all because of you

all of the bricks that formed the wall
I count each one as they do fall
some knew little about me at all
one of them was you

thoughts I savored in my mind
footsteps leaving that behind
how could I have been so blind
when I dreamed of you

each nuance; every little trace
as each tears fall freely down my face
leaving something to be replaced
it was all about you

and now it all disappears
all of the hopes and all of the fears
freedom comes after all of these years
all because of you

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

dreaming in color

I'm learning to dream in color again
I rest in sleep 'til the dawn creeps in
no closed doors or fencing surrounds
wide open views that do abound

the mountains purple with skies of blue
sweeping to the valley with wondrous hues
the breeze sings a song with a new tune
I know the reason--it's because of you

the unanswered knocks on those old doors
millions of questions without answers for
like a child's game I tallied the score
I couldn't win but went back for more

but now I dream in color again
I rest in sleep 'til the dawn creeps in
paid the piper for all past sins
removing the loss is the best revenge

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

skies of blue

one last look, at the past as it drifts
across the mountains into the sea of rifts
no safety nets or easy rides
on the wave of life or ocean tide

I meant every word, played every part
the stars in the sky that blinded my heart
I wouldn't change even one little thing
what heartaches fall and memories bring

I look in the mirror and face the fears
was it just a moment or many a year
as I lose track of what it means
tears fall fast from eyes of green

I write my messages on your wall
the comments that mean nothing at all
thoughts of fair weather and skies of blue
and all I dreamed I saw in you

it was all there, every single part
every lyric ever sang right from the start
at midnight Cinderella had to run
and two fades quickly into one

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

yesterday

the lights went out and you're long gone
things that mattered don't matter now
I told you things that I wanted to say
what's past is past I'm your girl from yesterday

the days stretch long and the nights are worse
messages left are short and terse
perspective that you held at bay
days move forward but I'm stuck in yesterday

my heart is gonna hurt for just a little while
when I see your picture it makes me smile
I guess the words kinda got in your way
there is nothing left for you when you think of yesterday

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

just one

frost forms thick on all around
feet crunch loud on frozen ground
and what I've known for oh, so long
thaws and drips with morning sun

the wide open space now closes in
fenced and barbed like old Berlin
my mind skates quick on ice that's thin
what once was won't come again

in the mountains where wild things prowl
packs of coyotes with their low growl
for miles I can see the here and now
and our love there that now goes south

pictures painted in darkest hues
times we spent, just me and you
monsoons came and drenched sky's blue
leaving just one when it was through

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

dead letter

somewhere, close to the very end
to protect, a lover pretends
faking what is now long gone
cutting losses and moving on
taking what we get from the stress
stamp it, mail it, to the wrong address
ending up in the dead-letter office

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

poetic justice

borders drawn, I step across
not a leap of faith
was it so hard?
was it that bad?
no, it was bittersweet
a rich dark chocolate
that leaves an aftertaste

were the words "I love you"
what you expected to hear?
written in flowing verse
not whispers in your ear
easier to say at a distance
while longing for you to be near

poetic justice, words that flow
vague lyrics that sweep through
softening blows, without afterglow
of all that we might have known
was it so hard?
was it so bad?
no, baby, it was bittersweet

the taste will linger
long after it melts
the wrapper tossed
your love not expressed
mine spoken for you to read
over and over
all that I bled

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

moss

we forged a bridge of friendship
constructed of heaviest steel
and the river of injustice
flows freely underneath
no undertow or crashing waves
wash up on grassy banks
serenity floating softly
for the fishes that swim there

hand in hand we walk across
this structure that we made
freedom of heart and wisdom of mind
waits on the other side
the iniquities and the dreams
of what could never be
covered with moss on glossy rocks
is all we leave behind

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

all of those times

there is a wild whisper, that's blowing in the wind
it sweeps down from the mountains like a very old friend
it whips my hair about my face and eyes
and though it makes me squint
it brings back all of those memories
and I wonder where they went

all of those old times of laughter and dancing close
all of those old songs we and tiles on a board
all of those old mornings talking, and refilling cups
all of those old times of loving and sharing that I miss most

there is a wild whisper, that's blowing in the wind
it sweeps down from the mountains like a very old friend

it whips my hair about my face and eyes

and though it makes me blue
it brushes up against fantasy 

and dreams no longer true

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

tiles

if I seem too quiet now
if I show you with actions
don't tell you with words
don't tell you why or how
I love you

I spell it out with tiles
letters with points on a board
double word score
down and across
I love you

when love costs
the price too high
for the heart to bear
worth every last feeling
I love you

take it all
give nothing back
your light dim in my dark
bright it shines in other eyes
and still it rests here inside
I love you

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

intense

thinking all about this  

choices that have happened 

from the first hello

to that last goodbye

the only thing I can figure 

in this lengthy analysis 

no other observation

relationships are intense

it is right brain, left brain

and everything in-between 

it's chemical, physical, biological

emotional and temperamental

it's what we can't hold back 

give back or take back too

one false step could rock it

and you fall in a abyss

there isn't rhyme or reason 

and forget all those equations 

the psychology and self-help books

it's really simple addition 

one and one makes two 

and giving your best shot 

close your eyes. dive right in

float up to the top

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

it's okay

it's okay to say I love you 

it's okay to show you care 

it's okay to offer all you have

even if you have some fears 

it's okay to not have answers 

it's okay to take your best shot 

it's okay to offer nothing 

just say that's all you've got 

it's okay to figure often 

it's okay to be in the dark 

it's okay to know that sometimes 

love is going to hurt

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

dreams are just for dreaming

I slip in past the smoke screen

hitting just a little too close 

night vision is a bonus 

I see you as you doze

no different from what I discovered 

some things will never change 

and I leave you like I found you 

with nothing rearranged 

I can see you on the road 

your thumb out, hitchin a ride

I was carrying a heavy load

construction made a difficult drive

no places on the shoulder 

no pull off posted by sign

I stop in the middle of the street 

getting ticketed for my time 

dreams are just for dreaming 

clandestine just the same 

real life is for real living 

not framing in a picture frame 

you take what He hands down 

trying to ace the tests 

you do with it what you can 

then stow it with all the rest 

here I stand on solid ground 

as the world spins round and round 

it's my competitive nature

that won't let me back down 

I once took my best shot 

got a ribbon for second place 

but I was in the running 

I accept my trophy with grace

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

what once

what once burned hot on a cold spring night
dwindles, extinguished, like a tallow's light
nothing to sustain, nothing to hold
as it fades away, love's afterglow

what once held dreams in sleepless arms
a kiss of a lover with all of its charms
hangs heavy and weightless in a darkened room
the fragrance remaining like musky perfume

what once played softly on a mountain breeze
a love song dancing with its expertise
evanescent gone, like the lyrics sung
over much too quickly, maybe not begun

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

wishes

this day starts with wishes
from people that I know
starting this birthday
with a very special glow
friends and family
the ones that I hold
tight in my heart, and
whom I will never let go


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

around the corner

the road to tomorrow is paved with the past
I step to the left as the dye bleeds fast
you touched my body, I couldn't touch your heart
not in the middle and not from the start

a whisper of truth that cools with its breeze
love wraps around me with new energy
all that I longed for, that I didn't see
was waiting around the corner for me

connected by passion, the heat of your song
all that I gave, stuff you drag around
I keep my dreams...you keep what you found
we both end up where we always belonged

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

people I meet

if He decides the people I meet
and I decide who stays or leaves
who gets to stay, who walks away
who is true and who betrays

sometimes I walked away too quick
something just didn't seem to click
sometimes I know that quickly I ran
before a relationship even began

some I've held on to, too long
although the feelings seemed so strong
I've let go of some too soon

one of them was probably you

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

neon lights

shadows rise and shadows fall and I see the reality 

clattering deep in the silence of my serenity 

tonight we lay together under the flash of neon lights 

tomorrow I am miles away, living a different lie 

I felt it in my spirit and I felt it in my soul 

what you didn't feel at all just left this gaping hole

thunder rolls and lightning flashes bright in all my dreams 

while miles away you lay there, pulling my heart strings 

like the mighty Phoenix from the ashes resurrected 

but none of the fences mended, just how you directed

that little piece of my soul, the one that you left whole 

sometimes friends, sometimes lovers the only role I know

I can be here with you, or as long as you can stay 

yesterday was just a day...long since faded away 

all of the photos taken, show us smiling in black and white 

you pick and choose, make all the rules, while I drift with the tide 

tonight we lay together under the flash of neon lights

tomorrow I am miles away, living a different lie

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

between wonder and love

they meet in the middle
between east and west
between sunrise and sunset
somewhere between dependence and indifference

they meet in the middle
between unsure and surreal
between unopened and unsealed
somewhere between give and take

they meet in the middle
between rain and sun
between ended and just begun
somewhere between fact and fiction

they meet in the middle
between forgiveness and grace
between bittersweet and a honey taste
somewhere between wonder and love

somewhere between blue sky and monsoon
once again, they meet in the middle

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