going off the grid
appears to be
the easiest way to escape
all the violence & insanities
surrounding us
—and even then
even then there’s no guarantee
we’d still be alive
in this war-infested world
yet another year
february two thousand twenty-four
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
they entered my house unannounced
dapper in blue uniforms & purple berets
sporting steel-tipped boots & cotton-white gloves
—silver stars pinned to shirt pockets
pistols in holsters & papers in hand
they acted as if I wasn’t even here
the three of them moving in unison
methodically going from room to room
one taking photographs
another taking notes
the leader giving orders via hand signals
opening drawers & cabinets
an occasional cough & chortle
when they went upstairs
I stayed on the main floor
& when they never returned
I decided it was no longer safe to stay here
may two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
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