just a friend

I know what it means and what it doesn't

there isn't anything I haven't read

It's just a friend lending a hand to a friend

getting back on track from where it ended

I know how it started and the ups and downs

I know there isn't more or less to be wanted 

it is just a friend lending a hand to a friend 

supporting a need, that is all that it means

I know that I can depend on you 

even when I call out of the blue 

it is just a friend lending a hand to a friend 

that's where it starts and how it ends 

that is always the way that it turns out 

it is just a friend lending a hand to a friend

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

what if

what if...
the only commonality was love
nothing else
would that hold you?
keeping you content
not complacent
day in
day out
only love


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

goodnight baby

goodnight baby, wherever you are

dream sweet dreams, safe from harm 

just a few weeks till you feel the warmth 

wrapped in the arms of the one you love

rest sweet baby, lay down your head

let things that plague you fade away

let dreams of the West keep worries at bay

till there with your love you at last remain

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

flickers

quickly it flickers
like a candle we just lit
now the flame burns high

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

picture

your picture on my desk
your voice is in my ear
calling to say goodnight
I'm wishing you were here

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

reading each other

you like all the country songs 

ballads that twang a bit 

I like music from the seventies 

and a few more recent hits 

you like all the deep, deep reads 

I prefer less intense 

ok, maybe some thrillers 

where the heroine always wins 

you like all those space flicks 

and sci-fi on TV 

I like more of a drama 

or chick-flicks easy to see 

but we like reading each other 

and coffee the same way 

and sometimes I may get wacky 

but I'm a friend that's here to stay

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

love came back

just for a moment:
   let me think my own thoughts
   dream my own dreams
   decide for myself

just for a day:
     give me some peace
     let it be about me
     let me forget

just in time:
     everything changed
     my future more clear
     love came back

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

rattle the bones

can we rattle the skeletons
just one more time?
open this grave
to ease my mind
will it help with closure?
or will it lay me bare?
when the truth comes to light
and I see nothing there
so we rattle the bones
just once more
and what I uncover
I will settle for

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

BOOM

meticulously, you ply your art..
nibbling, softly
rubbing hard
listening for the sighs and moans
eliciting pleasure the way you know
holding off...
till just the right moment,
and then...
BOOM!

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

friends till the end

there is a place that I go

in my memory 

a place that you hold 

without lock or key 

from the moment we met 

I saved it for you 

I knew this was different 

you've shown this is true 

at times I'm confused 

as to how this all fits 

but we keep moving on 

no matter how hard it gets 

I've put you through paces 

I've made you look deep 

I've called you on things 

my price has been steep 

this bond that we share 

a friendship that's sealed 

with love and understanding 

with nurturing and healing 

you will always belong 

in my heart's special place 

no one comes close 

to filling this space 

I'll be here for you 

as you're there for me 

friends till the end 

this I'll always believe

from the moment we met 

I saved it for you 

I knew this was different 

you've shown this is true 

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

lookin west

it just wasn’t a good fit 

it wasn’t enough for you 

you tried to think about it

though you wrote it could be true 

it doesn’t stop the feeling 

the hole that has been blown 

the crevice I fell into 

once it became known 

when you look into the mirror 

what reflection do you see 

are you standing there alone 

or seeing an image of me 

the sun was in your eyes 

complacent smile on your face 

you didn’t see the shadow fall 

as I moved on with grace 

as you’re running onward 

still looking for the best 

your feet are planted eastward 

but your eyes are lookin west 

when you count your blessings 

for the things that make you glad 

one blessing will be missing 

a heart you could have had

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

BEACH

Bolstering 

Energizing 

Awesome 

Calming 

Home

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

watch them fall

I shoot from the hip, and it kicks a bit

not a bruise that just won't heal 

I line my worries up on the wall 

pick them off, watch them all fall 

they shine bright, in afternoon light 

lined up there for me to see 

as soon as one drops, another one plops 

right in the middle of me 

I'm taking aim, not laying blame 

practice usually makes perfect 

I'll give another try, till I get it right 

and I can put this glock away

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

unusual love story

I am reading this book, 

while sunning by the sea 

about the ups and downs 

a girl who wants to believe 

and I ask myself, how

does this relates to me? 

I'm the girl, you're the guy 

in this book that I read

 

I keep on reading 

now I am enthralled 

an unusual love story 

where only one falls 

don't know how it ends

right now she's hit a wall 

could be a beginning 

not the end at all 

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

blinded by the light

temporarily blinded by the light 

ln on-coming car with high beams on

when it's passed, vision comes back 

as again I regain my bearings 

long ago, what I depicted 

was in my head and heart

reading meaning keep believing

more than what met the eye 

the circumference closes, we move on 

the circle is now dissected 

what you do depends on you 

and has right from the very start 

some day you will think of me 

a memory that slipped your grasp

vague comprehending of long lost dreams 

while you settle up with what lasts 

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

Eden

you took the fast path out of Eden 

bags still packed, everything intact 

passport ready but never stamped 

maybe next time if you ever get back 

you grabbed an apple from the tree 

ne'er a bite did you take

juicy the fruit resting in your palm

thought you could savor it later 

blind until your teeth taste flesh 

you needed to break the skin 

sweet and sticky it drips down your chin 

forgetting the reason you ever left

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

closer

if the stars fade 

and the moon doesn't glow 

we can still sing this song 

this one we both know

it may take us awhile 

though this song's in our heart 

it may spin us sometimes 

but it brings us back around 

it's the light in your eyes

and in your special ways 

that illuminate this dark 

pushing storm clouds away 

I feel it inside 

whether near or far

pulling me closer 

closer to your love

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

somewhere along the way

I lost it somewhere, somewhere along the way 

it's not here right now, but I had it yesterday 

but yesterday's a memory, today is a blank sheet 

that will also be a memory when this day's complete 

where do I find it? where is it that I look? 

is it in a smile? or in an unread book? 

is it in the whispered breeze? caught in a mesquite? 

is it in the shadows--playing hide and seek? 

will it recognize me? 

when I find just what I seek

does it know that I'm searching? 

for what I lost along the way 

I can't feel it now, 

but I had it yesterday

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

another new song

my mind is open 

my heart is free

there isn't any weight 

pulling on me 

but at any given moment 

that could all change 

right now I'm taking it 

day by day 

around every corner 

or just down the street 

anticipating you 

in every face I see

open for suggestion 

closed to all the pain

looking for a new song 

with a sweet refrain 

when tomorrow comes 

I won't look back 

nothing is laying there 

I shouldn't have left 

tomorrow is a beginning

for another new chance 

for another new song 

for another new dance 

if you want to come along

if you want to play a part

if there is anything

left inside your heart 

if there is a glimmer 

or anything held within 

leave the past in the past 

let's make a new beginning

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

out of the office

off to the wilds to hunt for white tail deer. Be back next Friday my friends

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

serendipituous

some say it is serendipitous
I think they are ridiculous
left more to hosts up above
deciding who shall fall in love

not lucky the last time that I fell
knowing it could not work out well
some discoveries come much too late
found out it's part of love's game

this time I know now it's true
different from all those that I knew
better this last time around
serendipitous or not is what I've found

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

Happy Birthday (B)

may you always be blessed in all that you do

may angels always watch over you

may happiness each and every day surround 

filling you with its hearty rich bounty 

in all you seek, may you always find 

but one thing keep inside your mind 

there's no love truer than yours and mine

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

catch the moon

I'll catch the moon

and I'll see you there 

wherever I am, 

to wherever you are 

I'll see the stars 

the same stars as you

although you are on 

the other side of the world 

I'll have the same thoughts

the same thoughts as you 

of a distant past 

in an hourglass 

and the sands that fall 

were on a beach, under the stars 

where we walked 

if you take the time,

we can catch the moon 

gather stars in our heart 

wherever I am,

to wherever you are 

I'll see the stars

the same stars as you

although you are on 

the other side of the world

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

sweet release

stand next to the fire 

and feel the flame 

watch the smoke 

rising higher and higher

look into the heart 

of this white hot inferno 

as you palpitate 

that sweet, sweet release 

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

arms length

once a very short distance

on a lengthy velvet cord 

abjuring close enough to leave 

always at your arms length 

severed from past moments 

surgically the cut 

anaesthetized memories 

against my heart they butt

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

about you

if on a crowded street we meet

filled with shopping throngs 

would you greet me cordially? 

or turn your back and run 

would you smile and say hello? 

or look through me as if I'm not there 

does it leave and empty feeling hanging 

about you in the air? 

would we go for coffee? 

and speak of useless things 

seeing into the future 

talking of what it will bring 

if on a crowded street we meet 

filled with shopping throngs 

would you greet me cordially? 

or turn your back and run

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

all that we are

your eyes are partially open, 

I know you look at me 

what is it I can offer, 

something that you need? 

everyone is looking, 

blindly they can't see 

but I am seeing into you,

and you see into me 

in your darkest hour, 

will you reach for me? 

do you feel me next to you, 

when everything seems gray? 

when the night grows long, 

do you think of me? 

do you see me in the sunset 

and at the break of day? 

is there any room

--room for me there inside? 

I think I saw a glimpse once, 

a glimpse inside your heart 

will it ever come, 

that once upon a time? 

where the shadows fall

--I can see all that we are

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

daughter

you feel like it's going nowhere 

and your slipping off the track 

you can't move into tomorrow 

with all of this on your back 

all I see is anguish 

when I look into your eyes 

no words of comfort I offer 

give you peace of mind 

daughter, you're still young 

and you will find your path 

love will be restored 

rising out of this aftermath 

don't give up on faith 

don't give up on prayer 

look upward to His heavens 

you'll find the answers there 

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

penned with love

there is a sweet, sweet melody 

that's playing in my heart 

simple and slow, easy chords to play 

it comes to me 

on each morning breeze 

staying all day long 

who will write the lyrics? 

to this music my heart knows 

who will sing it to me? 

strumming softly the notes

feeling each verse

the lyrics penned with love

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

today

today changes 

what yesterday meant 

what dissipates 

into the midst 

what dissolves with water 

what once was true 

today changes 

the yesterday in you

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

thought

if I close my eyes 

I will miss all the good stuff

sometimes, I just nap

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

poker

a good poker face 

your hand not tipped 

playing your cards 

close to your chest 

stoic, no tremors 

or betraying what you hold 

as I lay down 

the queen of hearts

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

threadbare

the delicate fabric rends 

once intricately meshed 

carefully woven together

by loving hands

beautifully it hangs 

the cloth, pleasing to the eye

colorful hues 

in a fashionable design

underneath--tattered and shredding 

worn from friction and resistance 

threads now falling on the ground 

the delicate fabric rends 

once intricately meshed 

carefully woven together 

by loving hands 

now frayed and flawed

threadbare

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the last dance

baby, save the last dance 

save the last dance for me

the music is just right tonight

these lyrics that I feel 

we may not get another chance 

this time, let's do it right

 baby, save the last dance 

the music is ours tonight 

put your arms around me 

pull me to your chest

I can feel your heart beat 

pounding against my breast 

my head upon your shoulder 

we move slowly to the song

the tempo is just perfect 

it's here that I belong 

baby, save the last dance

save the last dance for me

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

metaphors

poets write with metaphors 

to protect their feelings 

letting others read into it--

infusing their own meaning 

sometimes it hits close to home, 

no matter how vague we pen 

obtuseness only goes so far 

when you're in the midst of it 

we write of  many unread books 

and things left in the rain 

 of dances left unfinished 

and songs that we once sang 

we write about opening windows 

and about closing tight the doors 

of dense, white fog and shadows,

shrouds and birds that soar 

we write of finding happiness, 

of thunder and skies of blue 

of footprints in sand, the ocean tides 

and about the crescent moon 

a metaphor does many things, 

it's left to interpretation 

in every singular purpose, 

or every singular situation 

we pen these poems as lyrics 

or tag them spiritually

hoping others will read them

and find the strength they need

some may bring them close to tears

while other make them laugh 

pulling from them what prose will

maybe bringing a sweet repast

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

thank you

thanks for fixing that broken gate 

for making me dinner when I work late 

for rubbing my back--taking my tension away 

at the end of a very, very long day 

thanks for changing the bulb over our bed 

when it blew out right over our heads 

for fixing the plumbing leaking in my shower 

no matter how late or early the hour 

thanks most of all for just being you 

for every single little thing that you do 

for caring for me right from the start 

thanks for mending my broken heart

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

another go

it is just my way...the lightning and thunder 

keeps you on your toes or running for cover 

would you want it to be any other way? 

this roller coaster ride that we both play 

it's the pull of the ocean and deep riptides

it's bigger than life--but black and white 

sometimes like a cd that skips 

or a new gun that kicks a bit

tomorrow we stroll down another path 

burying the pain and the aftermath 

starting over...another new page 

that's how it works, or so you say 

 

sometimes crazy but always amazing 

as we pick the parts that we are saving 

I don't know if we can keep it afloat

as I watch from a shadow in the afterglow 

tenacity and grace give it another go 

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

maturing

matured by damage

over years it was incurred

that is how it works

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

hello, again

let's start again 

"hello, how are you 

do we know each other?" 

this time, let's go slower 

"yes, we've met before,

but it was a while ago" 

can history repeat? 

can it be any sweeter? 

than the time before... 

 "they are playing our song 

would you like to dance?" 

this I remember well!

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

it was you

it wasn't the moon 

that got to me that night 

it wasn't dancing close 

or purely circumstance 

it was much more than that 

it was all of those things 

and much, much more 

it was you

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

a cappella

a cappella 

you tell me you love me 

with a full orchestra 

you show me how much

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

something

I'm packing very little
there's not much that I need
hitting the open highway
for the beach, the sun, the sea

heading for the border
be there early today
I know once I get there
my troubles fade away

pulling out my passport
for examination
many detainees here
waiting on immigration

something about the ambiance
something about that air
something about the evenings
that makes me forget what's here

Mexico, just a dream away
closer than it appears
the climate always perfect
maybe, I'll just stay there

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

roads

some roads lead to nowhere 

some lead to happiness 

some lead you to destruction 

some lead to financial success 

some lead you to heartache

some lead to a dead end 

some lead to a pot of gold

some lead to emptiness 

on some I have been chased 

on some I think I crashed 

on some I have been running 

on some I'm standing still 

some may lead to heaven 

another straight to hell 

I have to keep on going 

cause you can never tell

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

token

every word written on the wall 

one last kiss as you kick the door open 

your back was all I ever saw 

as you hit the ground runnin 

you grabbed what you could 

what you leave, not needed

one of them was me 

flip a token in the turn-style 

lookin for a clean getaway 

all the questions you're leaving 

no simple answers resolve 

it hangs out in the open 

like clothes upon the line 

they may smell fresh from the sweet air 

but the sun sets the spots in 

what is it that's in store? 

can you put it out of sight? 

how does it all end up 

after disillusionment 

if it didn't mean a thing 

and the burden broke your back

the arrow hits the target 

splitting it all in half

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

holding strong

your breeze blowing down from the mountains 

cool and sweet it lifted me 

I heard the crack of roaring thunder

I held strong, never ran for cover 

I saw the flash of zigzagged lightning 

felt the energy but it didn't frighten me 

now my cover may have been blown

but I'm standing firm on this long road 

I turned my back to walk away 

that's when I heard you call my name 

over my shoulder I can see your face

is it time to go or do I remain? 

confusion rocks my very core 

it's always this and nothing more 

still, I hold strong, I hold strong 

am I in it for a minute, or the long haul?

your breeze blowing down from the mountains 

cool and sweet it lifted me 

I heard the crack of roaring thunder

I held strong, never ran for cover

 

I hold strong, I hold strong

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