west by southwest

ebb and flow oh mighty tide
in the golden lunar light
waves that whisper to the shore
I'm always coming back for more

no wasted hours, I spend with you
my soul at peace when once I view
I hear you call, I hear you call
once again, I am enthralled

free my mind, fill my days
with solitude and warm sun rays
my spirit soars, my mind will rest
your quiet beauty, west by southwest

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

if you write the songs

keep on moving
push as hard as you can
you never get back anymore
than you are giving
keep on living
keep on believing
if you write the songs
those around will sing them

I can see where you are going
you are half-way there
all it takes is effort
and a little bit of prayer
keep on giving
keep on hoping
if you write the songs
those around will sing them

if you write the songs
those around will sing them

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

I confess

Father, forgive me for I have sinned...

I confess it all, repenting complete
penance handed down from a curtained confessional
kneeling, I beg for Your forgiveness
vowing to tread a righteous path
knowing in my heart, as I depart
I will still wrong others
that Satan always comes creeping back
and tonight, I will sin again

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

I pray...I pray

I close my eyes and run
blindly, toward what is real
cursing the sweet taste
of lips that ask nothing
can I give without breaking
can I take and ask nothing
I pray for sun, rain falls
I pray..I pray

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

inspired

on a crisp white page
I read the words
flowing like lyrics
to my favorite song
and they inspire me
to be all I can be
and the simpleness
fills my heart

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

lightning strike

lightning flashes across the sky
energy I feel in my veins
it illuminates all, the here and the now
unleashing what lays underneath

thunder rumbles, low and long
tremors shaking deep inside
it forewarns the storm, about to come
the passion quaking inside of me

it does strike twice starting as a glow
it does ignite the heat and desire
it does burn hot, white and intense
it does cause the fire that burns within

nature's ferocity at its best
matched by passion's avidity
stirring what lays just under the skin
a fervor unbridled and set free

let the lightning flash and the thunder roll
striking twice, igniting it all
release the fury..this raging inferno
saddle and ride the tempestuous wind

it does strike twice starting as a glow
it does ignite the heat and desire
it does burn hot, white and intense
it does cause the fire that burns within

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

grains of sand

lessons sometimes come too late
grains of sand in restless wind
a soul without conviction
placing it all in Your hands

as you turn your back and leave
bits and pieces fall behind
could I have loved you better
thoughts spinning 'round in time

I can't see Your reasons
I don't know, I just don't know
weeds in the garden grow steadily
as I reap the things I sow

lessons some times too late
grains of sand in the wind
a soul without conviction
placing it all in Your hands

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

evolve

with the wind at my back, a cool breeze on my face
toe to heel, shoes click-clack as I walk about this place
I'm living this life and praying for better days
boxing up the old stuff and stowing it all away
looking for the answers to the same old questions
breathing in the dust from previous misconceptions

narrow is the road, that is paved with truth
wide is the trail that leads me to you
I listen to that voice, here deep inside of me
whispering of sweetness but it doesn't set me free
the sand holds footprints, swept clean by each new tide
and the moon that glows reflects where it resides

I yearn for something, hope that's undeterred
what a dream promises, each morning the sun blurs
still I have my reasons--why I've held on to the past
knowing deep down that it wasn't built to last
the answers to the questions, all stay unresolved
there is no gestation, when love does not evolve

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

onward

you take me as I am
I take it as it comes
when it all starts caving in
and I start to self-combust

looking over my shoulder
your wind at my back
forward, on this trail
keeping me on track

grace and goodness flow
divine intervention wanes
over and over and over
it all ends up the same

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

strength

from the day we are born
You look down and smile
we must really screw up
for You to disown
bless me Father
for I have sinned
give me strength
to begin again

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

surrender

in my mind,
there will never be anything
as sweet as surrender
rendering...
all we have inside
to another
our storms and sun

in my heart,
I know you did what you thought
was best, no retreat
sweets...
leaving all that I have
for another
to love and cherish

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

close

what I hold close is all of this...
the songs you sing to me
barely audible whispers in my ear
hands that touch the places they know
fingertips that trace a familiar path
excitement rendered anew

what I hold close is all of this...
the places we've been
the trails yet to forge
together we go hand in hand
footsteps in sync
love warms our way

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

love

your kiss excites
your hands ignite
my poetry recites
the fire you light

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

Taurus

I get a call and baby's out fishing
ADT says there's something fishy
I told the girl that I'm on my way
this is not what I needed to end my day

no windows broken, no doors unlocked
I creep in, take the Taurus from the box
I check the whole house by myself
all looks good, just like it was left

I answer the door, it is the cops
I said I'm armed and I'm not in shock
I'm putting it down cause I see his car
he's just there to protect me from harm

I check every closet, ever single nook
I'm making sure that there is no crooks
ready to shoot, loaded for bear
hollow points loaded to protect my lair

all is good, there isn't any perp
I pour some wine after I take another look
climb in the spa, it's been a long day
I'm not going to put the Taurus away!!!

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

one more

I write my truth from a one-sided view
it is just about me and a little of you
this page it glares in flowing script
as I come to terms and get a grip

vigilantes sing lyrics written to my heart
ballads of love, unrealized starts
put to music and strummed with pain
of nothing lost and nothing gained

when I bring it forth with prose and rhyme
five hundred days of another time
I'll give him the lyrics for yet one more
of windows closed and shutting doors

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

little things

small things bring pleasure
it is that you think of me
smiling at your thoughts

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

this path

a traveler on the path of life
a backpack full of smokey dreams
heavier as I choose the ones
that lead me to my destiny

choices always popping up
questions grow along my way
pondering, what do I do?
sometimes causing me delay

lessons learned from heartbreak
a student journeys forth
the road now smooth and signed
but different down each fork

changes in the weather
often drenched by rain
the sun comes out eventually
to dry me out again

this time, slowly, up I hike
to the hightest peak
on this trail, the here and now
that grants me what I seek

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

in between

what was and what is
thick dust settles undisturbed
that door remains shut

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

mile markers

you can see the mountains
smell the fresh breeze
of the wind that blows
through the mesquite
things that once stood in your way
are mile markers from another day

you trade one metropolis for another
getting closer to your dream
those back home think you're a fool
not fitting into the scheme of things

you put on your boots and cowboy hat
throw your stuff into your truck
what you leave fades into the past
what they think doesn't matter much

you just can't get West fast enough
as the mile markers fall behind
if you had stayed, your spirit would die
how could they all be so blind

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

clear the slate

I was never the reason
to this scene I was late
and yes, my name will probably come up
but you better clear the slate
it's been coming for sometime
only a fool couldn't see
it will hurt for a little while
but you can't blame this on me

the dust you thought was settled
once again will stir
as you step from the shadows
they will use your every word
it's gonna be a long monsoon
with plenty of thunder and lightning
the likes of which you've never seen
the depths of it may be frightening

all the balls up in the air
quickly, they will unwind
conversations from long ago
will creep into your mind
it's not like I didn't tell you
or not like you didn't know
that freedom has a very high price
as you take it blow by blow

a minor inconvenience
on the road of past deceptions
this trail you started on your own
with bruises and misconceptions
so cowboy up and place the truth
right where it needs to be
it has everything to do with you
and nothing to do with me

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

flaws

you discard the highs and lows
trying to find a place to land
the old tricks don't work anymore
nor does the sleight of hand

trading snow and winter's cold
for days of desert heat
all of those you used to know
are strangers when you meet

unsettled shadows walk the streets
a shroud of misery holds
while you wait in agony
for all of it to unfold

disparaged thoughts and words fall deaf
upon the ears once loved
circling 'round the matriarch
as she takes off her gloves

don't turn your back, take all the flack
as your shoulders broaden
all that once lay hidden deep
surface through cracks as flaws

don't worry friend, this too shall end
time has a way of healing
they will see when they make their peace
that you'd hit the glass ceiling

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

weight

memories remind
shiny nickels and dimes
always present
here in my mind

they flow quick
are honey thick
ever lasting
as each day ticks

at night it seems
they come as dreams
floating gently
on moonbeams

now put away
with our yesterdays
oh how heavy
this does weigh

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

first look

I got my first good look
at what I wanted it to be
what I saw spread out
as far as I could see
you couldn't see it my way
you had a different view
this was all about me
you thought it was about you

so I started tweaking
trying to reshape it
cutting some of the corners
pulling it in a bit
that changed it completely
now the only thing I saw
it was all to your benefit
no longer about me at all

I'm going back to the beginning
back to that very first look
to what I thought was perfect
like the ending in a favorite book
it needs to be about both of us
half and half is best
we each are getting what we need
forget about all the rest

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

skating

the ice grows thin on this pond where I skate
I listen to the music of the blades as they scrape
without a jacket...my scarf blows from the breeze
night starts to settle as the moon breaks the trees

from the glow of the stars like footlights on stage
the intricate line of my perfect figure eight
one leg behind me as I Axel then spin
winded from the icy air that I'm breathing in

alone on this venture--alone on the ice
I'm not afraid, in fact it's quite nice
solitude and retrospect that comfort my mind
my soul at peace from what I leave behind

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

the end of it all

it's the end of summer, another promise gone
the days are much shorter with winter coming on
while I thought that I could wait
for your return or twist of fate
I see that fading fast
wafting in the breezes that pass
as the sun sinks low on our horizon

I see you on the busy street but you can't meet my eyes
the new one hanging on your arm was really no surprise
all the things I ever said--you know they were all true
love doesn't score a victory if only one is blue
waiting for the rain to stop while you block out my sun
I know that it was over long before it was begun
the moon is rising high on a canvas made of stars

the western wind is scattering seeds of all that used to be
wild birds are feasting on the soul of what won't keep
the tide's eternal tune plays on under a gravitational moon
waves sweep on the endless beach where I last walked with you
footsteps taunt while memories haunt and dreams all fade to black
a realization when I awake that you're not coming back
dust on tiles reveal the truth and the end of it all

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