Empty Space

I reach out to touch you
and clutch empty space
another day like the last
with the same old heartache

months since you left me
each day passes slow
as I wander through hours
with no inner glow

you had brought back something
I forgot I had missed
from that very first moment
that very first kiss

back now where I started
before you were here
no longer to hold me
and cradle me near

like a cancer unfeeling
the wounds are so deep
unable to concentrate
unable to sleep

and the weeks go so slowly
my world at a halt
this coma won't recede
till the questions resolve

so I face new dilemmas
one day at a time
although it was easier
when I thought you were mine

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

Remember Me

You’ll remember me
And all I inspired
When you think of me
And how I lifted you higher

You’ll remember me
The footsteps were small
You’ll miss what we had
And I how I gave you all

You’ll remember me
And the calls that were late
You’ll wish you’d paid attention
To the hints that I gave

You’ll remember me
My passion and kiss
A future that was yours
And what you now miss

You’ll remember me
And a love that was true
When you think back on it all
What I gave to you

You’ll remember me
Who now has your back?
Who’s in your corner?
Who’s taken up the slack?

You’ll remember me
Cause I movin too
It's not to be closer
It's away from you

You'll remember me
And what might have been
If given the chance
If you'd just let me in

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

The Sea Knows

I look behind me now
At my footsteps in the sand
Alone on this deserted beach
My thoughts are my companion

The tide is ebbed, it's way far out
The sun is getting low
A calmness coming over me
With each gentle wave that rolls

This time of deep reflection
Under the sun's soft light
Resolving inner conflicts
That haunt my days and nights

And the evening comes in gently
As I retrace my path
The twinkling stars and lunar glow
Showing the way back

And the sea gives up no secrets
Though many it does know
On all my walks on this smooth beach
It's the sea that I have told

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

Short List

I thought that you were different
I might've been wrong about you
I took you as someone who cares about me
You mistake me for a fool

I may not be on your short list
In the top one or two or three
But I have a lot of patience
And I’m there when you need me to be

I am always watching your back
And help you when I can
But what you have given back to me
I really don’t understand

I know your life is busy
Mine is the same way
But give me a little break here
And let me know we are okay

It’s not that I am needy
Or expect you at beck and call
But ignoring and being indifferent
Is not what I deserve at all

You need to look a lot deeper
At what I have given here
And be a little more attentive
And be a lot less austere

It won’t take that much time from you
Just treat me with a little more care
I will always be in your corner
Can't you feel me there?

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

my life is an

independent film
where even the leading role
is not played by me

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

comparisons

can you really compare?
day to night
apples to oranges
is it that easy?
day is for work
night is for stars and dreaming
a lack of complexity
too many depths;
look deeper
I am night and longing
an apparition, visualization
floating through your dreams
touching on your senses
all of them
leaving a taste
of all that was
of all that can be

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

re:

reconnect, rebuild, reinvent, renew, response
repose, redo, relax, renown, rekindle, require
regenerate, reborn, resurrect, rewind, rebound
renew, redirect, reflect, respond, repartee, reorder
re-enforce, referee, reference, refine, reflect, refrain
regal, regret, reinforce, reiterate, rejuvenate, relate
relative, relent, repent, reputable, rescue, real

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

Bound

Wanting just to break away
From this love we shared
Feelings not the same now
There’s anguish and despair

You are holding on now
To the way it used to be
The lost love and lost passion
That you refuse to see

Ties that held to tightly
Ties that kept me bound
Ties that once were everything
Now have come unwound

Someday after I have gone
You will see what’s true
And your heart will slowly mend
From what we both went through

phases

each crescent moon that has gone by
found you with your one true love
each time I look at the mocking orb
I could see you there together

silence grows like the moons in between
as it fades into each of its phases
each time I think I have put it to rest
the crescent moon glows once again

with still many more to come yet

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

Body Language

Down in this green meadow
By the flowing stream
Laying in the shadows
Of a giant willow tree

We talk in body language
Touching with light strokes
Laughing, sighing, pleasing
Playing the right notes

Down in this green meadow
Your love to me you swear
I accept with pleasure
and all I have to share

Broken Bridges

It's all now broken bridges
Our love did come to this
Destruction not repairable
Can’t shake loose this abyss

Untruths and broken promises
Have led us down this road
Couldn’t see where we were heading
Could not have been foretold

All the signs and nuances
We should've seen along the way
We stumbled over them headlong
They caused our love to fray

We are both the guilty ones
A party to this crime
For letting it all slip away
Over this long period of time

These damages that have amassed
Have slain the love we shared
There’s no going back now
There’s nothing to repair

I know you feel as I do
I can see it with one look
This feeling is a two way street
Close the chapter of this book

Parting won’t be easy
After this long time
But leaving you is easier
Cause you’re no longer mine

a bruised heart

will the bruises in
my heart heal
the deep contusions
black and blue
from you
when everywhere I look
songs that I hear
remind me daily
the discoloration
left on my mind
as well as my heart

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

footsteps

I couldn't tell
how this would end
telling my mind
it was all in the plan
yours not mine

I didn't know
I had a lesson to learn
following your lead
listening with my heart
which is now broken

I should have used my mind
trumped your moves
been less oblique
less follower, more leader
should have mastered this game

time will tell
if you won in the end
my heart will heal
but my footsteps will echo
small but deep in your soul

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

Innocent

I used to be the way you are
Innocent and pure
Till life stepped in and changed it
Now, no longer sweet and demure

Needed to grow a thicker shell
Protect my inner self
Though thicker than intended
Purity has been shelved

The things I’ve learned, the pain accrued
Has made me so much tougher
I had to learn to fight back
In order not to suffer

I hope you remain untainted
Keep your sweetness and your charm
Go through this life untouched by this
Go through this life unharmed

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

Blood Line

A fire that burns through wind and rain
A candle lit with eternal flame
Leaving me burning with a different pain
A feeling I can’t give a name

You came to me like a new dawn
Awakening things I thought were gone
Words rewritten to an old song
Holding close, loving strong

Shining on this heart of mine
Hearts that quickly did entwine
Shine on me till the end of time
A new path, a new blood line

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

Shirt Haiku

I'm wearing your shirt,
it is very big on me
I think you don't mind

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

love comes back around

softly now it arches its back
stretches long and yawns
after its little catnap
love comes back around

eyes that see into the dark
claws again retracted
seeing what lays inside my heart
stirring what sleeps therein

purring a sweet melody
a warm resonating sound
circling back, one more chance
love comes back around

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

Struggle

the struggles of life
are what define
happiness and strife
that boggle the mind

a door will shut
another will open
not always black and white
no matter what you're hopin'

the reasons not clear
the borders are blurred
can't go through life
undeterred

take what you get
do the best that you can
accept what is offered
i reach out my hand

learn from the bad
dig yourself out
pull yourself back
growing more devout

this too shall pass
maybe not that quick
i stand by you
through thin and through thick

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

a coin

tossed into a well
what I wish is almost free
but it costs so much

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

My Heart

It’s the things you didn’t plan on
That take you by surprise
A treasure you discover
The things you can’t surmise

It’s the things you didn’t count on
That somehow turn out right
A plethora of emotion
On a very starry night

It’s the things you whisper to me
When we’re dancin’ really close
Swaying to the music
As the cd softly drones

It’s the things you do to please me
Thoughtful, caring, kind
Captures my very essence
Keeps you on my mind

It’s the things that we are planning
The future to unfold
A life of love together
My heart that you now hold

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

rust

in spite of my heart that lays in the open
in spite of the love irrevocably broken
I hitched to a star that shoots from the sky
and all I imagined I saw in your eyes

you saw the future and that I was in trouble
as you sang about the light at the end of your tunnel
the lyrics were vague and I know not for me
but I hung on each word and continued to read

it all fell apart and started to fray
a polaroid that is blurred and time will fade
I pen the same thoughts but in different words
in case you are listening and still haven't heard

I interview each prospect and things it could mean
each one leaves me wanting and lacks what I need
I'm stumbling forward as I give it two shots
and even on my best day, I yearn for what's lost

you tell me to hope, not give up on a belief
you ply me with truth, like the friend that I need
I drink from your cup, and pretend all of these things
as dreams corrode with rust and fantasy intervenes

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

Intensity

The feelings rush over me
like water, pouring over stones in a brook
leaving no part of me untouched

The intensity of the passion,
the warmth of your love,
the power of your touch

I have no will,
no strength to fight this
I surrender to you

When the fervor has ebbed
we lie together side by side
a tangle of arms and legs

This nirvana you bring
resurrects all that I am
and builds a fire in my soul

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

The Price of Love

What is the price on ended love?
I think it’s very high
Dreams and heart are broken
Pride and ego go awry

The time we lost in this romance
Something we can’t get back
Lessons learned are priceless
What was it that we lacked?

And if this was taxable
How much did we invest?
Could we have done it better
When we were put to test

Next time I’ll work harder
To try to make it last
Study all the nuances
Learning from my past

a pretty good start

as I reach an understanding, of what will never be
I wish you all the best, as you wish the same for me
I've pieced it all together in my mind and soon my heart
and if I have to start somewhere, I'd say it's a good start

it was something I was running to, but didn't get that far
something you were running from, it caught you were you were
we were in the same place, but not at the same time
you were granted your wish, while I'm still waitin' on mine

I don't know now what happens, if it all has been too much
if you're tired of understanding, I'm tired of being a crutch
when I finally come to grips with the truth you made me see
that's when you turn your back, take what's left and leave

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

(JJW 6-11-04)

may you always be strong
the world at your feet

may the angels watch over
day and night as you sleep

may you always be mindful
and help those you meet

may you thrive your whole life
and never know defeat

may your life be a treasure
of everything that’s sweet

may you always know love
to make your life complete

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

host

slipping in it finds a host
taking over spirit and soul
coursing quickly through the veins
overpowering heart and brain
oh, the foolish things we do
when love gets a grip on you

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

varnish

I ply the blame like varnish
thickly, it lays down
as long as it's still tacky
best not to love again

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

hearts entwined

with a sigh you draw delight
from every crevice of my being
from day to night and back again
my love and I now sleeping

dream thee dreams of deep content
shallow breath against my skin
draught with slumber do we rest
your head sweetly on my chest

like the tides we rise and fall
pulled by the moon upon shores
love should always be like this
hearts entwined for every more

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

it

it hides its face, like the sun behind a cloud
it screams voicelessly, for me to turn around
I feel it close, but I will never touch
this elusive dream that I want too much

it resides in the shadows, hidden from the light
it's there for a second, gone from open eyes
it whispers my name, it says "I love you"
but when I listen, I know it's not true

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

one soul

deep down inside
where no one has been
you touched me
stirring up
feelings never felt
thoughts not thought
ideas never dreamed
and yet
when you hugged me
that very first time
without even a chaste kiss
only then
did my heart meld with yours
into one soul

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

another day

long after the sudden discovery
a fatal error with no recovery
a thief in the night, I stole away
long ago, another day

I told you once or maybe twice
never heeding my advice
it was never just about me
punctured artery, out I bleed

long ago, another day
before I left, instead of stayed
packed away in a big box
dropped in the ocean
sunk with rocks
 Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

Our Day (7 years today 7/10/13)

fifty guests
a champagne dress
clouds, no rain
on our parade

upswept hair
with quite a flair
a camo thigh
my lace will hide

a paisley tie
my handsome guy
your mother's rings
her blessing sings

made by you
some "I Do" brew
a yummy cake
that Holly baked

our special day
perfect, every way
husband and wife
the rest of our lives





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

I had forgotten

I had forgotten this part
this part where love is returned
this part where it wraps you in its golden warmth
where it slips into your thoughts and makes you smile
a remembered comment, a remembered touch, a remembered kiss
I had forgotten this part
the feeling when you said it for the first time
"I love you"...spoken with your lips, your eyes, your heart
I had forgotten....
that love could be like this

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

Midwest

I grew up in the Midwest, living in the country
amongst the cows and fields of corn and soy bean
without close neighbors
my siblings were my playmates and best friends
sweet memories include:
my siblings, still
my first kiss
dances on Friday nights
hometown football games
hanging out at the Tastee Freeze
sleep-overs and camping out under the stars

today, as I pack to go back
the memories flood, the roots still buried deeply
although I now live 2000 miles away
and my Midwestern hometown has changed so much
I look forward to reconnecting,
to revisiting and maybe reliving
all that made me who I am today
a farm town, Midwest girl at heart
in southwestern boots and jeans
who has come home for a little while

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

free

finally it comes
what was different this time?
that has set me free

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

History

crimson flows the tyranny
from those that were oppressed
it starts out with a virus
and quickly does digress
flowing just like lava
hastily it transgessed
till nothing now can stop it
the Patriot is suppressed

History is repeating
our forefathers said it would
there's no way to stop it
even if we could
hate is spewed by violence
will it do some good?
it mounts one of the horses
Revelations said it could

the flag is burning sadly
by those without respect
Patriotism angry
because it goes unchecked
legacy here lays ruined
behind them in neglect
with blood and toppled statues
a cause without connect

what starts out in anger
builds like forrest fires
while the rest lay sleeping
it burns higher and higher
no resistance coming
although it is required
a future lays in turmoil
by those with wicked desires

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

nectar

I taste the nectar of your love
and it is mighty sweet
like honey thick and plentiful
a treat for savoring
all that is leftover keeps
for all of my tomorrows
with no chance of it running thin
or more will I need to borrow

I hear your song lilt on the breeze
down from the highest mountains
flowing through and over me like
rain from a billowy cloud
lyrics written just for me
music with a perfect pitch
sung over and over in my head
never as melodic as this

I saw a look I've never seen
there in your green eyes
reflecting truth and honesty
all you feel inside
visions of what was yesterday
visions of what we've become
a softness I'd not seen before
a spell I now fall under

I feel the strength of your strong hand
as it gently takes mine
urging me to come with you
exploring what we can find
you don't need to push or pull
I come with you willingly
as we go on side by side
with what I always believed

I taste the nectar of your love
and it is mighty sweet
like honey thick and plentiful
a treat for savoring
all that is leftover keeps
for all of my tomorrows
with no chance of it running thin
or more will I need to borrow

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

grandiose

it is darn near perfect, almost grandiose
the weather isn't raining, I'm beginning now to coast
work is pretty easy, friends are at my door
life is getting better and I finally know the score

it is darn near perfect, all my baggage packed
it wasn't ever easy with this weight upon my back
there is not a cloud in sight, I'm finally breaking free
a prescription is not needed to clearly make me see

it is darn near perfect, as it all falls into place
it's not like I didn't pray to His divinest graceit is darn near perfect, almost grandiose
the weather isn't raining, I've buried all the ghosts

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

hanging on to nothing

I am hanging on to nothing as tightly as I can
my fingers cramp and ache from my firm grip
how can I hold what was never mine?
as I rend the fabric of these dreams

still I grasp, in my waking hours and sleep
hanging on to nothing as tightly as I can
my hands will let go before my heart
my mind deserted this memory long ago

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

it's funny

it's funny how a memory can take me back in time
a photo that is faded, that once was black and white
it's funny how a song could hold such fantasies
and what you always said, is what I now believe

it's funny that I built castles, out of little grains of sand
and how it never worked out, exactly like I planned
it's funny that before my eyes, sunlight turned to grayeverything seems different, everything has changed

it's funny that a dream can take me back in time
to places and embraces, things I leave behind
it's funny that a heart can lay love's pain to rest
after all the heartache and all I did invest

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

one more sweet kiss

lay here beside me and sing me your song
in the light of this moon, while the night is still young
hold me, love me, for as long as you can
till evening disappears and dawn starts to span

lay here beside me till I fall asleep
holding me tightly till I start to dream
wake me, embrace me, one more sweet kiss
just like the once upon time princess
lay here beside me and sing me your song
in the light of this moon, while the night is still young
hold me, love me, for as long as you can
till evening disappears and dawn starts to span

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

devoted

the fragrance of a rose, the flower of my devotion
devoted the heat, like sun rays on the ocean
the look in your eye tells me you were only joking
a song that was sung, devoid of emotions

it's like candle wax that melts dripping down the tallow
like the moon in the sky that rises full and shallow
my dreams do not falter, somehow they disallow
the truth hiding deeply, shrouded by shadows

fingers that bleed from the thorns on the stem
the fragrance too sweet as it all closes in
I know it was a game that I could never win
as the final chords play and it comes to the end

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

Pecos Bill

we bury the past without any dread
wounded hearts triaged and on the mend
we bandage the cuts, scratches and mars
slowly they heal with just a faint scar
we pick it all up from yesterday
start again fresh, another clean slate

what we put in is what we get back
tenacity a virtue that you never lacked
you see the lightning, hear the thunder
a red-flag warning that causes a shudder
an Irish tempest with eyes that flash
you just may have finally met your match

you can't say that it's  boring
a tornado  lassoed with expert roping
like Pecos Bill you ride though it bucks
going till the buzzer with any kind of luck
you hold on tight, with one arm in the air
spurring me on with your special flair
ride on Pecos, hold on tight
this could be the ride of your life

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

fairytale

a bookmark in a chapter
another fairytale
about a damsel in distress
and the knight who couldn't save her

she is trapped high in a tower
surrounded by a moat
her tresses are not long enough
for the knight to use as rope

lovingly she watches
longingly she waits
yearningly she ponders
what will be her fate

hope now quickly leaves her
as the knight initiates retreat
the happily ever after
this time is not to be

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

belief

the sun will still shine
the sky will be azure blue
that is my belief

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

forgiven

I've forgiven too much
you've given too little
making excuses in my head
always allowing for more
my heart hurts
my mind spins
I need to move on
from this empty place
where nothing resides

you are forgiven

good-bye

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