a friend in need

take comfort in your friends
and the warm hands that they lend
when it all goes wrong
and it just keeps playing on

when you've had enough
and life is calling your bluff
depend on those you know
to make the heartaches go

if you have a friend in need
and they listen to your heart bleed
wrap around their soul
stick with what you know



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

blank page

this page is bare in memory
you can write from abditory
a sonnet, lyrics, a poem of life
I read it all, reflecting

yes, I think you write for me
interpretation, of what I believe
I like to think I left a mark
tearing across your heart

renditions that I know aren't true
I've never meant that much to you
and still I read and for what it seems
I know it's my imagination



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

float

you and I want different things
and yet we want the same
you drifted in for a reason
don't float out again

I'm not trying to bring you down
I'm not about trying to change you
can't we just enjoy this connection
for as long as it will last?

I'm not the answer to your dreams
I hold no obligation
I know that I can't break your heart
that's already been given

give me just a tiny space
a minuscule spot in your heart
I'll give to you the things you need
and you can give the same to me



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

two

thinking of the days just passed
I wept, I mourned, bout what didn't last
today my sky dawns clear and blue
I'm looking for plus one to make a two



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

play time

when the day is finally done
and all the work is through
and I am on the highway
heading home to you
that's where I want to be
heading home to you

finished up the dishes
coffee pot is set
got to have it early
before anyone is up yet
baby, I am beat
let's just call it a day
then I see that look
and tired melts away

cause when you sing that song
and you sing it just for me
you know there's no where else
that I would rather be
take me in your arms
sing it one more time
baby, you're singing our song
it is now play time



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

enough

in unlimited capacities
I want
the more I want of you
the less I receive
leaving unmet yearnings
which cause disappointment
it is unfair to expect
more of you than you
are capable or willing to give to me
Mary said:"enough is as good as a feast"
but if your enough, is not enough
than I need to make a decision
I know yours has been made
and mine will come
soon



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

promise

when I make a promise
you know it is true
I do so with faith and heart
and what I promise to you
is a love that is true
and will last you
all of your life



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

let the night begin

the sun sets low
on my drive home
the minutes are long
till I get to you
greet me baby, at the front door
with a glass of wine
and one of your hugs
make the day disappear
let the night begin

vivify with a deep kiss
hold me tight, erase the day
waltz with me across this room
dance with me to our bedroom
dinner can wait, but this can't
light the candles, pull the shade
I want you to be holding me
when the twilight comes
it all fades to you



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

cool iris

from the memory card in my 35mm
I am downloading you to my hard drive
that's right...
right into "cool iris"
the memories are there
the fantasies come to life
on that floating wall of us
and we will last forever
or until my pc crashes
whichever comes first



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

longer than I thought

maybe I took the long way
and it took longer than I thought
it doesn't matter how I got there
does it matter than I'm here?

I didn't know what I was looking for
or what I was expecting to find
I guess I didn't think much about it
cause you were always on my mind

for a brief dream in time
I thought your love could be mine
but the fog finally dissipates
and clarity elucidates

the good-byes are getting easier
silence deafens my heart
and even though I just got here
I pack my bags to go back

maybe I took the long way
and it took longer than I thought
it doesn't matter how I got there
it doesn't matter that I'm here



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

chances

I'm going to take more chances
start living on the edge
step over every line drawn
erase the boundaries of right and wrong
going to stop thinking twice
going to push every envelope
I'm going to take more risks
quit living life so safe

I'd rather be wrong for loving you
cause even if it doesn't work out
it won't be the first or
probably last, that I made a huge mistake
but I don't see how not loving you
is a chance that I shouldn't take

I guess I would rather be sorry
for something I did, not didn't do
and I'm going to take, this leap of faith
yep, close my eyes and jump
I'm going to take this leap of faith
and go on loving you



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

sweet of you

it was sweet of you not to notice
to pretend you didn't see
to pretend everything was the same
to pretend my heart wasn't bleeding

it was sweet of you to act surprised
although you've known it for awhile
I think I protested to loudly
hiding behind laughter and smiles

it was sweet of you to stay
all these times that I've been blue
overlooking the obvious
that's just what good friends do



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

stuck

how do I become unstuck
these wheels keep spinning in mud
how did I get so off-track
it must be this heavy load

as thick as Mississippi mud
completely dragging me down
it feels more like quicksand
that's quickly sucking me in

I'm gonna need a little help
a gentle push to get out of this
you've always tried to help me
I know sometimes this was tough

what you need to remember is
I didn't get here by myself
so give me a push, a gentle tug
to get me back on track



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

Saturday night

playing pool on a Saturday night
long neck in hand, juke plays behind
jeans and boots and cowboy hats
Saturday night, and I'm kicking back

the tune on the juke becomes real slow
you saunter up, to give me a go
and that's okay, it's just a song
but if we're really gonna dance, cowboy
there is something you oughta know

I'm tough as nails, soft as velvet
my heart is cold and melts like butter
if you want to dance with me
better get some things straight
I'm not just another pretty face

much to my surprise, one dance lead to another
soon I've told you things, I haven't even told my mother
and you're fessing up to some secrets of your own
no matter how this plays, I'm going home alone

you get my number and tell me you will call
maybe you will, maybe you won't at all
it doesn't really matter, one way or another
it was just a pool hall night that turned out right

now every Saturday night, I'm playing pool with you
longnecks in hand and we haven't missed a cue
and when they play our song we're on the crowded floor
you've melted my heart and left me wanting more



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

try

hurt is going to come, but I can't hold back
have to tell the truth, bout what this love lacks
you can sense it, I hear it in your voice
questions aching strong, echoing unvoiced
and the nights drag on

you'll probably rue the day, that you met me
a match made in Hell, burning eternally
you'll probably think, those before were right
your name on a list of those I have hurt
and the nights drag on

it's bound to come, sooner or later
just avoiding me, won't make any better
just let me tell you, what I really need
maybe it will work if you try with me
don't let it go, think it through
we can talk it out, try to work it out

Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

fooled

my friends think I'm real cool
cause I make all the rules
those that do pursue
I leave them down and blue
but my pals can't see the truth
what they can't construe
is that I play the fool
and always will with you



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

ellipse

crimson line through the middle
love divided
reunite it
draw me to you
make the circle complete
and my heart whole



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

poetry synopsis

write about me
so that those who read
will long to touch
their heart's ache
and their axis spin
give them a glimpse
a poetry synopsis
lyric that you knew
music you wrote
once before
write from your heart
and for mine



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

what is gone

the conversation strained
words carefully guarded
holding it all back
wondering how to start it
don't want to tell you on the phone
better to wait till we're alone
these feelings that should have grown
just aren't there

another call, the silence is deafening
that cute ringtone of yours
no longer makes me breathless
it's just a matter of time till
it's all going to spill
I know it's against your will
you're starting to feel the chill
from what is gone



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

stakes

will you anti your stake
when I bring this all up
or will you be surprised
that it isn't enough
will you chuck these past months
thinking I gave what I had
or will you work harder
and take one more stab



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

catch

my friends, male and female alike
say I am quite pleasing to the eye
they say I'm a great catch
but there must be a hitch
cause I can catch a cold easier
than I can catch you



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

explore

trace a trail
let fingers softly linger
hands slide slowly over
smooth, dampened dermis
explore exposed peaks
discover hidden intricacy
stake your claim on
all this sweet terrain

kiss me slow
but with cloying urgency
ride the tidal wave of
pleasure that it brings
rediscover hidden intricacy
stake your claim on
all this sweet terrain



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

re-sung

lyrics can be rewritten
songs can be re-sung
from the bottom of your heart
tell me if this is wrong

push against this wall
take my hand and heart
bind this angel's wings
with everything you bring

how do you know if you don't try
look and see what hides inside
I have nothing more to lose
and only love to gain



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

what I need

it's not like I'm looking
to bungee, hang-glide or trek the Alps
supercross and street luging are out
and so is riding a bull
I'm not looking for danger
a far cry from being a masochist
but I AM looking for something
something, something different
something that's amiss

I'm looking for excitement
exhilaration, pleasure in obscure ways
I'm looking for adventure
escapades, after a boring day
I'm just looking for more
more than I have
at this moment in time
and if this scares you
sounds like a dare to you
I'm sorry, but it's what I need



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

I'll be gone

I'll only wait a little while
give you some time for
those thoughts on your mind
when the breeze blows spring
from the mountaintop
I'll be gone, I'll be gone

I'll only wait a little while
a closing door, jars a window open
think about it, think real hard
but the time it takes
might be a mistake
I'll be gone, I'll be gone



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

sometimes

sometimes,
everything that can be shaken will be
it all rattles around in my brain

sometimes,
it's best to clear the air
sometimes, it is not

sometimes,
what you see and what you feel
are not the same

always,
the things you thought you were sure of
will fool you every time



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

I needed

I needed you today
a light to show the way
but you can't read my mind
those tricks leave you blind

I needed help today
someone to say it will be ok
but there's no time for me
a truth that I now see

I needed a friend today
but I just get in your way
I'll figure it out by myself
without anybody's help



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

you would think

you would think I'd learned my lesson
I've certainly paid a price
I've been the victor and the loser
I've been up and I've been down

but down never felt like this before
I don't remember this much hurt
I don't remember all this darkness
I don't remember all this fog

you would think I'd learned my lesson
you would think I could get it right
you would think I was scholar
you would think I wouldn't even try

and all this really means is
I haven't learned one damn thing



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

far away

close enough to touch
close enough to feel
but miles apart
destined not to start
I'm far away from you

close enough to the heat
close enough to hear my heart beat
but miles apart
distance from the start
I'm far away for you



Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License