trying to get to you

I've got stuff spread 'tween here and there
I'm way over the speed limit
what the state posts on the sign
is too moderate, I am thinking

as I downshift into low
I'm not going fast enough
traffic is much too heavy
smoke is coming from the clutch

now, I think it's way too late
the officer is thinking so too
as he writes me out a ticket
on the side of this busy road

can't he see I'm in a hurry
to get me back to you
as soon as he is finished
off again I will go

he won't slow me down
and I'm not going to brake
I'll take all the tickets
'til they take my license away

if you see my little gray car
best move way out of my path
nothing will keep me from getting to you
the sirens just impede progress


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

a long day

baby, I'm home and it's been a long day
ah, my favorite drink fixed just the right way
I'm too tired to eat
and too wired to sleep
but being here with you
is all I want to do

you put on music and sit by my side
the world may explode into pieces outside
right here I feel safe
in this special place
in the warmth of your arms
I can come to no harm

tomorrow, another day with more of the same
sales are down, two girls quit, who is to blame?
I know I can get through
all because of you
with this love in my heart
that's how each day starts


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

I don't need to worry

I don't have to worry 'bout the change in the weather
I don't need to wonder if I need another quilt
I don't need to worry about flannel pj's either
'cause when it's dark we'll be kicking the covers off

I don't need to worry about setting the alarm
you have one built in, it's part of your charm
the smell of the coffee brewing is all that we need
for these cold winter days that are settling in


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

text

just a little text
letting me know I don't place
in any of your space


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

spa night

evening in the hot tub beneath a full moon
the MP3 on speaker playing our tune
the stress of the work day now over and done
the pleasures of this night have just begun

jets tickle and tease the kinks from my body
you pour white wine from the uncorked bottle
the stars wink at all the things they can see
as slowly you show your love for me


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

wolf

you said you were coming back
but you didn't change direction
I've waited long enough
you cried wolf once too much

no response to multi media
as I slowly attenuate
if you finally respond
I forgot the question

it was probably just a ploy
another sleight of hand
the ante is much to rich
anyway, what could it matter

I couldn't change your heart
I couldn't change your mind
love makes many a fool
and I was one for you

you said you were coming back
no response to multimedia
it was probably just a ploy
I couldn't change your heart


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

ride

you saw me standing on the corner of the street
you took another look--pulled up on your Victory
said "hey, cutie, let me take you for a ride"
you handed me a helmet saying "hold on tight"
I climbed on without a second thought

we took off quickly, kicking up some dust
wrapped my arms around you holding on for dear life
from where I was sitting, I felt quite a rush
you said "this is the beginning, baby
it's all just getting starting"

with the cool breeze in my warm face
holding you close, around your waist
my whole valley never looked this green
I'm loving the noise and the backseat
that's what being on your bike can do

everyday now has been just as fine
off into the sunset, away we ride
all because once, I took a chance
when you saw me on that corner
put it all back into order
and took me for a ride


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

it's like

it's like driving around the barricade
lights flashing and the arms are down
the train is bearing down on me
its whistle screeching high-pitched alarm

it's like swimming in the ocean
a sign says "infested with sharks"
floating out further anyway
unafraid cause it's not yet dark

it's like flying a kite during monsoon
a key tied on to the tail
conducting a little electricity
just to see how far she'll sail

it's like singing and dancing in rain
it makes me happy and feels so good
it's like the first time that I kissed you
and love feels as it should


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

so am I

you're in love and so am I
it's just not with each other
when I was in love with you
you backed off cause you felt smothered

all I ever felt for you
remains here in my heart
I fought it hard
right from the start
but still it spilled on you

now it's as you wanted it be
we're the closest of friends
until you hide in silence again
and make the closeness end


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

road trip

we listened to Alan and Gretchen
your music for our road trip
time went fast like the weekend
the hours tended to slip away quick
I told you I wasn't country
but I'm likin' your big red truck
and I know the words to some of your songs
I'm likin' this country part of you

you slip in a few from Aerosmith
some old ones from the Eagles
Don Henly has always been a favorite
this is quite a musical mix
I find I really like Emmylou
her songs stir something inside
no one sings the blues like a country girl
I think you may have found it in me

I told you I wasn't country
but I'm likin'your big red truck
and I know the words to some of your songs
I'm likin' this country part of you


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

interpretation

all things left to interpretation
I'm never using the word always
words that sound too permanent
or is it just the way our mind plays

never doesn't ever mean never
and always doesn't always mean always
we sometimes get caught in the middle of these two
as we travel, here and now, down life's highway

nothing is not ever going to be indelible
it shouldn't ever be written in ink
and always just doesn't happen
except between you and I, I think


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

go ahead

go ahead and say you were calling my bluff
tell me you were just pulling my leg
go ahead and say that nothing meant anything
I think it runs much deeper than that

go ahead and say in your oblique way
say it with rhyme without reason
go ahead and say that I always read it wrong
and you were just running interference with my thoughts
go ahead and say it's time I moved away
I don't want to believe you seriously mean it

go ahead and say I don't hold a part
nothing for me anywhere in your heart
go ahead turn your back and take another path
I think I'll save your place here anyway
in case you change your mind and want to stay


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

pen

you want to carve a fountain pen
with your hands in your wood shop
for me to write my poetry
in beautiful flowing script
you ask that with this pen I write
my poems and sonnets just for you
I'm not ready for that kind of promise
let's see what the future foretells


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

charge

I've charged up my MP3 for music while I'm here
made sure that my camera has batteries for all new memories
cell phone has a full charge, not much good did that do
but there is nothing like the energy....
my soul gets from Mexico


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

flower

a true manly man in every sense of the word
shooting, fly fishing, Harley riding guy
but the poetry side does emerge
when you send me a text of a flower
saying it reminded you of me


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

WiFi

I've packed my bags
it's time to leave
beach stuff is really
all that I need
heading for the border
the only peace I know
I always knew
when it was time to go

drop me a line
and maybe I'll respond
if WiFi is working
that is my plan
if you don't hear from me
I'll call you in a week
or maybe not
it's up to the beach


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

cool breeze

I'm not asking that you burn a bridge
for greener pastures on the other side
second look, second chance
exploring valleys at the foothills

I'm not asking that you hurry on past
where you once sped, eyes straight ahead
keep the door open and the windows down
a cool breeze may be all you need

what I'm asking is that you taste the sweet wine
savor the moments, reflect, ease your mind
walk with me down a very long trail
before you go so far that it's all yesterday


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

velvet

the morning soft like velvet
in the deepest hue
napped with color high and low
when the light shines through

these are the moments I sense you most
although you're not that close
through the wire I hear you
touching with absent fingertips

reach down in me, inside my soul
whisper softly in my ear
if I shut my eyes, I can feel you
and everything that we are


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

the border

I could get hit by a bus just crossing the street
my friends think I'm nuts, just plain crazy
the border unsafe, my life may be at stake
but that is a risk that I just have to take

I can't explain the tranquility
the Sea of Cortez brings to me
my feet propped up upon the wall
no worries or cares..plague or befall
it's time to get away from it all
danger be damned, I hear the call

I'm not dumb, I know of the perils
I may be a duck, floating in a barrel
I watch every story, as each unfolds
if it's bad there, I just won't go

the hazards of life around every corner
maybe more significant for a foreigner
a lamb of God, I just may be
I say a prayer that He watches me
but the tides are calling my name
and I have to answer just the same

I could get hit by a bus just crossing the street
my friends think I'm nuts, just plain crazy
the border unsafe, my life may be at stake
but that is a risk that I have to take


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

Mimosa

sweet Mimosas on a warm summer evening
cool, light, refreshing
that is what you are to me
giving me just what I need

the stresses of some earlier days
hanging heavy on my spirit
like tiles on a board that make you think
you sang a song and I could hear it

a little picnic just for two
laughing and playing like days gone by
your arms around me holding me tight
what was faded shines bright in the light

only a friend would take the time
to ease my soul, ease my mind
this is what you did for me
always there in times of need


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

July 4th

they gave me a lei of red, white and blue
and a neon bracelet that glowed in dark
when the sun went down and the stars came out
fireworks were shooting in the sky at the park

it was thirty-nine years ago
there were fireworks of a different kind
I was a bride of just one day and on my honeymoon
that was a fourth of July, that I will never forget
all of those years passed much too quick
I was widowed much too soon

we built a life, we lived on love, we had a couple of kids
there were hard times as the ups and downs of marriage settled in
I may have taken for granted, that you would always stay
you left too soon, though not your wish, it still came to an end


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

Mexico

driving down to Mexico as I get close to the border
cell phone quits in Organ Pipe, no calls that I will miss
I can stay in contact via WiFi and my red laptop
it's time to get some piece of mind and put some things to order

the patrol with semi-automatics, warn of all the dangers
I can't let this stop me from this one place that I love
I heed what they're saying, stowing it in the trunk
be careful who you run into and watch out for all strangers

past the checkpoint, past the gate, into Mexico I drive
sunroof open, sun streaming in, cool breeze upon my face
all that is behind me, will be there when I get back
I have insurance for my car but none for my own life

the minutes tick by quickly, although I don't need a watch
the time that I spend by the sea erases what I want to forget
prolific by the hour, the prose flows straight from my heart
blood no longer oozes or seeps from each and every scratch


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

rapport

will it all slip and slide
back to before
falling to the wayside
just another chore
I'm counting on you
not to once more ignore
to hold it intact
to hold the rapport


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

standby

I list for my flight
what I once thought was confirmed
never a sure thing


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

Warheads

like "Warheads" candy
sucking the tartness outside
sweetness underneath


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