aftermath

like a lightning flash
I release my wrath
a storm is about to come
what I can't get back
after that first lash
is going to leave me numb
you were in my path
and the fatal aftermath
will cause us to succumb

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

toughen up

he's a big man
who shows that he's weak
everytime his words
cut her to her knees

he hits her hard
with words that hurt
cracked her mind
broke her heart

nothing she can do
is ever good enough
she tries to turn her back
but can't toughen up

she never ever smiles
she always feels low
not proud of herself
her self esteem blown

she looks in the mirror
her image she can't see
the once lively girl
who was full of belief

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

silent tear

drifting in and out of dreams
as elusive as this all seems
moving in and out of time
with only fantasy to remind

touching a face that isn't real
a broken heart that doesn't heal
memories quickly fade away
leaving thoughts of yesterday

afloat on a thundercloud
a voice that screams out loud
and yet no one can hear
as I cry these silent tears

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

collecting dust

you read a couple of chapters
and toss the book aside
meaning to get back to it
on a cold and snowy night

the weather has been sunny
the book collecting dust
in an obscure corner
forgotten with other stuff

you pick it up and put it down
eventually losing your place
the bookmark lost, the page unmarked
the chapters not retraced

you should have finished reading
the story would warm your heart
the ending was a happy one
laid out for your soul's hearth

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

you rock

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

home

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

reasons

a thousand reasons to stay
a million more to go
the writing is on the wall
don't think it doesn't show

I weighed the pros and cons
and tried to turn and run
always coming back
it won't stay undone

I've tried to work it out
rationalize in my head
the list goes on for miles
filling me with dread

I might as well just toss it
for all the good it's done
baby I'm here for keeps
I just can't leave this undone

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

poker

I shuffle the cards
a five card deal
I parlay true love
you ante sex appeal

my poker hand good
a queen high straight
I win your heart
a twist of fate

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

love song

the walls I built
have fallen down
without a struggle
without a sound

you lit the shadows
an eternal flame
kindled passion
staking claim

engulfing me
in warmth and love
all I needed
you thought of

take me now
to that special place
always started
with your embrace

loving tender
loving strong
loving promises
for which I long

passion started
a voice that’s strong
singing to me
a new love song

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

Don't Know

Don’t know what you’re thinking
I can’t read your mind
I can read your actions
After all this time

Don’t know why you say things
Or do the things you do
Always pushing the envelope
When it comes to me and you

Don’t know how we got here
It’s not how we started out
It’s not like the beginning
When there were no doubts

Don’t know what to do now
With the feelings that remain
The feelings in my heart
That are causing too much pain

Don’t know where to go now
Do I move forward without you?
Can we turn the clock back?
After all that we been through

Don’t know where your mind's at
Or if you’re going to leave
Just tell me when it’s over
Or give me reasons to believe

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

Deleted

The day was almost perfect
Till that last message from you
Deleted means a lot of things

Deleted as in it’s over
Deleted as in you are wrong
Deleted left unanswered

I read what you write
I take some to heart
This is one of them

Many questions left
As I end this day
Deleted, depleted, defeated!

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

Circles

The forest is so dense here
No light can get through
Been wandering in circles
I’m lost and I’m confused

Can’t see the way that brought me in
Can’t see a way to get back
The eeriness is frightening
I’m way off the beaten path

Don’t know if it is day or night
Can’t see a sun or moon
Don’t know if it is midnight
Or if it is high noon

Got to keep on going
Won’t quit until I drop
I’m not staying in here
There’s no way I will stop

My legs are scratched and bleeding
From the bramble and the briars
Feels like I’ve been here for weeks
Instead of several hours

Surely they will search for me
Surely someone cares
Surely someone will miss me
And realize I’m not there

Up ahead I see a flash
My name I hear him call
Someone came to rescue me
Someone cares after all

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

The Price

I asked “At what price my love for you?”
He responded “What ever the market will bear.”
I think my stock just crashed!

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

gone

it’s come to this
the time is near
the time of bliss
has disappeared

can’t recover
can’t go on
what we had
is finally gone

take the steps
that will divide
swallowing all
that’s left of pride

feeling sad
about how it went
about how it ended
and the time we spent

bitter memories
replace the good
moving on
is understood

resentment still
is on both sides
no way to fix
don't want to try

I wish that I could
wish you well
maybe someday
now is hell

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

dust

when the dust settled
after the long dry spell
it was way too early to tell

clouds formed in a blue sky
lightning strikes a barren tree
leaving ashen, gray debris

and here we stand
wondering if this is an omen
will we part broken?

but alas, fortune looms
taking my hand, squeezing
subtracting all we are needing

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

Hands

Hands that touch me gently
Hands that hold me close
Hands that lead to ecstasy
Hands that know me so

A hand that reaches out to me
A hand that I can hold
A hand of infinite wisdom
A future to unfold

I feel the strength and insight
Empowered by your reach
I give myself completely
To all that you can teach

Lead me to nirvana
I give myself to you
A trust I give completely
Elation tried and true

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

Off Track

This candle is burning at both ends
Pulled in too many directions
My spirit is waning

So tired I want to rest
Can’t sleep when I do
finally laying down

Too many questions
racing through my head
Decisions to be made

Praying for guidance
A sentinel to keep watch
Protection from errors

The path has too many bends
Too many boulders in the road
No bridge to cross the river

Did I make the wrong turn?
How did I get off track?
No answers come!

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

Poetry In Motion

I filed away the hurt and tears
I filed away the pain
I filed away the destruction left
There was nothing left to gain

I wanted to believe in you
And all the promises made
Things that you’re not capable of
A heart that wasn't displayed

Maybe I'm the one to blame
For giving you more chances
Past history showed a pattern
Should have studied, not have glanced

Knowing you is not a loss
Sweet memories remain
You were poetry in motion
And that’s what I retain

Back to where I started
But smarter going forth
Separate the mind from heart
For all that this is worth

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

designer cowgirl

hey, what are you doin there missy
yeah you, standin in that space
leanin there in your stetson
lookin about this place

do ya think that you fit in here
why did you even stop in
to hang out with real cowgirls
to see how the other half lives

your boots are probably Manolo
must have cost you alot
look around here sweety
that’s something we ain’t got

you’re standin there against the bar
an umbrella drink in your hand
lookin at all our cowboys
listenin to our cowboy band

your hand made shirt is perfect
those jeans, are probably Prada
we’re lookin at you in our Wranglers
knowin we ain’t got nada

no one will approach you
don’t ya feel kind of strange
you ain’t got no friends here
it’s like you dropped from outer space

sure the cowboys are lookin at ya
never seen one quite like you
but they know you’ll only use em
and toss em when you’re through

do you think this is “Urban Cowboy”
and John Travolta is here
I don’t think so sweetheart
you better get on out of here

if you’re lookin for a skirt fight
I think I can help you with that
me and my friends are willin
to put you on your ass

your hair won’t look so pretty
your Dior makeup will be a mess
is that what you’re lookin for princess
yeah, I can help you with that

you’ll probably break a nail or two
before the fight is through
you’ll be lucky to crawl of here
when we are done with you

go on home to daddy
get in your porshe and drive away
I’ll forget you were even in here
just don’t come back this way


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

Heart vs Mind

My heart says move slowly
Don’t rush into it
Think it through

My mind says go
Engage, connect, conquer
Do what it takes

My heart is pure and uncomplicated
Willing to love and be loved
But not to be broken

My mind enjoys the quest
The innuendo and the excitement
The heightening passion

Which do I listen to?
A heart that has never steered me wrong
Or a mind that moves to fast, overlooking consequences

I am going into this with my eyes wide open
My heart will need to endure
The havoc and aftermath that my mind creates

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

Same Chapter, Same Verse

It’s the underlying currents
As the tension slowly builds
The talk and innuendo
At this we’re pretty skilled

It’s the meaning of the song we sing
Only we can understand
We knew it from the very start
It’s working as we planned

It’s being on the same page
Same chapter and same verse
That makes it all so easy
There’s nothing to rehearse

It’s picking up where we left off
Never losing time or place
The time that passes in between
Doesn’t leave a  hollow space

It’s saying what is on our minds
In ways we comprehend
No interfaces needed
There’s nothing to transcend

It’s the benefit of this bond we share
This friendship that we’ve found
This link that we’ve created
That makes this friendship sound

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

a circle that still grows

we were lookin’ for a good time
but what we found was more
found a basis for friendship
which kind of surprised us both

I have chosen those around me
the ones I do revere
I’m glad that you are one of them
a circle that continues to grow

I can lay it on the line to you
I know judgement won't be shown
all deep secrets and regrets
the frustrations, anger and joy

“no one needs to go it alone”
according to what Bono says
on this one he has hit the mark
we all need those we can trust

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

Lifelines

Standing on the sidelines
Following the guidelines
Setting up some baselines
To guide me through the lifelines

It won't always be fine
Sometimes there are blurred lines
It's not like I can design
Love that will last a lifetime

Writing stuff that should rhyme
While I seem to be primed
Hearing clocks that won't chime
Because the hands hold much grime

A world that spends on a dime
Black and white like a mime
Out from under I climb
Like I was guilty of crime

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

Playing By The Rules

I can read between the lines
Much more astute than some
This pretty package has a brain
And will not easily succumb

There is a lot that’s left unsaid
Or the answers don’t suffice
I wasn’t just born yesterday
You must be more precise

What is it that you’re hiding?
What is up your sleeve?
Do you think that I don’t notice?
This is bordering on deceit

I don’t play by all the rules
This surface has not been scratched
Look closer at what you’re toying with
I think you’ve met your match

So if you want to fence with me
Draw your sword and take your stance
I’ll be your best opponent
You'll have a sporting chance

Do you want to play this game?
Or do you want a truce?
I can play it either way
But I think that you must choose

I will not fall down at your feet
Won’t hang on every word
You aren’t saying anything
I haven’t already heard

There are plenty out there
Who will fall for all your lines
But baby, I’m not one of them
It’s a total waste of time

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

transform me

transform me
turn my head
turn me around

I will follow your lead
guide me
show me the way

pick me up
hold me in your arms
engulf me in your embrace

shelter me
protect me from harm
be my safe haven

transform me

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