the love of the West

a hat a cowboy doesn't make
even a horse or ridin' the range
it's the love of the West
the mountain sunsets
the valley stretching out for miles
the sound of the coyote howl

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

Dulcinea

Dulcinea sits in wonder
as Don Quixote wanders about
fighting his brood of windmill warriors
white sails billowing in the wind

Dulcinea knows his illusion
confusing victor of the spoils
while he conquers his unseen enemy
she ponders her life alone

Dulcinea, Quixote's allusion
beauty fair and loving deep
like the windmills in his mind
alas, she is also not real

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

duet

it begins, an untitled song
a song for a winter's day
without lyric or refrain
a catchy little tune
that I hum while
the seasons change
winter to spring, spring to
summer, summer to fall
the tempo growing stronger
till once again, winter returns
lyric forming in thought
the song to be sung
a duet

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

looking for you

you were searching for something that you found in me
a mirror reflected the things that you needed
when you were drifting and looking for a friend
Heaven opened a door and I walked in

I think I must have been looking too
the ups and the downs--storms weathered with you
it isn't always easy, sometimes it's a test
we give it our all and we do our best

this road that we travel, may it be never ending
may we travel together, not forget our beginning
right here and right now is where I want to be
I'm there for you, and you here for me

you were searching for something that you found in me
a mirror reflected the things that you needed
when you were drifting and looking for a friend
Heaven opened a door and then I walked in

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

miles behind

my Passport stamped for a trip not taken
I made the flight but missed the connection
I see you from my window seat
the engine noise is deafening
as the wheels lift from the tarmac

clouds at thirty thousand feet
nothing to do but sit and think
of how I could have done it better
out wait the storms for fairer weather
hind-sight is twenty-twenty

the mountains loom and I am home
once more I return alone
my dreams left on a foreign coast
with the thing I wanted most
all that miles behind

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

paths

snow rests on its peaks
paths we blazed in the summer
waiting for the heat

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

skipping stones

I remember a summer day
wind dancing across that
waist high grass
a little creek running
through the middle

I remember loving that
was oh so sweet
beside that little stream
skipping stones in-between
the kisses that grew deep

I remember laying in your arms
on a warm summer day
nothing in our way
like it was yesterday
basking in the warmth
of your love

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

desert winter

the wind blows cold
the sky is grey
the sun doesn't shine

winter comes to the desert

snow will fall in the mountains
frosting them icy white
a beautiful vision

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

meteor shower

a meteor shower is about to come
the weatherman's predicting
the southwest sky is very clear
so clouds won't be conflicting
I'm gonna grab a blanket, baby
we can cuddle to stay warm
with body heat and the blanket
we can watch the meteor storm

spread a sleeping bag on the ground
let's watch as each one falls
snuggling close, in between each kiss
we may not view them all
maybe we can catch a few
if we open up our eyes
a celestial event such as this
viewed best in the pre-dawn hours

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

standing by

waiting in the terminal
no boarding pass in hand
trying to get out of here
looking for a destination
all the lines are really long
everyone wants an attraction
they all have a ticket in hand
while I'm just standing by

free isn't what it used to be
there is always a cost
sometimes it isn't worth the price
and takes most of your time
if you want it bad enough
I believe it can be yours
it is better to have a seat confirmed
instead of standing by

finally, my name is called
I step forward to the gate
I've been bumped this whole day long
I'm tired of the pushing and shoving
as they scan my boarding pass
I enjoy the glares from others
expect delays and cancellations
when you are standing by

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

dawn

a big full moon
a coyote yowl
in the tree
a hooting owl
a warm night
and I can't sleep
counting sheep
does not help me
so I lay here
wide awake
knowing soon
the dawn will break

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

wait and see

the path I walked
whispers on you go
don't detour
or you'll never know
what awaits there
at the end
keep on going
on my friend

maybe rainbows
wait for me
a brightness like
I've never seen
biding time
and wondering
I guess I'll have
to wait and see

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

doze

the ceiling fan spins
a gentle humming sound
that should put me to sleep
but it doesn’t
again, I toss and turn
unable to sleep
insomnia plagues me
thoughts speed through my mind
no discernable answers come
soon the alarm will sound
it’s annoying beep
I will hit doze
although I haven’t
at all

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

goodnight

goodnight my love
sleep well
yours the last voice
that I hear
and I fall asleep
with a smile
I will find my way
to you in my dreams

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

dreams

and the dreams that come
are that, not reality
I hate being right

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

ballad

all around me hums
as I dance to a new song
ballads of what's true

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

too far gone

imperfections tucked into tight jeans
insecurities under the soft blouse
fragility walking in stiletto heels

knowing....
when you light the candles...
when you unbutton the silk shirt...
when you lay me down...

enraptured....
you will be too far gone to see
the mars and freckles of my make-up
the blemishes from my past

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

the whisper of sunrise

in the whisper of sunrise
the sun through the mesquite
the promise of another day
from the breeze blowing around me

in these early morning moments
when not a murmur will be
distance grows like thick, green moss
on the north side of a tree

I put it all in perspective
with coffee on the patio
filing away the pieces of us
that I once did know

don't worry about our yesterdays
no redemption to be seen
once, what kept me wondering
no longer pesters me

wrapped in warmth around me
all that I sought from you
true and everlasting
gone, is all we knew

in the whisper of the sunrise
it is His mystical way
to open up a window
the door shuts on yesterday

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

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

home

life is a long road
no one should have
to walk it alone
so take my hand
I'll help you along
help you over the
rough spots
and lead you home

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

trip and fall

always, You are there
in my waking hour and sleep
watching over my every step
when I trip and when I fall
I know that You can see it all
and if I ask, or if I don't
the answer You provide
will see me through

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

cactus flower

in the desert
in the shadows of
the mountains and
the valley verde
after the monsoon rain
a cactus flower blooms

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

Rain (choka)

Monsoons reappear
This time the rain is cleansing
It is cool and fresh
Reinventing me
Washing my spirit and soul

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

rain

dark clouds romp across the sky
crashing thunder when they bump
flirting with a chance of rain
always getting my hopes up!

heat builds with intensity
sweat pouring out of every pore
begging for monsoon relief
liquid silver--we need more

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

road block

I wonder am I heading
down a road already blocked
are the barricades up
and all those orange cones
are there danger signs
flashing red lights
is the road paved
or does it just end
no indication
if I need to turn back
so I keep on going
no signs to show me
so I keep on going
towards my dreams

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