Author Archives: William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

About William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Award-winning poet, playwright, and essayist. Author of four books of poetry, "Black Shadows and Through the White Looking Glass: Remembrance of Things Past and Present"; "Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats"; "The Black Feminine Mystique," "The Black Blood of Poetry," and a novel, "Streets of Rage," and a collection of short stories, "Conundrums: Stories of Law & Justice," written under his pen name Easy Waters. All four books are available on Amazon.com. Waters has over 25 years of experience in the criminal legal system. He is a change agent for a just society and a catalyst for change.

THE CONUNDRUMS QUOTATIONS PROJECT – CQ-04

Posted on July 8, 2026 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Loss can occur suddenly or subtly, often going unnoticed for years. Innocence fades gradually through life’s challenges, prompting reflection on the soul’s essence. The importance lies in recognizing and protecting our true selves amidst external demands. This excerpt invites contemplation on what is truly worth safeguarding. Continue reading →

Posted in crime, ezwwaters, Justice Chronicles, Short Stories | Tagged Conundrums: Stories of Law & Justice, Unbound Voices Publishing | 2 Comments

THE CONUNDRUMS QUOTATIONS PROJECT – CQ-003

Posted on July 6, 2026 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

The content emphasizes that despair often associated with imprisonment is misleading; instead, it highlights endurance and the resilience of the human spirit. Despite separation from community, individuals in confinement find ways to live meaningfully, ultimately framing them as “prisoners of hope” who continue to search for purpose. Continue reading →

Posted in ezwwaters, Justice Chronicles | Tagged Conundrums: Stories of Law & Justice | 1 Comment

Impact of Douglass’ Speech on American Freedom

Posted on July 5, 2026 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

On July 3, 2026, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley delivered Frederick Douglass’ iconic speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” in the House, commemorating its history 174 years earlier. Douglass critiqued American hypocrisy regarding freedom and slavery, ultimately expressing hope for the end of slavery, emphasizing the importance of recognizing Black history. Continue reading →

Posted in Black patriotism, Revolution, Slavery, The Black Blood of Poetry | Tagged Frederick Douglass, history, literature, politics, President Gerald Ford, Slavery, What to the Slave is the Fourth of July? | Leave a comment

Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday: A Reflection

Posted on July 4, 2026 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

On July 4, 2026, America marks its 250th birthday, reflecting on its Declaration of Independence and the historical complexities surrounding its authors, notably Thomas Jefferson’s legacy as a slave owner. The piece underscores the contributions of Black Americans throughout history and critiques the current leadership dynamic, advocating for new, younger voices in governance. Continue reading →

Posted in Black History Month, Black Shadows and Through the White Looking Glass, Education, ezwwaters, John F. Kennedy, Leadership, Lest We Forget, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Patriotism, Politics, Revolution, Segregation, Slavery | Tagged america, America's Birthday, American Revolution, Decisive Decade, Fred Hampton, George Washington, history, Independence Day, Korean War, politics, Samuel Yette, The Declaration of Independence, The Revolutionary War, Thomas Jefferson, Vietnam War, World War I, World War II | Leave a comment

THE CONUNDRUMS QUOTATIONS PROJECT – CQ-002

Posted on July 3, 2026 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Literature often imagines dramatic moments of moral collapse. Life is usually quieter. Sometimes we become strangers to ourselves one compromise at a time. Sometimes exhaustion, grief, fear, or survival slowly erase the person we intended to become. (And the worst … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

THE CONUNDRUMS QUOTATIONS PROJECT – CQ-001

Posted on July 1, 2026 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

The author reflects on his past collection of quotations and intends to elaborate on selections from his short story collection, “Conundrums: Stories of Law & Justice.” They explore themes of institutional personality, the paradox of visibility and invisibility in prisons, and the impact of lost privacy on human dignity. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Short Stories that Challenge the Legal System: A Review by Dr. Mark Chapman of “Conundrums: Stories of Law & Justice” by Easy Waters

Posted on June 26, 2026 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Easy Waters’ collection “Conundrums” features humorous and insightful short stories that explore the absurdities of prison and the legal system. The engaging narratives, filled with wit and deep reflection on justice, showcase Waters’ masterful storytelling and his ability to humanize incarcerated individuals. A must-read for enthusiasts of poignant fiction. Continue reading →

Posted in crime, ezwwaters, James Baldwin, Justice Chronicles, Life Sentences, Murder, Parole, parole board, Politics, race, raising black boys, remorse, Short Stories, Sonny's Blues, Streets of Rage, The Black Blood of Poetry | Tagged Anton Chekov, art, books, Conundrums: Stories of Law & Justice, Days in the Life of a Jailhouse Lawyer, Doing Hard Time, Easy Waters, ezwwaters, Flannery O'Connor, James Baldwin , literature, Mark Chapman, Michelle Alexander, phd, Poetry, The New Jim Crow | 9 Comments

A Review of The Black Blood of Poetry’s Impact and Critiques

Posted on April 17, 2026 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

I asked ChatGPT to critically review my manuscript, “The Black Blood of Poetry.” This is what it returned: Continue reading →

Posted in ezwwaters, Lest We Forget, Poetry | Tagged books, poem, poems, Poetry, The Black Blood of Poetry, writing | Leave a comment

The Black Blood of Poetry: Towards a Poetics of Darkened Substance

Posted on April 11, 2026 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

AbstractThis essay situates The Black Blood of Poetry within a transnational lineage I term dark substance poetics—a tradition in which poetry materializes itself through bodily substances (blood, milk, breath, ink) that are subsequently darkened, inverted, or corrupted. Moving from nineteenth-century … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Amiri Baraka, Anti-Black Violence, Black Aesthetics, Black Literature, Black Poetics, books, Historical Memory, Language and History, Literary Criticism, Literary Theory, Nina Cassian, Paul celan, poem, poems, Poetics, Poetry, The Black Blood of Poetry, writing | 2 Comments

Journey Through Crime, Justice & Literature – The Series

Posted on February 17, 2026 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

In this series, I trace how a teenage brush with homicide headlines became a lifelong interrogation of justice. From police tape and tabloid “if it bleeds, it leads” narratives to courtrooms, prisons, and the literature that wrestles with guilt, I ask what truth survives punishment. Along the way, I revisit forgotten voices, personal losses, and hard-earned lessons—seeking a language that honors victims, confronts systems, and insists on humanity, story at a time, without flinching. Continue reading →

Posted in being a teenager, Black History Month, Education, ezwwaters, Genealogy, Growing Up, Justice Chronicles, juveniles, Life Sentences, Martin Luther King, Murder, Parole, parole board, Politics, race, raising black boys, Reentry, remorse, Segregation, Slavery, Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats, Streets of Rage, The Black Blood of Poetry, urban decay, Urban Impact | Leave a comment

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