fifty ways

Paul says there are fifty ways
but he only writes about six
where are the other forty-four
I may need them quick

fifty ways to leave a lover
was written in seventy-five
how about phone or text break-ups
they're easier to contrive

there just isn't a good way
to leave or to be left
one heart wants to be set free
the other jump off of a cliff

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

once more

once more
an open door
weathering yet
another storm
this place you hold
where forgiveness grows
like a tulip
in my soul

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

not heard

I saw you looking
to see if I'd changed
just my looks
or also my name
a message here
a peek a boo there
wonderin' how I am
like you even care

you want to tell
about all of your things
your new life
that brought you wings
a lady fair, who
doesn't even know
bout those old days
why I had to go

go ahead look
I love it all
mostly this guy
my spouse he's called
caring for me
and hearing every word
bringing up stuff
I thought not heard

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

ripples

spinning always spinning
like a windmill in my mind
through dark tunnels
as we funnel
things that work or don't work right

never ending, always beginning
a prefect circle in a spiral
you, the ring around my moon
in the night sky rising higher




ripples flowing, ever growing
from a stone thrown in a stream
thunder crashing, lightning flashing
tenacious and unforgiving

music ringing, keep on singing
as we write a sweet refrain
dancing, ever dancing
raindrops on the window's pane

kindred rocking, a key unlocking
my heart's splintered door
a lighthouse abiding, safely guiding
my waves unto your shore

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

compromise

you won't need to whisper a loving lie
or tell me that you love me by the candle's light
while we caress and kiss, passion burning high
it will fade with the dawn and the morning's light
willingly my heart I again compromise

you don't have to offer a promise of more
when the dance begins and we explore
questions unanswered have been paid for
it will be no different than the times before
a love song sang from the one I adore

you won't need to whisper a loving lie
or tell me that you love me by the candle's light
while we caress and kiss, passion burning high
it will fade with the dawn and the morning's light
but it's what I need to finally say goodbye

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

yesterday

I did leave a mark, like initials carved in a tree
the times we were together will drift in memory
you may not admit that I was ever there
but at night when you're sleepless, apparitions appear

you can still taste the kisses, honey on your lips
you can still feel my presence, when fantasy grips
you can still remember eyes of deepest jade green
and the way that I looked in boots and faded jeans

you may never admit that I did leave a mark
closed off in a chamber, locked in your heart
every now and then your mind will betray
and the marks that I left from our yesterdays

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

J.P.B.

I have looked under rocks
and in all of the wrong places
what I once had with you, now six years spent
gone in the night, maybe never to come back
have I used it all up?
will it ever come again?
this mystery of deep love
which eludes my heart

I hear it in the mourning
of the nightingale's song
I feel it in the evenings
when sitting alone
at night it is closest
your side is cold

what I once had with you
sixteen years past
like you it is gone
maybe never to come back

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

senses

late at night I can touch it
how real it does all seem
there you are beside me
an apparition in my dreams

in fantasy I can taste it
savoring the ambrosia taste
a flavor I got used to
from our much earlier days

on clothing, I still smell you
your shirt that I sleep in
an aroma that was Heaven
a musk from your tan skin

on my MP3 I hear you
the love songs, lyric complete
in every single lyric and line
you are here with me

in daylight I can't see it
not hear, touch, taste or smell
with the dawn it's all erased
dreams the only place it dwells

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

sing it again

write me a song
to which I can dance
sing it from your heart
with love and romance
sing it just for me
and when the last chord ends
start from the beginning
and sing it to me again

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

realizing it all

do you forget your dreams
settling for what is near
tiring  of  the chase
and feelings of despair
never knowing how close
you are to getting it all
you keep giving up before reading
the fine print on the wall

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

kindred

there is not a space for me to breathe
nothing to hope for, a tomorrow to believe
the one's I've met are looking to deceive
one night of passion before they leave
a kindred spirit is what I need
a soul mate who is more like me
with love and truth who won't mislead
the things I feel at night when I dream
then I can detach this heart from my sleeve
for now it just continues to bleed

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

how do I know

how do I know what's out there
if I settle for what is here
how can I find all I'm looking for
unless I leave the door ajar
will I know it when I see it
will I feel it and believe it
I can't just sit back, kick back
and let it find me

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

if you believe

if you believe in miracles
dreams that can come true
if you believe in Heaven
I'm waiting here for you

if you believe in wonder
spring that brings monsoons
if you believe angels protect and watch
I'm waiting here for you

if you believe in love songs
dancing a long, slow waltz
if you believe what is in my heart
I'm waiting here for you

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

this is

this is my beginning
this is where I start
this is how I answer the questions
this is what I say to my heart

this is the way I say I love you
this is not like the last time
this is another chance at romance
this is me crossing the dotted line

this is the sound of my heart loving
this is the song that I sing
this is the way I want to know you
this is what tomorrow brings

this is the path that leads to forgiveness
this is the trail that leads to you
this is my way of finding my way
this is the splintered door I walk through

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

you were to me

a beautiful poem
one with many loving lines
I was your haiku

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

wrath

I was never one to curb my anger
when my heart gets close to danger
tongue lashings come as I let 'er rip
if it's in there, out it spits

lightning flashes from deep green eyes
thunder crashes once incised
the wrath of this consuming storm
not forecast in weather reports

after it has blown on through
once again, my sky turns blue
pushing away the clouds of gray
forgiveness always after the fray

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

cocoon

my heart has transformed
shedding its silky cocoon
metamorphosis

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

12-steps

it is not getting any easier
I'm missing about 10 of 12-steps
listening to Alan singing my blues
hasn't made it any better yet

every time I read a chapter
thinking I've got it all figured out
there is another twist or turn
one self-help doesn't write about

so while I'm penning these daydreams
and silence grows by the hour
I guess you've got your point across
I need to grow a little willpower

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

Bill is wrong (After All You’ve Done For Me Bill Mallonee)

it is not in the ruins
where you move without a sound
what Bill sang is wrong
it is all recalled, noisily...
in the pounding of my heart
in my mind that hears you
in my dreams where you still sing
in my fantasy where you shout it aloud

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

ponder

the sand and sea
stretch in front of me
the dolphins play
birds soar away
under a sky of blue
relaxing to do

I sit and reflect
on many aspects
heavy thoughts that weigh
I will cast them away
on tides and waves
to ponder another day

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

untitled

thoughts pounding
echoing loudly inside my brain
feelings hammering
clamoring tinges of this pain
a facade that slips
its anchoring clips
strength that's feigned
a tin heart, that's dangling from
a braided chain

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

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