the town is vacant
abandoned by war
can you feel me
trembling with fear
the moon is afire
and the field is aglow
can you see me
chasing the wind
the bridge is out
and the river is frozen
can you hear me
calling your name
the border is near
attracting me closer
your arms reach out
unbelievably we embrace
december two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
it seems like everyone is hell bent on
picking a fight
but by everyone I don’t mean you or me
sometimes I want you to make me think
and other times I don’t
I’m not sure which is worse
pretending the white elephant
isn’t actually pink
or acknowledging all is fair
in lust and taxation
I didn’t come here looking
for a fight
and neither did you
so I keep on convincing myself
that’s what keeps us separated
from whatever it is
that’s hurting
november two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
there is nothing ever new
it has always been there before
whether it be spaceships or dinosaurs
to be or not to be
give me liberty or give me death
what are they but bold proclamations
made by multitudes (of men)
long before recorded history
there is this cumulation of sorts
that continually runs on autopilot
where storms and wars become
even more powerful
nature against man
man against nature (and man)
relentlessly pounding
worldwide peace movements
that somehow flourish surrealistically
century after century
it’s a long way to where I’m going
but chances are once I get there
nobody will ever know
october two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
children playing out back
unrestricted by all the fences
digging foxholes and
sowing the lord’s seeds
dinnertime bells only delay
the inevitable
and just as their bellies
will never be full
most will find it nearly impossible
to ever grow old
september two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
do not be nervous little ones
the world is not falling apart at the seams
I do not mean to lie but things are not
what they seem (to be)
in fact these happenings may just
be a figment of some lesser god’s
imagination
and those drums coming nearer
gaining ground even while you’re sleeping
what are they even doing here
and how did they earn privilege
to beat upon the children
september two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
footote:
loosely based on song of similar
title by A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle youtube video
we can’t seem to get past
talking about the weather
how it lifts us up only
to tear us down
one day sipping apple-spiced tea
at café eden
the next trapped inside a
bomb shelter in aleppo
I say the weather is earth’s
spirit restless in its own creativity
slowly evolving and forever changing
you nod and look skyward
pointing at the clouds
roiling and attracting countless starlings
seeds affected by cosmic precipitation
you never know what may come next
perhaps a prophet or a prince
or a torrid dictator
ruthless storms continuously stir
inside boiling pots
reappearing as easy as they please
perpetuating change by destroying
everything in its path
september two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
you kill for your god
you rape and maim and murder
all for your god
you carry objects in your pockets
a license to kill the guilty
along with the innocent
your god has made you judge
grand jury and executioner
and deservedly so
for he is a righteous dude
and his prejudices are warranted
even though he oftentimes transmits
disturbing orders
you have no choice but to carry out
all the real estate in the world
belongs to your god
and so you go out and capture
as many flags as you can
no questions asked
august two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
nobody’s tending the fire
it’s just burning on its own
neither controlled nor uncontrolled
emitting a stench of indifference
massacres and coup attempts
repeat like the rising of the sun
highlighting headlines on
doorsteps as death tolls escalate
and accumulate
meanwhile the fire burns
fueled by arms deals between
friends and foes
stoked by power struggles and
brokered by corrupt politicians
enabling strategic corporations
social consciousness bombards
wireless outlets with outrage
pumping up clouds until they burst
pamphlets of love falling
like rain across a world on fire
july two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
summer’s promise has been smashed into
irreparable pieces
swept into the gutter along with man’s mortal sins
unable to be washed away
even by torrential rains
the pursuit of happiness is just a dying thought
riddled with contradictions
kings clench their fists and promise
real change will come
but the people in the streets shake their heads
weeping for the dead with brooms in hand
that all men are created equal they know
to be untrue
as are the history books justifying
the massacre of native peoples
and the legality of human slavery
oh America why have thou failed so many
foolishly feeding
the machine of mass destruction
your people afraid to leave their homes
a people starving for peace and love
and understanding
unconcerned with hollow words
on an idle document
july two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
there is deception in those eyes
seemingly innocent
but exposed
to a lifetime of atrocities
captured by the camera’s lens
they are frozen in time
and streamed live
to a world hopelessly paralyzed
relocated time and again
she hides her eyes and dreams
of the day
living with angels in paradise
may two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
he sat at the table
quietly
the salt and pepper
barely out of reach
but he would not speak
chewing the butterfly pork chop
precisely
she asked him if it needed
any salt
and he simply stuck
another chunk into his mouth
slowly but briefly shaking
his head
he buttered an ear of corn
using a slice of bread
and picked it up
clumsily
worked away at it
fearlessly
she knew it needed salt
but he wouldn’t say a word
and she wouldn’t dare
interrupt
a second time
she wanted to let him know
there was a good movie
airing on the pay-per-view
but thought twice
telling herself she was sure
he wanted to figure things out
all on his own
may two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
a sickness hangs around
undisturbed
sublime like the slender moon
infrequently bright
but destined to burst
silent cells work below
the surface
tunneling effectively
like eager termites
building a kingdom
monitors intersect
the chatter
faint but riding the airwaves
like a vampire bat
preparing to strike
emerging past the shadows
bulging lights
expose the contagion
airborne and fatal
blighting whole cities
march two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
we germinated seeds wrapped in
moist paper towels
trapped inside teacup saucers
left behind beneath the kitchen sink
evicted for reasons unbeknownst
to the uncaring eye
we migrated into the metropolis
finding security amongst the living
barely surviving into the spring
we packed our things
heads held high and singing
like the birds following in our wake
crossing into newfound fertile lands
we planted something new
prayed to the gods that be
our resurrected hopes would grow
february two thousand sixteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
when the telephone rings
it is wise not to answer
for the best news is no news
in these godforsaken lands
I cringe at the injustices
bestowed upon the helpless
how the most brutal minds
can take away anything they like
at any given moment
they were not put on this earth
by the gods who protect me
the gods who taught me
tolerance and compassion
promising a better place
in another time and space
in the meantime the wars
and the mass murders
and merciless distrust between
neighbors prevail
history unable to help
but repeat itself
july two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
you see them often from all kinds of angles
there right in front of you
real life people dying on real life stages
up close and in your face
in color and featured on screens of any size
delivered to the comfort of your own home
or wherever you may be roaming
though they may look like you
may have your eyes or nose or cheekbone
they don’t share your problems
their predicaments are nothing but a distraction
or occasionally interesting
like a saturday morning wildlife show
where all the creatures of the world
figure everything out on their own
march two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
the torch may fade from time to time
may flicker like a pilot’s light
disappearing over the sea
below the surface the torch
resumes its glow
likely to be found by henchmen
digging foxholes
beware the silence
they warned
lifting their torches
and charging a newfound
enemy with fiery explosions
in the aftermath smoldering fires
resurrect memories of old promises
feeding those who hunger
rebuilding what was destroyed
as new histories emerge new
generations evolve
securing the torches in submerged silos
believing that without peace
all the yesterdays of the world
added up to nothing
november two thousand fourteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
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