circling around

first you’re up
and then you’re down
going in circles
smiles and frowns

you move to the left
when you should’ve right
take a wrong turn
no clear signs

mind is spinning
too many thoughts
no matter what
you can’t turn it off

close your eyes
but you can’t sleep
relief doesn’t come
from all this grief

one step forward
two steps back
too many bends
erased tracks

wheels keep turning
circling around
can’t see the sun
with all these clouds

the tunnel is dark
and very deep
falling fast
with no reprieve

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

in the gloaming

it is not in the gloaming, that I miss you most
but in the early morning hours
when the moon starts to fade
red reaching across the desert sky
once familiar smells wake me
and I pour a cup and reflect
watching today dawn from my patio
in a sweatshirt to prevent early morning chill
yesterday lays in silent storage
a cache that fills

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

a way to get here

today is an endless highway
tonight is a crooked trail
tomorrow is a long time away
yesterday is a way to get here

when I look at my reflection
I see where I have been
I hear whispers of a lifetime
and songs with sweet refrains

today is almost over
tonight creeps in with dreams
tomorrow is almost upon me
yesterday is how I got here

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

inside and out

touch more than my hand
more than lips, more than skin
more than passion and deeper in
touch my spirit, my heart and soul
touch every part, inside and out

feel more than the heat
more than fervor, more than pleasure
savor the taste, honey on your tongue
sing every lyric, every love song written
dance every step woven tightly together
as you love every part, inside and out

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

soar

standing on the edge of forever
anticipating that I will fly
into the clouds, into the sun
before my life is done

not enough feathers, or not enough lift
to carry me on the soft breeze
not like a bird who sings as she soars
I fall like I fell before

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

Destiny

I've walked this path many times
The path has not changed
I have

The path still winds
Still has some bumps
I step more carefully

The path isn't always well lit
Sometimes it is in total darkness
I take with me a light

The path is sometimes stormy
With thunder and rain
I carry an umbrella

The path is still long
And leads me to my destiny
I follow willingly

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

Crescendo

In this quiet, before light dawns
Laying here, suppressing yawns
Your leg across me, a gentle weight
Loving, peaceful, tender place

My head on your chest, I feel your heart
Beating, pounding, a rhythmic part
Arms are wrapped around me tight
No place better on this cool night

Kisses gentle, all over me
Building to an urgency
Returning each that is bestowed
Our bodies traveling a road we know

And when the crescendo is complete
We lie here spent, the climax reached
Your leg across me, a gentle weight
Loving, peaceful, tender place

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

thank you

never in my wildest dreams
did I think there'd come a day
when I would have the happiness
after all the nights I prayed
I think I was patient
I tried to bide my time
waiting, always waiting
for someone to be mine
and then one day it happened
the day that you strolled in
and all that I had waited for
was ready to begin
thank you to the heavens
for answering my prayers
giving all I longed for
that wasn't always there

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

pretend

let's drive out in the desert
it's such a beautiful night
open up the moon-roof
and bathe in lunar light

a million stars are overhead
let's pop in a slow cd
talk about some silly things
while you hold hands with me

let's pretend that we are teens
kiss and touch and love
try not to get caught
by a roving patrol car

let's recreate some magic
it's such a beautiful night
let's drive out in the desert
let our fantasies run wild

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

the desert sky at night

millions of bright stars
the light of the full moon glows
a gentle breeze blows

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

every step I take

every step I take
brings me closer to where you are
every rung I climb
every thing I try
every thought I think
brings me closer

look over your shoulder
I'm coming up quick on you
slipping into your thoughts
feelings you forgot
fantasies you sought
closer than your shadow
feel my breath on your face
I'm coming up quick on you

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

want and need

what I want
and what I need
are two completely separate things
what I feel
and what I see
are two completely different things
what I want
and what I need
are worlds apart, that's how it seems

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

what if

when I look back
what if we hadn't danced
what if you'd never asked
what if I hadn't said yes
what if the stars didn't shine
what if there is no safety net
what would have happened
if we had never met

what if we hadn't talked
long into the night
and I didn't hear
all of your insights
if I hadn't got caught
inside your net
what would have happened
if we never met

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

steps

if all knew the steps
if the dance was easier
the floor would be full

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

perspective

as the old year fades away
unrealized hopes of yesterday
tissued dreams packed in a box
put on a shelf but not forgot

fresh perspective, fresh new year
a plan-o-gram to make it clear
erase the slate, start again
keeping all I once held dear

resolutions not fulfilled
roll them over, a re-try
add some wishes I will keep
fantasy never in short supply

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

mirror image

he remembers
the way the dim light played
on her skin, his hands tangled
in her auburn hair
her green eyes glistening

she remembers
the way he touched her
the way he kissed her
his hands tangled in her hair
the way he held her in the night

a reflection in a mirror
the wind was cold
the night, heated with passion

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

a promise

my heart hears your song
a whispered ballad of love
promises to keep

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

A-Game

I can tell by the way you play
Your cover has been blown
I’ve forgotten more about romance
Than you have ever known

Not so suave or debonair
Or as good as you could be
I’ve heard these same old lines before
They’re not so new to me

Is this just your practice?
Are you saving your A-game?
I can give you pointers for
your next unsuspecting prey

A little work is all you need
To improve your skill
I’ve heard and seen it all my friend
In my mind it is instilled

Just don’t use the things I teach
To turn the tables on me
I will give you knowledge
For future loves you seek

you're everything

watching you, in the candlelight
music playing, everything is right
that's how it starts
that's how it begins
you're everything, I want to do again

laying in your arms
your kisses start to heat
the touch of your hand
that electricity
that's how it starts
that's how it begins
you're every feeling, I want to feel again

as I watch you sleep
smile on your face
you don't even know
you're still holding on to me
that's how it starts
that's how it begins
you're everything, I want to do again

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

My Wish Haiku

A million stars light
I wish on the first one seen
It was just for you

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

over the line

there is a fire smoldering
here inside of me
gonna stoke the ashes
stir it up, get what I need
judiciousness be damned
I'm tired of paying heed
gonna stoke this fire
here inside of me

gonna step over the line
do just what I please
not gonna listen to others
beg redemption on my knees
gonna live outside the lines
of the norm or what is right
God help me, it may curse me
but I'm stoking this fire inside

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

but still...

somewhere, someday
you're gonna miss me
maybe, an afterthought
but still...

now that I am gone
you're gonna miss me
thinking of things we did
but still...

when you look behind you
when you look ahead
I was always an afterthought
but still...

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

nothing

nothing left to say
nothing left to do
cards were on the table
separating me and you
I can't say the parting
was even done as friends
the bitterness was rising
saying it's the end

you turned your back like always
ready once more to depart
I knew it was final
no more brand new starts
but I also knew that finally
I would be ok
maybe not tomorrow
but eventually one day

months and years are faded
with memories of what was
all the scars have healed up
probably just because
I said please don't you contact
or this will never repair
the wounds that cut me deeply
are hidden deep in here

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

dance

the music starts
we dance once again
this time you don't let go
no one cuts in
the music just right
a song that we know

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

beyond the dream

look beyond the dream
to where you'd least expect
look beyond the fantasy
for whom you'd least suspect

write my name in kisses
each one a twinkling star
pull the moon from heaven
to gift wrap our sweet love

blow a gentle breeze
to sweetly ruffle my hair
lay me down with promise
stay always with me there

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