love song

your fingers softly
strumming the strings of my heart
a love song I know

say it all

hurt me, wound me, say it all
the things that you don't feel
draw the line, it will be fine
the truth is what is real

suspicion, apprehension, fear of unknown
is worse than what's not there
I'd rather not get by
on reality not lies
so it can all start to heal

just say it won't be so
you've no love to show
and I'll take it on the chin
and go

you have nothing to lose
speak your heart's truth
just say it won't be so
no roots for this to grow

and I will take it on the chin
and go

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

rat race

It is with sadness that I leave this place
drive across the border to the rat race
spirits starts a slow decline
planning for my next time
when once again I fall prisoner to
this place where I escape the blues

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

intuder

the door not locked
or even barred
light slips through
what is left ajar
an intruder knocks
seeing it not blocked
and steals my heart away

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

glimmer

it grew...
benign, behind a shrouded wall
waiting for a chance to come forth
creeping, seeping, weeping it oozes
there's no stopping it now

it flows from lips, parted to kiss
eyes, half closed in slumber
it takes over my dreams
until it seems...
a malignancy
without glimmer of hope

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

remorse

the cavalier way
that you have treated my heart
has ceased its beating
as it floats away
without a lifeline to rescue
drowned by loves remorse

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

nights of wonder

sleepless nights, reckless days
moving swiftly through this faze
not slowing down, shooting from the hip
black and blue cause it kicks a bit

one step forward and two steps back
praying for guidance when I'm off track
it seems no matter what I do
all paths lead me back to you

fighting the urge to buckle under
when dreams return from nights of wonder
always with the light of day
the reasoning behind why I pulled away

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

in your own way

in your own way, you loved me
a small piece, but a piece just the same
it just wasn't enough for me

in your own way, you loved me
the line I drew too straight
too crimson, too deep

in your own way, you loved me
the silence, too much to bear
too much time for me to reflect
enough time for me to break free
did I?...it is still too soon to know

in your own way, you loved me
perspective comes and it gets easier
I can separate fact from fiction
it still hurts, it will heal

in your own way, you loved me
I will think of you when listening
to Dylanesque music
a wonderful gift you left me

in your own way, you loved me
the crescent moon will always be yours
when I see it...I will feel you

in your own way, you loved me
a small piece, but a piece just the same
it just wasn't enough for me
I wanted you to love me my way

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

perfect circle

a triangle with one too many points
with a compass, I draw for you a perfect circle
the arcs were always connected
between two, without me
blind, I refused to see

no longer do I try
to insinuate myself into your heart or
my love into your circle
it was my imagination...
that this verde valley interfered with
your love for the mountains North

what starts without anything
ends with nothing
what starts without feeling
ends my belief
what starts without fire
ends less desirable

more so, when you name your price

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

pensive silence

a pensive silence stretches across
unspoken words speak volumes
no regrets from this heart that speaks
or this love burning inside of me

see it pour like a monsoon rain
and you without an umbrella
the easy part was telling you
hard is what you don't do about it

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

for you

cactus flowers, fragrant and sweet
a little creek, on the ranch of your dreams
many blue skies, a porch with a swing
I wish for you, all of these things

a beautiful sunset at the end of the day
a shining moon to light your way
someone you love to hold you close
a kiss good night from the one you love most

faith of knowing deep in your heart
that heaven holds more than just some stars
a guardian angel, a part in your prayers
no matter where you go, that you safely get there

I wish for you all of these things

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

a memory

ride down to me
down from the mountains
rest your head

sleep beside
my burning fire
rescue me

with the light of dawn
you will be gone
a memory

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

no mercy

I can feel it coming
a change is in the air
it is not from fall to winter
I feel that lingers there

too far off to feel the touch
the hands you feel not mine
buried with the memories
another place in time

clock ticks away the hours
as your kiss touches her skin
the unrelenting passion
that place where I have been

as I search for mercy
many miles before I dream
awake in the middle of night
cause the mercy escapes me

my heart is searching for mercy
even that won't set me free

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

it spills

liquid love from shattered glass
leaving a stain on the counter
seeping into nowhere

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

ideas

they want their words
coming forth from you
don't think that
watch what you do
others aren't smart
they act differently
use kid gloves
cerebrate intently

did you investigate
those things you print
did you google a source
I bet you didn't
it spreads like fire
whether truth or not
others will remember
those thoughts you brought

just stay simple
don't think too deep
keep to yourself
don't let thoughts seep
be true to yourself
but don't start a theme
of words that aren't yours
and aren't what they seem

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

my heart

Laura does my hair
Ahn does my legs
Tony does my nails
You do my heart

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

continued

you kiss me goodbye
only for a little while
to be continued

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

status quo

people talking in rhymes
'stead of saying what they feel
can't explain it all
you can't get ahead

people moving one way
'stead of on a direct path
walking in circles
you can't get ahead

people not asking why
'stead of question that are real
windmills turning round
you can't get ahead

people accepting status quo
'stead of fighting for beliefs
it never comes back
you can't get ahead

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

holding on

I'm holding on to
the way you make me feel
your breath on my neck
whispers in my ear
pulling back my hair
and your tight embrace

I'm holding on to
a message on my phone
"can't wait to get you alone"
photos in my mind
it happens every time
we're together

I'm holding on to
a week that'll soon be through
then it's time for me and you
put the work away
time for us to play
I'm holding on to you

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

color

your eyes the color of the sky
your spirit the soft pastels
your soul made up of warmer hues
shading in tans and orange
the color that I like the best?
the color of your heart
every beautiful hue there is
that makes up the color of love

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

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