New Year

Nurture
Each
Wish

Yesterday
Ends
A New Year dawns
Resplendent

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

Thanksgiving

a Thanksgiving comes
and as the blessing is said
I offer my own

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

everlasting

I've climbed all the mountains
roamed the desert floor
I do it today, like I've done it before
looking for answers, guidance from above
but there are no solutions, or resolutions
that can save me now

things have been said about things left undone
and it echoes aloud; resonating
a quiet screeching, angels screaming
is it just in my head or in the breeze?
can everyone hear it like me?

I wander unsteady as I stray from Your path
I stumble and falter, rise up and fall back
I thirst for Your truth, Your tree of knowledge
looking for an apple that holds wisdom

weariness comes, mind and body it sweeps
there is not a branch to steady my fall
in fact, there is no one, no shelter from the sun
there is just no protection at all

which way do I go now, show me the way
light a candle in my darkness
shine down on me, let me find peace
I pray for Your salvation everlasting

but Heaven betrays me, 

Hell opens to engage me 

and redemption has just run past

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

the other side

the other side has flowers
this side wrought with thorns
the other side is sunny
this side thunderstorms
the other side has mountains
this side flat and brown
the other side grows lushly
this side is beaten down

the other side may have
these things
this side not so much
the grass is always greener
on what you cannot touch
I may look there longingly
and think it may be smooth
but I will stay on my side
working to improve it

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

footsteps

footsteps that falter
loosing the path
tripping and falling
in loves abyss
growing softer
slipping away
echoing sounds
from the trail where they strayed

no circling back
on this road I travel
nothing to grab
as it all unravels
in this forest
densely overgrown
I forge ahead
into the unknown

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

manna

like an over-ripened fruit
juices freely flow
pooling, sticky on the tile
solitary footsteps tracked through

look over your shoulder
a dim light beckons from
a splintered door
what you controlled
the things you held
still worthy of the price

wandering the desert floor
forty days and nights
hungry for the taste of manna
and all that you were promised

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

Birthday

at the stroke of midnight

another year blows past 

like dust in the wind 

like fire burns to ash 

reflecting on it all

what is now yesterday 

the lessons that I've learned 

memories that were made 

would I change any one moment

 if I had the chance? 

let me think for a second

NOT ON YOUR LIFE

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

one more chance

I don't know where your mind was

maybe you came to your senses

see what the fuss is all about

deciding you should take a risk 

the boat is pushing back from shore 

you're running down the pier

the gang plank is pulled back now

one more chance missed here

I can see you standing there 

my hair blowing in the breeze 

shading my eyes from the sun

one tear slips down my cheek 

the things we thought we wanted

like waves hitting on the shore 

and I can barely see you now

but I wave to you once more

 

while we both were searching 

wading that river of doubt 

it was so easy to fall into 

so much harder to get out

 

I left without a compass 

using the sun is the best guide 

and I can barely see you 

but I wave for the last time

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

release

with kindness comes clarity
with loving comes loss
with investment comes risk
to be put where it belongs

with anger comes tension
with frustration comes fear
with longing comes hunger
for what you want near

with heart comes emotion
with His grace comes peace
it will get much easier
when at last I release

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

atrium of my heart

the prayers I said while on the beach
the closest place to Heaven for me
You are so close, I feel you there
Your grace shining everywhere

I look for truths, talk out loud
shedding openly of this shroud
plead redemption to impart
this shattered atrium of my heart

answers come from my request
not what I wanted but for the best
what I find is what I seek
and this truth will set me free

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

this place

a glimmer of light that shines in my dark

 a candle lit with novena said

like a child at Christmas I feel the wonder 

of all you offer to me 

you, the umbrella that keeps me dry 

the hand I hold when I'm afraid 

blocking out the noise of thunder 

your laughter like my favorite song 

soft and warm I feel your breath 

back to chest upon my neck

arms enfold around me tight 

the sleep of angels comes at last 

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

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

plight

for dreams that dissipate
much too soon
hanging like cobwebs
in deserted rooms
for hopes unanswered
on a moonless night
longing's, emptiness
forever in sight
for loneliness
that won't ever abate
the empty heart
where it resonates
I say a prayer
a candle I light
till you are delivered
from this deep plight

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

happy endings

I believe in happy endings 

and in each new beginning 

I believe that when life is darkest

it's always before the dawn 

I believe the glass is half-full 

just waiting to be topped off 

I believe that what gets broken 

can sometimes be repaired 

I believe if you look deep enough

there is good in everyone 

I believe that the bitterest lemons 

make the sweetest lemonade 

I believe if you want something  

that you can make it happen 

I believe it's a radiant light that shines 

at the end of the dark tunnel 

I believe in silver linings

in every single cloud

I believe that there's a lesson

in every test you face 

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

kyrie eleison

Your light has always shone on me 

the grace instilled with deep belief 

I light a candle and say a prayer 

I can always find You there 

when I pray on bended knee 

a quick "ask" where ever I may be

an answer always come from You 

kyrie eleison, shine Your truth

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

Heaven

from here I can see Heaven
it is in the clouds
and on this beach
it is the rays of the sun
sparkling on the sea
it is the moon and stars
reflecting on the ebbing tide

yes...
this is Heaven
this is where Your grace rests
and where I want to stay
it is where my spirit soars
and where my soul finds peace
it is heaven for me

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

follow me

I've come a long way 

still further to go 

sometimes there's no reason 

that I see to keep going 

when I think it's too much 

and I'm ready to quit 

I hear your voice i

n the midst of it saying: 

I'll show you the path 

I'll show you the light 

I'll be here if you need me 

I am right by your side 

you are half-way there

don't give up now 

follow me, follow me 

the path I was on 

was crooked and wrong 

each corner I turned 

wasn't where I belonged 

hell bent on destruction, 

hurting those close 

then thunder was crashing

--saw lightning flashes 

and I heard a voice 

in the midst of it 

saying: I'll show you the path 

I'll show you the light 

I'll be here if you need me 

I am right by your side 

you are half-way there 

don't give up now

follow me, follow me

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

blessings

when you say your evening prayers 

blessing those that you love most 

does my name cross your lips?

blessing one you once held close 

when you pray for saving grace 

blessings for less important things 

in your mind's eye can you see my face 

blessing me for a long ago spring

when you say your evening prayer 

blessing those that you love most 

does my name ever cross your lips? 

blessing one you once held close

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

shallow water

if we cross in shallow water 

waist deep in murkiness 

if we can deny the demons 

and smother the pain 

we can make it to the other side

if we can keep our sights 

on the trail ahead 

leave the past behind,

keep the wind at our back 

lay some stones for the future 

ahead, the river gets too wide 

the bridge we build is right here 

if we wait, 

we may not reach the other side 

fears haunting the night

disappear with dawn 

the winds of change blow 

lightning and thunder 

clear the way for cleansing 

with the rain that falls 

take my hand 

let me hold yours

shall we cross together? 

shall we build a bridge for all time? 

shall we look ahead together?

help me lay the foundation 

take my hand

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