Sample Poems by William Waters

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A Thing, Not an Idea

Her smell
on my skin,
a thing
not
an idea—
nothing
as con-
torted
as love,
but an
acci-
dent of
atoms
contin-
uing.

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As Simply as I Know It

To put it physically,
there is a piano wire coming from my stomach,
just below my belly-button;
You strike it with a hammer
and I shake.

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After

When the rains came
We both felt better

“I’m sorry,” I said, “I didn’t…”
“I know,” she said, “I…”

And we stopped

Holding hands.

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3:00 A.M.

For Daniela

He’s asleep already;
finished, rolled over,
and slipped away.

My eyes are closed,
but I’m wide awake
listening to
his breathing;

Even with
my eyes closed
I feel the room
dark; nothing
moves as I
exhale, drift on.

I wish
I were
something light
that flies
wherever it wants,
that lands
without bending
a branch.