m finding it’s not as daunting
of a task as you might think
it’s not much different
than other casual aspirations
in which I have tried & failed
all the while claiming it could be done
acquiring the knowledge of self
is a start in the right direction
but that understanding might
only crack open the door
becoming a god is not impossible
but in doing so one must first
seek & destroy their own self
march two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
these interesting days
weeks & months & yes years
look at what they do
to the likes of me & you
one day you’re changing
your neighbor’s tire
the next throwing
molotov cocktails
over the barricades
you keep saying you’re
too young for this
but next thing I know
you’re back on all channels
keeping the family name alive
february two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
I’ve a need to be rewired
there are just too many
short circuits taking place
affecting the effectiveness
of my inner most thoughts
[I’ve got a soldering gun
electrical tape & 10 gauge wire
out in the garage]
some of my past projects
involve the use of wind & water
sun & fire & temperance
but this time all I need is
a couple amps of imagination
playing nurse & doctor again
in the lower level
the concrete is sterile
and the lights flicker
this time I get to be the patient
february two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
born into privilege
he was troubled by poverty
a million dollars can feed
ten million minds
with absurdity & grace
this is a fishing pole & this is
how you set the bait
they set the pharmacy on fire
but nobody seemed to care
withdrawals & deposits
blood bank & sperm bank & local
community bank
saint cecilia loves to sing
sex & violence & rock-n-roll
this virus is a bitch
keeps a man up at night
rethinking his own demise
february two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
yeah I got problems too
lately working on a puzzle
with too many pieces missing
but hey isn’t that what the
internet if for
let’s see I called you
back in nineteen eighty-two
it was 3:33 am
and I had no idea who I was
at the time
of course you didn’t pick up
probably didn’t live
there anymore
but I’m sure I was calling
for a specific reason
february two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
no matter where you
find yourself
do not be afraid
for there is always
a higher ground
there is no room
for jealousy
on whatever level
just be sure
to brush it all off
before moving on
forget the powers
that keep on lying
soon they’ll all be dead
rather set your sights
on a higher ground
breathe and smile
how some would say
and certain things
are bound to happen
breathe & smile they say
the night draws near
february two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
jdubqca 