Orion's belt

my heart felt the pain of love once gone
footsteps tread on cold, smooth stone
I hardly recognized my life
trails unmarked--no clear cut signs
the music and the laughter gone

the glory of this that I now see
days so golden, fields of green
I shield my eyes to these bright days
less I falter or they go away
taking with them my warmth

ponder deeply all this I feel
free of pain and the walls I built
vanished now into thin air
my heart pounds when you are near
and I'm striding across Orion’s belt


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

we

chances were slim that we could meet
friends knew friends, but not you me
in a crowded world, in spaces in time
I became yours and you became mine

of all of the hearts in this small, vast world
of all the photos that we sift through
did I see you and not you me?
time closes gaps, on what should be

of all of the loves you could have had
of those we used and tossed away
luck draws a line, the right cards played
and you and I are we on this day


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

FLOTUS

you didn't ask to be put on point
didn't want more than you already had
didn't see why it needed to be
but we did

quietly, you make your mark
no transgressions on your part
no transcendence, no parade
rebuffs around every corner

carry on, you beautiful girl
head held high to this bleak world
do your best and leave your stamp
the elegant ones always do


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

blue moon

I found all I was looking for
ain't nothing to do with you
or the songs you sang for me
when the moon was blue
yes, cutting all the losses
fed to the pigs like slop
a little commiseration
and vexation's all it brought

I couldn't make you understand
the things that I looked for
thought it'd be the last time
each time you hit the door
always reappearing
like a tarnished penny
nothing to do with longing
or wishes that were many

you knew where you were headed
I was along for a ride
thought there was time for moments
to last me my whole life
once again you proved it
the let down feeling returned
you struck a match in anger
when that short bridge you burned


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

Pieces Of My Heart

Pieces of my heart
Left in so many places
Like so many shreds of paper

Rend into little, tiny bits
Like confetti
Used in New York parades

Each tiny bit torn away
Leaves a scar
Which may never heal

Pieces of my heart
That I gave away
And that were not returned


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

psychedelic

it's a Nirvana song, that makes no sense
you're living the lyrics, every inch
past blind corners, overgrown hedge
inside the room you made your bed

psychedelic, lights spin way too fast
the mirror shows the aftermath
lines on tables and on your face
it's time to bail from this rat race

I told you once, it'd be like this
you just smiled and blew a kiss
wandering down the rabbit hole
just like Alice, there you go

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