familiar

the territory wasn't unfamiliar
in fact, we were old friends
the scenery greener and denser
the lush growth fragrant
wild flowers, everywhere
under an azure sky
yes, I had been here before
but this time it's different
now it has changed,
or I have
maybe--

because I am older and wiser
know the difference between
lust and love
right and wrong
day and night...
yes, it is familiar
and where I wish to stay
till the end of my days

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

all I wanted

all I wanted was a heart
one true one that I could have
ruffled or not, red or pink
all I wanted was a heart

what I found was love
more than just a heart
not red or pink, unruffled
what I found was you

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

?

if I took past loves
laying them all end to end
I would not reach far

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

there

in your deep blue eyes
I could see my happiness
written in their depths

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

if

if I could find a way to hit delete
if there was lock, I would turn the key
if there was an easier way,
a quicker path
I would take it immediately

if there were no shadows
or once flowering meadows
if the silver had  tarnished
not polished to gleam
if old black and whites
had been torn and discarded
I might have felt more at ease

if there were no songs
forgotten not long
if the tune didn’t play in your memory
when I don’t know is an easy road
to protect those good old days

if there were no thoughts of any but me
if the little black book I didn’t see
if doesn’t cover the well used pillow
of dances not ever quite complete

if I could read your mind
what would I find
what else is there I don’t know
what will I discover shrouded
there undercover… just
waiting to rain down on me

there I sat...

legs crossed, foot swinging
like I always do
waiting for nothing
hoping for anything
praying for a sign
any little thing

love doesn't work that way
signals mix
hopes shatter--
eyes close to open doors
windows left ajar
a soft breeze envelops
tears dry

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

against the odds

I took it slow, no need to rush
over the crowd, there grew a hush
most of them betting against the laud
thinking me just another fraud

never one to show much grace
no hint of smile upon my face
serious 'bout what I had to do
to capture all there was of you

nothing was gonna hold me back
reeling in the length of slack
never fighting the hook that caught
not one action was for naught

not an option, not a game
nor a trophy with some fame
the only prize for which I called
in it for a very long haul

leaving all the rest behind
they could not see, they were too blind
but you saw right off from the start
looking deep into my heart

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

wet

one would assume, it didn't mean a thing
no deposits in a memory bank
nothing stored on an internal hard drive
blank time floating in space

what I felt, the complete opposite
giving my all, as usual
nothing ventured...yada, yada, yada
absolutely nothing gained

I was wrong about so many things
options I presented returned unopened
rainy days came and went
all I got was wet

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

bondaries

the truth knows boundaries
a lie--not so much
expounding words
descriptions vague 
disingenuous reasons

I will take facts please
purchased with my soul
what cost will I pay?
closed mind, opened eyes
ears hearing every word

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

at peace (HEH)

at peace, you sleep
unaware of all those dear
saying goodbye
as tears flow

a big man now quiet
smaller than all of those years
you ruled the roost
instilling values

sleep on Dad
rest knowing...
what you taught us
lives in our heart

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

recognition

just south of my dreams
a little north of recognition
acceptance; not forthcoming
the mirror's reflection
flaws and imperfections
hidden
by a Mona Lisa smile

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

the point

I can’t tell the point
where I stop and you begin
we are intertwined

nourished

the sky opens and you rain down on me
lightning flashes across my sky
your thunder rocks my world

my petals open,
nourished by each droplet
and you root
yourself deep inside of me

never, have I known such happiness
forever, how long I want this to last
not an annual that blooms then dies
but a perennial constantly self renewing

I bask in the glory of your love

bearded guys

my mom never said
that bearded guys were the best
found out for myself!!

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

you

you, the one that I desire
fuel, thrown on a white hot fire
burning, slowly higher and higher
erasing, all those that were here prior

you, a light that shines on me
a  sea, that flows upon my beach
into shadows, far in you reach
showing, all that we can be

you, the one that holds me close
hiding, things I want to know
flickering, brightly the candle glows
wax, forms thick, and pools below

you, ease my mind, sooth the pains
losing, ground with what I gain
sun, shining after the monsoon rain
you remain—you remain

please move on

my world didn't shake or even tremor
I guess yours did, as you remember
the heart wants what the heart wants
it didn't work, please move on

after three months, I think I know
what is to be or just won't happen
I gave it a shot for longer than I aught
I'll take the blame, please move on

it may make you happy to see me pained
with nothing lost or nothing gained
it's my life--to do as I wish
you didn't fit, please move on

after several years, you still lurk
saying I'm callous--or even worse
in your mind, I did you wrong
sorry about that, please move on

the hurt inside can eat you alive
find another and get on by
comments hurt, as you intended
I posted, you see, please move on

let me be a fond memory
or maybe a ghost from a bad dream
what you think, what you feel
if I did you harm, please move on

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

run

What doesn't kill me
Better run and hide away
I will hunt you down

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

quantam mechanics

you are there and here 

although 

quantum mechanics state differently...

this is true 

at night when the moon glows silently 

and stars light the way 

for those at sea 

my heart kisses you goodnight, 

wherever you are

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

draw the line

draw the line, make it deep 

separate fiction from the facts 

divide the longing and the yearning 

from your heart's desire 

draw the line, make it clearer 

let the sun dissipate the fog 

watch the shroud fall to your feet 

or forever hide in shadow 

as love passes you by

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

if

if you can't feel it 

if you can't see it 

that doesn't mean 

it it isn't there 

if you can' taste 

it if you can't think it 

that doesn't mean 

it isn't there 

if you can't say it 

if I don't repeat 

that doesn't mean 

it isn't there

 

if I can write it 

if you can read it 

catch the meaning 

of all that's here

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

I'll walk, thanks

nowhere fast,

that is where we were heading
you insist on driving
me with eyes closed
riding shotgun
thinking we would get there
anywhere, eventually
but I was wrong

an abrupt stop
dislodging me from my focus
shaking it up
doors opened
we got out
one of us
decided to walk

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

my heart

I can't tell anymore,
where I stop and you begin
every beat of my heart is you
pumping through my veins
your love, the adrenaline
that keeps me going
every waking moment
all of my thoughts of you

what are your thoughts?
are they only for me?
you used to say...
I was perfect for you
is this still true?
am I your one and only
or your here and now?

I meant every promise I made
every truth I wrote for you
every line in every work
nothing more...nothing less
am I unworthy of a promise?
a written testament just for me
speak now with flowing pen

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

hard and fast

I've played the market
played the field
been a widow
know how it feels
hard and fast
now, I kneel
you walked in and
shit  got real 

there you stood
in a yellow shirt
looking my way
oh, what a flirt
spilled my drink
all over my skirt
you were gonna love me
or make me hurt

buy you a drink?
the tall one said
I didn't need one
to go to my head
you'd look great
layin' across my bed
another notch?
or a golden thread

pretending was never
a game I played
always up front
with the words I laid
didn't take long,
I knew right away
my future was written
all over your face

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

yes

 I closed my eyes, you opened your hand
the promise of our life together
sparkling, in the box

solitaire excitement  
all things new and wonderful

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

dark and night

I got lost in the midst of your riddle 

miles away caught in the middle 

while you struggled and tried to fight

against a heart laid on the line 

I took one chance and spilled my guts

thought I'd seep in through the cuts 

it echoed against a solid wall 

bouncing like a rubber ball 

don't feel bad, it's not your fault 

I couldn't penetrate your vault

the difference as plain as dark and night 

you always saw what I couldn't hide 

it all frays, that once thick tether 

duct tape couldn't hold us together 

time moves on and I think its settled 

then back it comes like a wilted petal 

it could be a dream or monsoon rain 

the phases of the moon or a song's refrain 

it churns and surfaces once again 

that old heartache--my long lost friend

don't feel bad, it's not your fault 

I couldn't penetrate your vault

the difference as plain as dark and night 

you always saw what I couldn't hide 

 

it all frays, that once thick tether 

duct tape couldn't hold us together

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

always, never

I know the very things I see
still, you keep surprising me
in and outside of the lines
edges never exactly defined
a blurry black and white not framed
it's always never quite the same

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

poetry

it's not poetry
I write what I am feeling
and sometimes it rhymes

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

happy

mountains majesty
only blue sky surrounds me
God’s grace shining down

down and out

I found you when you were down and out
your soul with holes and inside doubt
the prayers you said with your rosary
couldn't stop that deep, deep bleed

looking through like I wasn’t there
took what I offered, refusing to share
I stayed beside you—held your hand
helped you try to understand

the closer you got, the further away
holding me close yet still at bay
I warmed your lust, but not your heart
you told me from our very start

the tables turn, I place no blame
on love’s defeating, haughty game
words don’t come in any form
at night when I lay safe and warm

I always knew you wouldn’t miss
any form of a vacant kiss
always reading yesterday’s news
it is just the publisher’s views

I

I dream not…
of that long past
of stormy sky
and aftermath
of moonless nights
and starry schemes
of what was never
as it seemed

I think not…
of thoughts left blue
of black and white
in hazy hues
of borders crossed
and passports stamped
with a nod of the head
and lips tight clamped

I see not…
what could have been
if you had only
let me in
seeing with your eyes
not with your heart
acting the role
but never the part

I tasted wine...
so bittersweet
what I sowed
was what I reaped
after time
it mattered not
memories fade
and are forgot

stolen bliss

kisses from a fantasy 

moments of stolen bliss 

cold nights return to haunt you 

when you dream back on this

memory betraying feeling 

in the hole were buried deep 

when you explore the options 

and out the sieve it seeps 

trying to piece it together 

trying to find a missing link 

but it all won't reassemble 

no matter what you think 

 the very things that attract you 

oppression that holds you back 

salvation eludes your conscience 

your soul falters from attack 

the bridge that led to tomorrow 

the smoke still in the air

thinking of returning 

stranded with what's not there

too long your thoughts did falter

bout what was real or lies

and now your left here wishing

you'd dropped what you disguised

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

good morning

how long have you been watching?

oblivious as I sleep snoring softly, 

maybe not 

your arm tight around me as I stir

I stretch and yawn in the early darkness 

deep blue eyes looking into sea green 

me: "good morning, baby!" 

my hair, tangled and black mascara smudges 

under my lashes 

breath not as sweet from hours of sleep 

I stretch full length, rolling into your arms 

green eyes looking into deep blue 

you: "good morning, beautiful"

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