through the rocky soil

after winter’s cold
shooting up past barriers
a tulip now grows

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

my heart needs a song

can you sing one just for me
a song of promise
a song of passion
a song about you and me

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

subtleties

I caught that look in your eyes
one you thought I didn't see
but I was paying attention
to all those subtleties

you hold me at arms length
and keep your feelings in check
I think it's a contradiction
that you're less than direct

I'm standing at the station
this train is about to leave
give me something to hang on to
other than what's perceived

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

tears fall

as your world falls apart
I try to put you together again
just like before

as your heart breaks
I try to capture all the pieces
and reconstruct it

as your tears fall
I try to catch them all
and bring back your sun

as your love incinerates
I try to put out the flames
and salvage some for your future

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

can't

can’t change the flow of the river
can’t change the course of the storm
can’t change the way this is going
no way I can turn this around

can’t turn the tide in the ocean
can’t pull the stars from the sky
can’t keep the moon from rising
no matter how hard I strive

can’t keep the wind from blowing
can’t make the warm sun shine
can’t stop the way I’m feeling
don’t want to even try

can’t stop the flood of emotion
can’t heal the heart that breaks
can’t dry the tears I’m crying
won’t make a difference anyway

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

Return

laying awake
as I always do
the moon shining
a silver, frosty glow
washing my room
with the lunar light
not a comfort
as it should be
instead, it makes me
miss you more, when
under the same glow
passion stirred and peaked
and the loneliness stays
here in this room
waiting for your return

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

Runaway Train

Out of control
Like a runaway train
No one to turn to
Or ease this pain

Speeding forward
Past all of the stops
The brake isn’t working
Running till I drop

All of the past lessons
Are not helping now
This time it is different
No help with why or how

I know I can’t keep going
I know there is a turn
I know it won’t be long
Before I crash and burn

Trying to get control
Before I go off track
Even prayers aren’t helping
There is no lit way back

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

shaken

your heart is shaken
it's perspective now jaded
no strength to move on

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

Daughter

We fight, like kids
I’m on your level in a heartbeat
It’s was always like this

I have more experience
I have been where you are
I know how you feel

Why do you ask
If you don’t want to know
If you don’t want an answer

Let me protect you
Help you through this
Do my job

Where you are concerned
I want what’s best
I can’t turn my head, my heart

You manipulate, and avoid
That is what you always do
I know this about you, always have

You always want to run
Take the easy way out
Give in and give up

I won’t let you this time
I can’t do it this time
Don't ask me to

So I push and I push hard
Just like when you were little
That daughter, will never change

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

Not a Children’s Rhyme

Could you, would you start this thing
Could you, would you make me sing
Could you put your hands right here
Could you make your position clear

Could you, would you unbutton this
Could you, would you with a kiss
Could you remove my jacket like so
Could you do it really slow

Could you, would you remove my belt
Could you hurry before I melt
Could you, would you undo this snap
Could you move closer, there's too much gap

Could you, would you take more care
Could you move over, you're pulling my hair
Could you, would you turn off the light
Could you love me with all your might

Could you, would you take your time
Could you make me feel sublime
Could you, would you slowly ignite
Could you, would you stay the night

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

The Right Moves

It’s like having it all
In the grasp of your hands
Owning the world
Making your stand

It’s like the feeling that comes
When everything is right
Planets all aligned
Future looks bright

It’s like knowing yourself
Making all the right moves
Mistakes in the past
Doing what’s right for you

It’s like doing your best
And being precise
And it all comes together
When you roll the dice

It’s like taking the chance
Laying it on the line
Getting more than you planned
In this lifetime

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

just one word

I said I loved you
but I lied
there is so much more
I hold deep inside

just one word
is not enough
to tell it all
to sum it up

expressed in kisses
and when we embrace
expressed in passion
and many countless ways

it’s in my eyes
it’s on my mind
it’s in my heart
spirit and soul entwined

I said I loved you
but I lied

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

silver cord

to be in your heart
I’ll give it my all
removing all doubts
to make you fall

turn your head
turn your heart
turn you around
for a new start

put you completely
under my spell
it won’t take much
I can tell

tie you to me
with a silver cord
wrapping you up
with whispered words

to be in your heart
I’ll give it my all
it shouldn’t take much
to make you fall

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

no rainbow

a monsoon blows in
face wet, raindrops blend with tears
the rainbow absent

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

swan song

the libretto not completed
a score that’s not quite through
a title not yet chosen
there’s so much more to do

a half completed opera
an aria that’s unsung
the curtain has not risen
waiting for the maestro’s baton

paint still wet on scenery
it’s taking much too long
doesn’t matter anyway
not ready for my swan song

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

fairytale

my mom read me a story
bout a girl and a shoe
and how if it fit just right
she would live happily ever after
I think she called it a fairytale

now you are standing at my door
a box in your hand containing one shoe
you kneel down and slide the slipper on
a perfect fit, made for me
I'm ready for my happily ever after

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

Math

Not a mathematician
Numbers not my game
But this beautiful equation
Still adds up just the same

I do know what pi is
Took all the algebra course’s
Don’t know why I needed it
It is not my main resource

I know all the templates
And the hypotenuse
I know all the angles
I’ve studied hard about you

I can do the numbers
My math is very good
You and me we do add up
Just like I thought we would

No degrees off center
No compass or T square
A draftsman is not needed
We’re already there

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

two ways out

two ways out of every box
fall out of the bottom
or climb out of the top

get out of the box
experience new things
time to take stock

if you feel trapped
when it all closes in
don’t just adapt

kick and fight
don’t accept status quo
battle your plight

if you can't find strength
pray for what you need
or else you will sink

the rewards will come
when the dust settles
after the fight’s begun

two ways out of every box
fall out of the bottom
or climb out of the top

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

Grey Goose Haiku

with a broken toe
I boot up and go dancing
Grey Goose healed my toe

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

where I am

I can take you there
that place your soul searches for
that is where I am

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

I love

I love morning coffee
and my chats with you
I love lazy evenings
with nothing much to do

I love reading books
about a mystery or prose
I love being by the sea
and secrets others don't know

I love driving a 5 speed
and the old MG
car
most of all I love you
no matter where you are

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

high tides and green grass

as I wander on this beach
alone with my thoughts
that are so deep
thinking about a path to take
contemplating all that’s left
putting mistakes in the past
lessons learned and filed away
to be recalled when needed
an accordion file of those I’ve hurt
a rolodex of pain received
I face the future
not with a clean slate
I reflect on what will be
an obscure crystal ball
dictated from the power above
the high tides and green grass

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

designer cowboy

hey, what are you doin there mister
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 cowboys?
to see how the other half lives?

your boots are probably Lucchese
they look like they cost you alot
look around here buddy
that’s something we ain’t got

standin there against the bar
a long neck in your hand
lookin at all our cowgirls
listenin to our cowboy band

your hand made shirt is perfect
those jeans are probably Gucci
we’re lookin at you in our Wranglers
thinkin you are quit the fool

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

before startin somethin you can’t finish
I think that you should guzzle that beer
drink it down, stop lookin around
and mosey on out of here


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

making do

my heart was sequestered
before the virus spread
no room for any other
here inside my head
and I don't mind not leaving
or to venture out to stores
we'll just stay here cloistered
make the most of staying indoors

every thing I've needed
I already own
staying away from others
for how long is not known
making the most of not sharing
any of my time with you
I could stay here forever
while others just make do

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

past the point

it's way past the point
to say you're getting to me
it's way past the point
a heart that's bound not free
it's way past the point
I know that you got to me

I was looking for something
didn't know what I would find
I had this list made up
and hidden in my mind
didn't know when I met you
that it could be sublime

it's way past the point
to say you're getting to me
it's way past the point
you've already got to me

when I review the list
that I had in my head
all the things bout you
I've settled on instead
not one of them a match
this list I'm gonna shred

so take me down this trail
I'll follow you happily
take me through this life
I'll stay with it gladly
hold my hand with love
cause baby I love you madly

you already got to me
you already got to me

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