jdubqca

poetry by j matthew waters

Archive for the tag “words”

06 Oct 2023
8 Comments

made of cherry wood


there are these words
scrambled atop this tall table
one with two high chairs

it sits in the corner of the room
the cherry wood
dark & shadowy

people who live there
people who visit
pass by on a regular basis
but they do not notice the words

one night one of them is speaking
philosophically
—the four others sit on the floor
listening & mostly nodding

he or she goes on to say it’s difficult
to explain what we’re trying to say
that it’s hard to put into words

the very words scrambled
across the tall tabletop
—like a puzzle dying to be put together

and they sit on the floor
& they ponder

the floor too
made of cherry wood





october two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry and tagged , , ,
04 Sep 2023

working the jumble


I kind of had this idea
—an inkling if you will
but the heatwave
took it away just like that

I snap my fingers
it’s the only sound I hear
maybe that’s the idea
the snapping of the fingers
something easily taught

once you get the snapping
going things seem to
magically germinate
soon you’re making up words
tossing them about

it’s like juggling I suppose
maybe that’s the idea
juggling words like a clown
spinning around
never allowing them
to fall to the ground





september two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry and tagged , , , | Leave a comment
12 Nov 2022

second semester lit


end the madness and make old things new again

so many overused words
can you name one
will you dare
may I start with ominous
or something less
mysterious
like life or death

it matters not which words
become misused
or misunderstood
be it recently
or centuries ago
reinvented by the likes
of poetic artisans





november two thousand twenty-two
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry and tagged , , | Leave a comment
03 Jun 2021

prime numbers & secondary colors


use your words
written or spoken
or by way of signing
all depending upon
how you see yourself
at the moment

at times words
simply won’t do
like when jesus upturned
tables at the temple
or elvis attaining
his isolated lowest

and what about those
outer body episodes
when all you have
are prime numbers
and secondary colors
to express yourself




june two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry and tagged , , , | Leave a comment
06 Apr 2021
2 Comments

for as long as I wanted to stay


I’ve jotted down a few words
looking to see if any of them
might make sense

where exactly do you find them
casual conversations
youtube videos
in-store purchasing
fm car radio

I keep saying I’m losing my mind
but nobody is listening
I’ve got so many words left
needing to be analyzed

I’d like to step into the future
just to see if it’s really there

and if I told you I don’t want to return
would you believe me

of course I must come back
but I’ve managed to smuggle
a few unknown words
along with some seeds
I was promised would keep me alive
for as long as I wanted to stay




april two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry and tagged , ,
04 Jul 2020
6 Comments

like late autumn leaves


precious little one
look me in the eye & listen
to my words

for there are so few left
in this world
& I wish to bestow them

to someone like you
innocent & accepting
willing to secure them

for an undetermined
amount of time
willing to one day

set them free
by releasing them into
an uplifting wind

only to slowly descend
into your open arms
like late autumn leaves




july two thousand twenty
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry and tagged , , ,
28 Jul 2019
2 Comments

making up words


lately I’ve been busy making up words
words without definitions
screaming and smiling at the same time
mouth forming an imperfect circle
inquisitive eyes looking my way
fingertips touching cheeks
unsure whether to laugh or cry

I got so loud they kicked us out
before my party even had a chance
to finish their drinks
but those who found humor
in my made-up words waved good-bye
talking amongst themselves
who or what on earth I could possibly be

I tell you now I could be just about anyone
your best friend or worst nightmare
but truth be told I’m here to stay
making up words without definitions
screaming them as I may
as long as my lungs will let me




july two thousand nineteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry and tagged , ,
11 Dec 2018
11 Comments

words without friends


throwing words against wall
seeing what will stick
be it war or peace
or work or play
sun or moon or stars

some stick better than others
individuals letters
peeling off now and then
turning batch into bach
or clock into cock
crow into row

sometimes it’s fun
to toss one letter at a time
like darts in a barroom
spelling heart without an E
or soul without a U
bullseye with one I

sometimes nothing sticks
and you find yourself
back in the drawing room
making words with ink
one lonely letter at a time




december two thousand eighteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserve

Posted in Poetry and tagged , , ,
06 Nov 2018
7 Comments

forever held in peace


what’s not said holds
more meaning
than any spoken word made in haste

how many times have you heard
it’s not what you said
but the way in which you said it

and what about those thoughts
left unsaid
do you know how they simply
go by the wayside
like acts of contrition
performed in private

it shouldn’t have to come to this
afraid to speak for fear
the moon will never weep again
afraid to sleep
for fear the sun may never rise




november two thousand eighteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry and tagged , ,

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