Reflections

There’s a hundred shades of green
Reflected in my eyes
Come and look more closely
You’ll see they never lie

Truth and wisdom showing
Of loving old and new
Pain and sorrow sometimes
A very familiar hue

Sometimes green and misty
Sometimes green and soft
Always a reflection
Of what is in my soul

Come and see inside my heart
Mirrored in green eyes
Always changing factions
of what I keep inside

Utah

Mountains high and virtuous
With ever changing shadow
The valleys green with pine and oak
And thick, lush grassey meadows
Peaceful towns where families abound
And friends you'll never outgrow
Here Joseph Smith laid down his head
Hoping for a safe plateau

A Catholic girl just helping out
Little grandkids do surround
Packing boxes, moving stuff
To another nearby town
Missing my own mountains
Not letting it get me down

It's nice that I am needed
Here in my daughter's home
Helping with the transition
Lining boxes thick with foam
But, trying not to think of
how far my child has roamed

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

Squall

He packed it all after the big fight
And drove away in the dead of night
Left the pain that cut like a knife
He’d done everything to make it work right

She lays on the bed and stares at walls
Thinking maybe that he would call
It wasn’t the first time they’d faced squalls
Hadn’t she done everything, after all

He drives on and thinks of the past
And why they couldn’t make it last
He knew that now the die was cast
And he was never going back

She wakes up, he’s still gone
She thought he would be home by dawn
She stretches and rises with one last yawn
Conclusions yet are not foregone

He pulls off to get some sleep
Something that he desperately needs
The sleep that comes is long and deep
And through the pores the anger seeps

The days are long, she gets no news
It’s already been a week or two
And then he calls, out of the blue
He says it’s over, this was the truth

She drops the phone in disbelief
He hangs up so very relieved
Their time together had not been brief
But she had caused him too much grief


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

script

my love bled across the page
in crimson, flowing script
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

lyrics of my life

Prose that’s put to music the lyrics of my life Sung in soft and bluesy tones Wonder, loving, strife A melody of amazement A rhapsody wrought with passion A song of aspiration An opera with all factions The chords of deep dissension Played by violins A harp for softer moments A cello for my sins The maestro does conduct it all Standing with baton The symphony well directed As my life plays on

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

kiss me

you can kiss me under the moonlight
you're the only star I'll see
you can kiss me by the ocean
my favorite place to be
you can kiss me when it's raining
I don't care if I get wet
you can kiss me in slow motion
baby, that's the best kiss yet
you can kiss me under the ceiling fan
letting it cool these satin sheets
I don't care where you kiss me
but you know where it's gonna lead

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

dreamed

at the foot of the mountains
in a valley that is green
in the shadow of saguaro
and arid desert terrain
this is where you leave me
I know it's the last time
you quickly mount your horse
and off to the west you ride
no glances over your shoulder
you pass the mesquite trees
on this new trail that awaits
looking for what is dreamed
maybe it's just a myth
and maybe it's really there
but you'll never know the truth
till you search everywhere

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

Valentine

lay your leg across me, so I can go to sleep
kissing me goodnight, so I will have sweet dreams
wrap your arms around me, hold me very tight
thank you for bringing Valentine's day...
back into my life

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

Avacyn

I first met your mom
when you were just two
the age you will be
as I write this for you
not to be opened
till you turn 18
and you leave behind
all the childish things

there are things to be learned
while you're on your way
something new and different
every single day
file them away
for the times you're in need
you will find some wisdom
in those little seeds

don't forget to nourish
your strong family ties
they will always be with you
right there by your side
I hope you are happy
be confident and strong
cherish these memories
all your life long

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

seems like yesterday

you had me from that very first look
standing there you mesmerized
far more than I could have hoped
you had me from that very first look

we sat and talked over a long drink
you listened to every word
I didn't want that night to end
wondered where this all could lead

you tore down walls that I had built
got all comfy inside
made it clear, while you were here
there would be no more room

it wasn't all that long ago
still seems like yesterday
that is when you stole my heart
don't want it ever set free

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

no satisfaction

I didn't want to wait for hell to freeze
no one has that kind of time
it's not like you had made up your mind
or that the thought of you
brought me to my knees
no, not at all

it's more on the line
that I wasn't involved
nothing that had to be resolved
yeah, that was more of the kind
the way I saw it

but there's always two factions
I'm sure you felt justified
even after all the chides
never to my satisfaction
love won out after all

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

adventure

Jo Jo
stepped into a hole
up to my knee
quick as you please
couldn't get up cause
I was stuck
the adventures of
hunting with JoJo

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

soldier

It is on this day
We honor the fallen that served
Heroes one and all

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

the hunt

even in camo, you are a gentleman
holding barbed wire down
for my crossing,
helping me up steep, slippery hills
ever watchful for my safety

we hunt, empty wash
grassy hills and
thickly, prickly peared terrain
catching glimpses of our game
ever illusive they are

my browning scoped rifle
8 pounds, my camelback
5 pounds full
warm clothing, heavy
we walk

I do not complain
together we go
searching, seeking
hunting for deer
knapsacks still empty

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

Catalina night

lightning flashes across the sky
causing fires in the Catalina night
smoldering, burning all in sight
the peaks ablaze, too many to fight

thunder crashes, shaking the room
I start counting--getting to two
where's the rain, I smell its fumes
outside flowers loose their blooms

the wind ripping limbs from trees
bringing nature to its knees
howling, swirling, leaves set free
worse than weathermen did foresee

in the morning, nice and fresh
all the washes running yet
ashes are the remnants left
rain removing the fire's threat

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

depart

when the time does come
I will happily depart
like the times before

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

no means no

one little word was all I heard
a shake of the head to emphasize
the nod wasn't vertical
but horizontal
no means no, that's all he wrote

I said "baby, don't you realize,
what stands here before your eyes?'
the nod vertical, the answer the same
no means no,


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

xxoo

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

I’ve noticed

silence on the wall
eyes that  wept and ears can’t hear
chimes of those now past

breakfast in bed

you bring me breakfast in bed
singing a little song: wake up sleepyhead
you climb in to share coffee with me
before we know--it is well after three

never enough time to spend here with you
five days of work and off only two
we fill the hours easily enough
too much of you? not so much


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

twenty paces

words at twenty paces
angry voices heard at dawn
truth the only victor


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

like a good friend would

I found you lost, wandering the desert floor
hatless and shoeless, confused by lack of water
I gave you drink and soothed all I could
put your feet back on the path, pointing
you North like any good friend would

there was a time in our long ago past
things were different; I hoped more than I should
lost for awhile without exemption
a 'DNR' on a non-existent relationship
things work out or else they don't
ties that bind somehow come unwound

good things come in small little packages
everyday like Christmas when you were around
take what I give, the friendship I offer
store it like a treasure inside your heart's coffer
I gave you drink and sustenance for your soul
pointing you North like any good friend would


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

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