vagabond

a vagabond's heart 

did what it pleased 

silently drifting 

empty of needs 

reveling in pleasure

repenting the pain 

but it all closes in 

nothing is gained 

hitting a stone wall 

you slip as you climb 

asking the same questions 

time after time 

the answers you sought 

burn way down deep 

a spirit lost in shadow 

trying to break free 

let the cleansing come 

let the rain pour down 

let me ease your pain 

as the sorrow drowns

let redemption cloak

let your spirit mend 

let your soul wrap around 

the heart of a friend

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

friends

people you meet 

along life's path 

sun in your face 

wind at your back

friends are plenty 

when your times are black 

that's one of the things

you've never lacked

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

let's do lunch

I love to meet
and go to lunch
with the people
I like a bunch
I love the menu
to talk and laugh
telling jokes
and thinking back
I love to spend
the time of day
with friends I’ve missed
since I’ve been away
I love the precious
time we spend
not knowing when
we’ll meet again

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

absolution

an oasis at the end of a very long trail 

a dip in the pool of Heaven's sweet Grace 

how did you know that this was the place?

a sanctuary for keeping your secrets all safe 

out it all pours as stardust from the dipper

flecked with gold specks, shining in lunar light 

words written carelessly in black and on white 

cause for reflection in the dead of my night 

sleep that evades me and dreams that don't come 

the sun starts to fade and evening befalls 

I try to make sense out of nothing at all 

but the piper is insisting on his margin call 

nothing will I tell, your confessions not divulge

like a Priestess to a penitent, I lock it all in 

I offer absolution for all of your sins 

lighting a candle of peace for my friend

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

book II

I reread this page 

my favorite in this book 

a book about us

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

the kind of friend

would you lay it all down

to save me, my friend? 

can you give what I need

and be happy you did?

I can say good-bye but never let you go 

you're buried too deeply inside of my soul 

can you be the kind of friend 

who always looks back? 

picks me up when I've fallen,

puts me on the right track? 

will you never look down 

and please never let me go? 

bury me there, deeply, 

inside of your soul 

we live, we learn we play another hand 

we can't see the future 

with just one glance 

we keep rolling the dice 

and leaving it to chance 

and what we lay down 

will always comes back 

we never look down 

and we never let go 

and it all comes from something 

buried deep inside of our souls

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

you rock

all my secrets and deep, deep truths 

with the wrath of God, I heap on you 

and like the trooper that you are, 

replies with insight and spiritual thoughts 

you listen quietly, talking me through 

these fallacious ideas and my blue hues

building me up, never letting me down 

leave me smiling, when I'm finally done

you complement, never criticize 

and in these matters, you are wise 

what other friend would stick around? 

you totally rock, I'm your biggest fan

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

mon ami

say a prayer for me 

to find what you have found 

to bask in someone's love

to be adored in their eyes 

say a prayer for me

mon ami, my dear friend 

I wish you all the best 

wish the same for me 

say a prayer for me 

that I haven't used it up 

that I'll get one more chance 

to love the way you love 

say a prayer for me 

I say a prayer for you 

to protect your heart and soul 

to always know deep love

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

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.

light

I figured it out

after all this time 

I've got a grip 

on these feelings of mine

read some books 

that hit the mark 

I shed some light 

on what was dark 

I'll take it all 

everything that's there 

made plenty of room

for what you share 

don't park outside 

and not come in 

there's plenty of room 

I'll always make room 

there's plenty of room 

in my heart for you

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

the corner of the street

we bump into each other on the corner of the street 

you invite me for coffee and a breakfast treat 

you said "we've got some catching up to do" 

let's sit down here in this vacant booth

in between the "how are you's" and "what's new"

we talk about the kids and crazy work we do

we laugh a lot and before the afternoon is through 

everyone has left and there's only me and you 

you say "we really must do this again" "

it's always so good to catch up with a friend" 

we kiss, we hug and each go our own way

going back to the lives that separate

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

:)

an easy goodbye 

you leave me in a good place 

a smile on my lips

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

I wish

I wish you love 

without the pain 

I wish you success

with all you gain 

I wish you sunsets 

a sky of red 

I wish you the stars 

twinkling overhead 

I wish you a moon 

that you can reach 

I wish you all 

a parting gift from me

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

a

a cowboy's wild dreams

a sophisticated mind 

in a poet's heart

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

a year

almost a year 

since we connected 

matched wit and will 

were implicated 

several times 

almost disconnected 

changed direction 

and communicated

sometimes was really complicated 

ups and downs 

friendship perfected

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

boundaries

are there for reasons 

sometimes you can make it back 

sometimes you can not

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

catch you if you fall

I'll be there behind you 

a distant memory 

I'll be there behind you 

if there's anything you need

I'll be there behind you 

call if you're in a clutch 

I'll be there behind you 

beside you hurts too much 

I'll be there behind you 

to catch you if you fall 

I'll be there behind you 

that's what friends are for

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

wings

I believe in you and the good things that wait

I believe you can fly with the wings we created 

in the arms of a lover, the heart of a friend 

with tenderness we hold in our heart what won't end 

the wonder that stays, may its aura never cease 

the high price we paid for the wounds and healing 

all of it precious and part of you and me 

the roots that were sowed from that one fertile seed

the crop that is yielded holds promise that's rare 

if you ever need me--you know I'll be there 

I hold on tight with my far away arms 

as you take flight with my prayers for no harm 

in the arms of a lover, the heart of a friend 

with tenderness we hold in our heart what won't end

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

like glue

one road ends

as another bends 

a battle wages

from different cages 

mind and soul

travel high and low 

on each new chart 

ne'er a sign marks 

you do your best

forsaking the rest

relationships fade 

some friends may evade 

pulling loose threads 

draining your last dregs 

but after all we've been through

I'm stick like glue 

believing what you say 

as everlasting truth

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