I did not pass the test of time
and soon found myself
back at the drawing table
studying the subject
from a different point of view
one in which I’d become
someone unrecognizable
making me wonder
what would have become of me
if I had managed to pass the test
on the very first try
february two thousand twenty-five
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
it’s not the first time
death came knocking
and this time
we were more than happy
to open the next door
perhaps this time
something a little less dark
and a touch more creative
—something along the lines of
not trying to do too much
reawakened on city streets
wiped clean by recent rains
children on the sidelines
sport buckets of neon chalk
free for anyone to use
december two thousand twenty-four
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
they say the eyes never lie
or so says the minor poet
himself lost in his ways
subject to his own deception
fear not the casual whisper
capable of filtering
into a softly-felt crescendo
or so says the minor poet
birds throughout the ages
are subject to the winds
or so says the minor poet
teaching a child to fly
january two thousand twenty-four
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
I might be her she said
and that made me think
if it might be her
who may I be
she might be the sunrise
and I may be the ground
she might be serendipity
and I may be starbound
I might be her she said
and I may be a passing ship
sailing by without permission
she might be exactly
who she thinks she is
and since discovering such words
I may never have noticed
may two thousand twenty-two
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
I offered silence and I was
chastised by the god of noise
while the god of peace recessed
into a corner dressed in white
sitting on a stool she recounted
neither scripture nor sacrifice
proclaiming no territorial disputes
offering no reasons for forgiveness
all the while peaceful men wage
war in the four corners of the world
disbelieving the looking-glass
located in the center of the universe
reflects a world of possibility
august two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
jdubqca 