interpretation

all things left to interpretation
I'm never using the word always
words that sound too permanent
or is it just the way our mind plays

never doesn't ever mean never
and always doesn't always mean always
we sometimes get caught in the middle of these two
as we travel, here and now, down life's highway

nothing is not ever going to be indelible
it shouldn't ever be written in ink
and always just doesn't happen
except between you and I, I think


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

go ahead

go ahead and say you were calling my bluff
tell me you were just pulling my leg
go ahead and say that nothing meant anything
I think it runs much deeper than that

go ahead and say in your oblique way
say it with rhyme without reason
go ahead and say that I always read it wrong
and you were just running interference with my thoughts
go ahead and say it's time I moved away
I don't want to believe you seriously mean it

go ahead and say I don't hold a part
nothing for me anywhere in your heart
go ahead turn your back and take another path
I think I'll save your place here anyway
in case you change your mind and want to stay


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

pen

you want to carve a fountain pen
with your hands in your wood shop
for me to write my poetry
in beautiful flowing script
you ask that with this pen I write
my poems and sonnets just for you
I'm not ready for that kind of promise
let's see what the future foretells


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

charge

I've charged up my MP3 for music while I'm here
made sure that my camera has batteries for all new memories
cell phone has a full charge, not much good did that do
but there is nothing like the energy....
my soul gets from Mexico


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

flower

a true manly man in every sense of the word
shooting, fly fishing, Harley riding guy
but the poetry side does emerge
when you send me a text of a flower
saying it reminded you of me


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

WiFi

I've packed my bags
it's time to leave
beach stuff is really
all that I need
heading for the border
the only peace I know
I always knew
when it was time to go

drop me a line
and maybe I'll respond
if WiFi is working
that is my plan
if you don't hear from me
I'll call you in a week
or maybe not
it's up to the beach


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

cool breeze

I'm not asking that you burn a bridge
for greener pastures on the other side
second look, second chance
exploring valleys at the foothills

I'm not asking that you hurry on past
where you once sped, eyes straight ahead
keep the door open and the windows down
a cool breeze may be all you need

what I'm asking is that you taste the sweet wine
savor the moments, reflect, ease your mind
walk with me down a very long trail
before you go so far that it's all yesterday


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

velvet

the morning soft like velvet
in the deepest hue
napped with color high and low
when the light shines through

these are the moments I sense you most
although you're not that close
through the wire I hear you
touching with absent fingertips

reach down in me, inside my soul
whisper softly in my ear
if I shut my eyes, I can feel you
and everything that we are


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

the border

I could get hit by a bus just crossing the street
my friends think I'm nuts, just plain crazy
the border unsafe, my life may be at stake
but that is a risk that I just have to take

I can't explain the tranquility
the Sea of Cortez brings to me
my feet propped up upon the wall
no worries or cares..plague or befall
it's time to get away from it all
danger be damned, I hear the call

I'm not dumb, I know of the perils
I may be a duck, floating in a barrel
I watch every story, as each unfolds
if it's bad there, I just won't go

the hazards of life around every corner
maybe more significant for a foreigner
a lamb of God, I just may be
I say a prayer that He watches me
but the tides are calling my name
and I have to answer just the same

I could get hit by a bus just crossing the street
my friends think I'm nuts, just plain crazy
the border unsafe, my life may be at stake
but that is a risk that I have to take


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

Mimosa

sweet Mimosas on a warm summer evening
cool, light, refreshing
that is what you are to me
giving me just what I need

the stresses of some earlier days
hanging heavy on my spirit
like tiles on a board that make you think
you sang a song and I could hear it

a little picnic just for two
laughing and playing like days gone by
your arms around me holding me tight
what was faded shines bright in the light

only a friend would take the time
to ease my soul, ease my mind
this is what you did for me
always there in times of need


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

July 4th

they gave me a lei of red, white and blue
and a neon bracelet that glowed in dark
when the sun went down and the stars came out
fireworks were shooting in the sky at the park

it was thirty-nine years ago
there were fireworks of a different kind
I was a bride of just one day and on my honeymoon
that was a fourth of July, that I will never forget
all of those years passed much too quick
I was widowed much too soon

we built a life, we lived on love, we had a couple of kids
there were hard times as the ups and downs of marriage settled in
I may have taken for granted, that you would always stay
you left too soon, though not your wish, it still came to an end


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

Mexico

driving down to Mexico as I get close to the border
cell phone quits in Organ Pipe, no calls that I will miss
I can stay in contact via WiFi and my red laptop
it's time to get some piece of mind and put some things to order

the patrol with semi-automatics, warn of all the dangers
I can't let this stop me from this one place that I love
I heed what they're saying, stowing it in the trunk
be careful who you run into and watch out for all strangers

past the checkpoint, past the gate, into Mexico I drive
sunroof open, sun streaming in, cool breeze upon my face
all that is behind me, will be there when I get back
I have insurance for my car but none for my own life

the minutes tick by quickly, although I don't need a watch
the time that I spend by the sea erases what I want to forget
prolific by the hour, the prose flows straight from my heart
blood no longer oozes or seeps from each and every scratch


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