https://mjb-lessonsfromlife.blogspot.com/ "Out of life's school of war: What does not destroy me, makes me stronger." Nietzsche
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Facade
All There Is
Thursday, August 24, 2023
a tired mind
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License
pages
by dim candlelight
the ending a mystery
hidden from my sight
I jot down the secrets
that I've never told
when the day was so hot
but the wind blows too cold
many promises broken
angry words that were said
in the white heat of anger
things I won't confess
these pages of love
the ink that's still wet
from the love that I feel
given without regret
the battle I waged
that was met with defeat
I would refight that war
although no easy feat
a chapter on heaven
a chapter on hell
although the latter's
the place where I dwell
I've lost track of the pages
and where this all leads
drawing difficult conclusions
after numerous misleads
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
I can
I can be your warmth
the light of your moon
the stardust at night
when sleep comes to you
the minutes in each hour
of every single day
a song from your heart
over and over I play
I can be the sweetness of wine
refreshment for your soul
instilling my spirit
making you again whole
the taste of ambrosia
honey on your lips
braille to a blind love
read with fingertips
I can be your searchlight
a beacon for rough seas
bringing you homeward
keeping you safe with me
cold, wet and tired
hungry for some peace
a bandage for your heart
that will no longer bleed
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Good Bye
could feel it in my bones
Slowly you’re departing
and leaving me alone
It all went by so quickly
these moments that we shared
And looking back it seems
you were the answer to a prayer
You came when I was lonely
you helped to get me through
I think it was a pleasure
just being there with you
Thanks for what you gave me
the lessons and the time
Thanks for being what you were
when I thought that you were mine
against the wall
the kisses long and deep
while all around the music surrounds
this dance that we can't keep
it fills my days and haunts my nights
whenever my dreams do come
these stolen moments that we make
memories to which we succomb
I burn it to my memory
like songs to a new disc
steps we've added with each new score
to play over and over like this
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Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
lessons we don't learn
shallow grave
I do not bring the rain, which you embrace
but the sun briefly, into a cold sky
as I make a clouded descent
into the realms of your reality
I lay fantasy aside
covering it with Irish lace
and burying it in a shallow grave
as your heart's freedom sprouts wings
and flies away into the night
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Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License
deep blue sea
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License
Monday, August 14, 2023
I do
without a moon, by dimming starlight
even though I knew, that I had no right
I held you there in my crosshair sights
on two wheels, as you roamed about
never keeping true to your distant route
looking for something and your own bail out
as monsoons drenched the midsummer's drought
always searching, nada did we find
most of the searching, a complete waste of time
you stood with yours and I stood with mine
I would venture to say, it wasn't sublime
things finally changing, how quickly it seems
no broken heart, just realized dreams
it was just what happens, the thick scheme of things
a knot firmly tied in our silver heart strings
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Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License
summer
porch swing
Tuesday, August 8, 2023
bullshit
not a box of chocolates
I used to look for the pot of gold
then I realized-- all of it's bullshit
life is what you make of it
victims will always be victims
the strong will themselves on
waiting for the dawn of a new day
another day to try harder
to right the wrongs
to rely on the kindness of friends
and to thwart the enemy
with the Grace of God
I go forward untethered
looking not to the past with its ghosts
but with sunglasses for the sunny days
ahead
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License
thin line
tethered
me and you
that summer night that we first met
there was only me and you
alone, in that dim, crowded room
music in the background plays
TV’s sporting different games
blocking out assorted noise
hearing only your deep voice
loving all that has come after
entwined in all the things we do
tethered together, me and you
Sunday, August 6, 2023
incase
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License
Debris
All your memories packed away
Tell my heart that feels betrayed
But in good time even that will fade
The time with you that wasn’t wasted
Bittersweet and honey laced
My mind remembers your embrace
Dreams of a future now debased
I’m much stronger than I thought
Better now, not overwrought
You never even felt distraught
Inflicted pain cost me a lot
I told you when you closed the door
That would be it forevermore
I told you what you had in store
But my pleas you did ignore
Now you’re hit with some debris
Wanting back what will not be
Remove the blinders you will see
I am doing what is best for me
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
a better day
many of which were circumspect
deposited minutes and hours left
of overdrawn reality checks
seconds pass just way too slow
signs don't tell you where to go
confused religious taught beliefs
supposed to give you some relief
Father guide me in this quest
choose the path which is the best
litter not along the way
heading toward a better day
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Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License
Saturday, August 5, 2023
walk
pug pulls tight the camo leash
there, the coyote alone walks by
the pug barks loud at the ostracized
there is Millie, our walking mate
waiting just outside her gate
she sees the lone coyote too
hiding quickly from its view
first days of fall, the morning brisk
I can stand much more of this
better than the summer's heat
bouncing hot off well worn streets
and so we walk, along the path
going quick so I get back
to the coffee fresh and hot
my reward, a whole new pot!
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Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License
once or twice
once or twice I thought I saw you
where shadows stretch across rock lawn
but it was the heat from the sun’s rays
a mirage evaporating into evening dust
once or twice I thought I heard you
drifting silently into a dream
when I looked you were not there
faceless lessons I finally learned
once or twice I thought I smelled
ambrosia left from morsels of love
it left me hungry after digested
thirst not quenched from bitter wine
once or twice I thought I felt
the softness of a lover’s hand
soothing brow but not my mind
coarseness of burlap against velvet skin
once or twice I thought I tasted
the sweetness of what could have been
imagination plays funny tricks
on the senses of what won’t be
Friday, August 4, 2023
for keeps
here by my bedside?
or shout it out loud
from the high mountainside?
have a conversation
with all the mesquite
or with folded hands,
here down on my knees
do I ask absolution
from all my past sins?
for the ones I pushed out
or wrong ones I let in
maybe a rosary
said two or three times
all that I'm asking
is for one little sign
dear God in heaven
I may have been bad
and I never noticed
the good things I had
all that I'm asking
no--begging if you please
all I have now
I just want to keep
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Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License
Trust
absolution
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
chaos
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License