prophet

temptation bought without any reason
what is the price that you will pay?
when it's choking out the sun
just dark clouds on a rainy day
consuming, scratching and screaming
clawing its way to the top
a thick cream that soon rises
it clabbers without stopping

fragments of possessions
pointed shards of yesterday
cutting deep, crimson bleeding
all you've hidden away
the fear so black and hollow
as it suffocates all you know
slam that door, lock it tight
refuse its ticket to the show

take the shroud that wrapped you
shed that tiresome weight
the angel on your shoulder
will be your saving grace
a silver lining does appear
like a prophet it will speak
take its advice, don't think twice
at times when you feel weak

from the prophet gather your strength

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

crash

on the bituminous asphalt
scattered, shattered dreams
didn't feel the head-on crash
though silently I screamed

shards of recognition
laying at my feet
dented metal memories
that now seem not as sweet

blown rubber realization
the heart can't be revived
emt's take the body
spirit showing no signs of life

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

shards

you glance back at what you created
the tower taller and getting nearer
it shines in the sun and glows in the dark
it’s where the fire began with a spark

you whistle a tune and some come running
smiling their smiles and dancing to your tune
but I do neither and turn my back
picking up speed and tightening the slack

you call for me, but I can’t hear
a white noise hums inside my head
what was true and built to last
shatters like so many shards of glass

freight

sediment drained to the bottom of the glass

momentary thoughts, that are not meant to last

saguaro that shadow, in afternoon sun

the full moon rising when this day is done

leaves from mesquite, that spread far and wide

the soft evening sound of the whispering tide

what once was close, is once more adrift

slipping away, from a now open grip

how quickly it comes, and then floats away

once shiny and new, now dismal and gray

it's not that I've changed, or now want it back

it's more that now finally, my life is on track

I hope you rest easy, on the choices you've made

not that you'd go back, if there was a way

separated by streets, but in the same state

finally rid of the baggage, or more likely freight

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

a heart unfulfilled

when the day is long
and the night haunts me
and I’m here alone
not where I want to be
the dreams that come
remind me you are gone
clutching your pillow
as the nightmare wears on

the sun creeps in
and I wake still distressed
unhappy with the morning
that leaves me repressed
drink the acrid coffee
that's so bitter and hot
start another day
with a darkened blind spot

the day does drag on
hours feel like years
just since you left
I remain now austere
going through the motion
it seems life stands still
regrets and remorse
a heart unfulfilled

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

just the facts

the red tape cut and it all unravels

they're looking at you and all of your travel

hitting pot holes and kicking up gravel

and time comes again, as a judge with a gavel

they tie your hands and bind your feet

more rolls down but you don't miss a beat

investigating friends, and all those you meet

turning up the pressure on a very hot seat

disintegrating words they claim are implicit

while the shit they do is much more explicit

the sheep's open ears, hearing all they solicit

the truth be told, they just don't get it

you spread your truth will it all stay intact?

will enough people hear to feel the impact?

they come at you again, each one is strapped

you know that your message, is backed by fact

firing their lies, their guns still smoking 

slaps on the back cause the ego needs stroking

all they do, stirring up more provoking

keep your heart strong for the holes that need poking

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

a time and place

a time and place 

when it all seemed right 

I heard your songs 

saw it in your smile

the squeeze of your hand

and your warm embrace 

it was in your kiss

that I still taste

a time and place 

when it all comes down 

with a lightning flash 

and thundering sound 

the wind blows hard 

dusting all thoughts clean

and what is left

sweeps my heart free

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

a heart that weeps

I jumped the hurdles
I climbed the rungs
you went higher
I couldn’t hold on

the song you sang
I couldn’t hear
words to the wind
or on deaf ears

you disappeared
without a trace
no tracks left
the trail erased

no warning shot
you were on the move
an empty chamber
an aim not true

when you left
you took it all
no safety net
to block my fall

a broken past
a wall left breached
a soul bereft
a heart that weeps

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

I am

I am today what yesterday wrought

what the day brings in, what my soul has bought

the spirit that leaves as the day grows strong

what's left in shadows from yesterdays song

I am right now what the day will bring

with shiny luster, and hoped for dreams

headstrong tolerance, disposition wasted

from bittersweet memories I once tasted

I am tomorrow stronger still

fighting the anger, bending my will

all the tomorrows, all the unknown

depending upon how much I've grown

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

replete

we embrace the music and the joy of our dance
in the dusk that falls before night settles in
no notice do we take as the moon starts ascent
you fill me with love--it courses through my veins

is there a better feeling, a confection any sweeter?
your head upon my breast, listening to my heart beat
whispers in the moonlight, a dance that we repeat
a song playing over and over, of love that is replete

slumber will find me wrapped snugly in your arms
dreams of floating on clouds--softly come upon me
you awaken me with kisses and we embrace the day
as last night history lesson is once more completed

is there a better feeling, a confection any sweeter?
your head upon my breast, listening to my heart beat
whispers in the moonlight, a dance that we repeat
a song playing over and over, of love that is replete

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

days drift

days drift
feelings shift
nights are long

winds blow
love goes
rain will fall

hearts break
spirit quakes
I am gone

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

the list

I’ve broken some hearts
when I didn’t mean to
lived months of rain
and skies of blue
been to love’s buffet
where there wasn’t any food
bitten off way more
than I could ever chew

I’ve traveled the world
I like it here best
learned some lessons
from pretty hard tests
been down and out
had to hit reset
turned my face from heaven
and was still blessed

I’ve been betrayed by
some I thought were friends
I’ve been to a Priest
and confessed my sins
the list will grow longer
before it can end
always starting over
and over again

what love should be

as I moved on to sunnier days
past weeks of rain
wondering if I could have done more
given more space
no, it wasn't me

it was always you
and all about you
not listening
pulling back for days on end
no word at all

but--it was for the best
I finally figured it all out
I didn't wrong you
but you me
opening my eyes
to what love could and should be

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

plain to see

some things are plain to see
when your eyes are clear
comparisons and judgments
in your mind linger here
shackled to old memories
chained to what is lost
on a shaky bridge to tomorrow
what I held and what is lost

I sift through the pieces
of all that was untrue
my accordion pleated mind
filing traces left from you
you sleep in the bed you made
it was all your choice
while listening in silence
to what once was my voice

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