Midwest

I grew up in the Midwest, living in the country
amongst the cows and fields of corn and soy bean
without close neighbors
my siblings were my playmates and best friends
sweet memories include:
my siblings, still
my first kiss
dances on Friday nights
hometown football games
hanging out at the Tastee Freeze
sleep-overs and camping out under the stars

today, as I pack to go back
the memories flood, the roots still buried deeply
although I now live 2000 miles away
and my Midwestern hometown has changed so much
I look forward to reconnecting,
to revisiting and maybe reliving
all that made me who I am today
a farm town, Midwest girl at heart
in southwestern boots and jeans
who has come home for a little while

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

free

finally it comes
what was different this time?
that has set me free

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

History

crimson flows the tyranny
from those that were oppressed
it starts out with a virus
and quickly does digress
flowing just like lava
hastily it transgessed
till nothing now can stop it
the Patriot is suppressed

History is repeating
our forefathers said it would
there's no way to stop it
even if we could
hate is spewed by violence
will it do some good?
it mounts one of the horses
Revelations said it could

the flag is burning sadly
by those without respect
Patriotism angry
because it goes unchecked
legacy here lays ruined
behind them in neglect
with blood and toppled statues
a cause without connect

what starts out in anger
builds like forrest fires
while the rest lay sleeping
it burns higher and higher
no resistance coming
although it is required
a future lays in turmoil
by those with wicked desires

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

nectar

I taste the nectar of your love
and it is mighty sweet
like honey thick and plentiful
a treat for savoring
all that is leftover keeps
for all of my tomorrows
with no chance of it running thin
or more will I need to borrow

I hear your song lilt on the breeze
down from the highest mountains
flowing through and over me like
rain from a billowy cloud
lyrics written just for me
music with a perfect pitch
sung over and over in my head
never as melodic as this

I saw a look I've never seen
there in your green eyes
reflecting truth and honesty
all you feel inside
visions of what was yesterday
visions of what we've become
a softness I'd not seen before
a spell I now fall under

I feel the strength of your strong hand
as it gently takes mine
urging me to come with you
exploring what we can find
you don't need to push or pull
I come with you willingly
as we go on side by side
with what I always believed

I taste the nectar of your love
and it is mighty sweet
like honey thick and plentiful
a treat for savoring
all that is leftover keeps
for all of my tomorrows
with no chance of it running thin
or more will I need to borrow

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

grandiose

it is darn near perfect, almost grandiose
the weather isn't raining, I'm beginning now to coast
work is pretty easy, friends are at my door
life is getting better and I finally know the score

it is darn near perfect, all my baggage packed
it wasn't ever easy with this weight upon my back
there is not a cloud in sight, I'm finally breaking free
a prescription is not needed to clearly make me see

it is darn near perfect, as it all falls into place
it's not like I didn't pray to His divinest graceit is darn near perfect, almost grandiose
the weather isn't raining, I've buried all the ghosts

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

hanging on to nothing

I am hanging on to nothing as tightly as I can
my fingers cramp and ache from my firm grip
how can I hold what was never mine?
as I rend the fabric of these dreams

still I grasp, in my waking hours and sleep
hanging on to nothing as tightly as I can
my hands will let go before my heart
my mind deserted this memory long ago

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

it's funny

it's funny how a memory can take me back in time
a photo that is faded, that once was black and white
it's funny how a song could hold such fantasies
and what you always said, is what I now believe

it's funny that I built castles, out of little grains of sand
and how it never worked out, exactly like I planned
it's funny that before my eyes, sunlight turned to grayeverything seems different, everything has changed

it's funny that a dream can take me back in time
to places and embraces, things I leave behind
it's funny that a heart can lay love's pain to rest
after all the heartache and all I did invest

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

one more sweet kiss

lay here beside me and sing me your song
in the light of this moon, while the night is still young
hold me, love me, for as long as you can
till evening disappears and dawn starts to span

lay here beside me till I fall asleep
holding me tightly till I start to dream
wake me, embrace me, one more sweet kiss
just like the once upon time princess
lay here beside me and sing me your song
in the light of this moon, while the night is still young
hold me, love me, for as long as you can
till evening disappears and dawn starts to span

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

devoted

the fragrance of a rose, the flower of my devotion
devoted the heat, like sun rays on the ocean
the look in your eye tells me you were only joking
a song that was sung, devoid of emotions

it's like candle wax that melts dripping down the tallow
like the moon in the sky that rises full and shallow
my dreams do not falter, somehow they disallow
the truth hiding deeply, shrouded by shadows

fingers that bleed from the thorns on the stem
the fragrance too sweet as it all closes in
I know it was a game that I could never win
as the final chords play and it comes to the end

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

Pecos Bill

we bury the past without any dread
wounded hearts triaged and on the mend
we bandage the cuts, scratches and mars
slowly they heal with just a faint scar
we pick it all up from yesterday
start again fresh, another clean slate

what we put in is what we get back
tenacity a virtue that you never lacked
you see the lightning, hear the thunder
a red-flag warning that causes a shudder
an Irish tempest with eyes that flash
you just may have finally met your match

you can't say that it's  boring
a tornado  lassoed with expert roping
like Pecos Bill you ride though it bucks
going till the buzzer with any kind of luck
you hold on tight, with one arm in the air
spurring me on with your special flair
ride on Pecos, hold on tight
this could be the ride of your life

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

fairytale

a bookmark in a chapter
another fairytale
about a damsel in distress
and the knight who couldn't save her

she is trapped high in a tower
surrounded by a moat
her tresses are not long enough
for the knight to use as rope

lovingly she watches
longingly she waits
yearningly she ponders
what will be her fate

hope now quickly leaves her
as the knight initiates retreat
the happily ever after
this time is not to be

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

belief

the sun will still shine
the sky will be azure blue
that is my belief

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

forgiven

I've forgiven too much
you've given too little
making excuses in my head
always allowing for more
my heart hurts
my mind spins
I need to move on
from this empty place
where nothing resides

you are forgiven

good-bye

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

I'm looking

I'm not looking for a hero
or a knight in shining armor
not looking for a king or prince
or a legend not yet born
I'm just looking for something
that I can't seem to find
I've been looking for quite awhile
but I'm gonna take my time

I'm looking for generosity
for passion and for truth
I'm looking for a cowboy
James Bond, and Indiana too
I'm looking for someone who will miss me
when I'm not by their side
someone to create some excitement
and bring loving to my life

I'm looking for someone to hold me
until I fall to sleep
maybe then dreams will return
when my heart finds some peace
I'm looking for someone to take my hand
and squeeze it really tight
I'm looking for a love song
a poet to write my life

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

the edge

you drove me to it, right to the edge
you took my hand then pushed me off the ledge
you said "jump..I'll catch you when you fall"
but you weren't there--after all

you said "love me"..I asked "how much"
you said "deeply"..and I felt the rush
as it flew right past me, like a bullet in the air
and off you went, with ne'er a care

you said "goodbye"..and I asked "why"
you said "because"..your only reply
I should have seen it coming, you weren't really here
the object of my affection was further than it appeared

you drove me to it, right to the edge
you took my hand then pushed me off the ledge
you said "jump..I'll catch you when you fall"
but you weren't there--after all

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

a river called Hope

there once was a river, a river called Hope
when it rained in the desert, the Hope would flow
but too much sun has left the soil parched
now the banks are dry, the Hope has dried up

the critters are dying, no where for them to drink
plants are shriveling as they turn brown and shrink
still the sun beats down on this arid basin
no chances of rain on what once was an oasis

there once was a river, a river called Hope
when it rained in the desert, the Hope would flow
if I immersed my soul, it would be cleansed
but the Hope doesn't flow, over or within

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

dead center

where do you get off?
my heart used as a target
you hit dead center

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

Connecting

They met because of wanting
Connected because of desire
Each of them were planning,
to set the other's world on fire

Connecting on all levels,
body, soul and mind
Exploring each other completely
to see what they can find

Warm and fervent kisses
the exploring has just begun
Passion triumphs in the end
So now they both have won!

Yesterday

there won't come a monsoon or a crescent moon
a song that Bill sings that doesn't remind me
a dance in the spring, a book that I read
that doesn't remind me of you

there won't come a dream and how they seemed
a fantasy of sand and the sea
a Yesterday place, the sweet spot you grace
that I have buried deep down in my heart

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

keeper

I drink my morning latte
you're drinking chocolate milk
I'm eating a french pastry
you're eating, I don't know what
I'm reading the New York Times
you're reading a comic book
I clear the morning table
while you stretch and yawn

let's go back to bed
you say with one of those looks
I read you loud and clear
and follow you from the room
it's this part of our love
where everything is right
you're a keeper baby
and I am here for good

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

unrevealed

it is what lies dormant in this near past
as I reflect in this looking glass
what stays clear and what stays hidden
like ice that covers the ground but glistens
snow angels made in the afternoon sun
while grass waits for the end of winter's run

it is what I hear or cannot hear
no echoing refrains that call me near
without a lover's touch or sweet, sweet moan
reminding me as I sleep alone
no other chances, it rings crystal clear
from when you were here and since disappeared

it is what I feel or cannot feel
was it memory or was it all real
the dance with steps too complicated
like a blockbuster movie that is overrated
what I cannot see or hear or feel
with many a doubt stays unrevealed

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

yesterday

in the midst of night
or just before dawn
the wind blows
it didn't wake me
that's when you slip
into thoughts
as dreams forsake
nocturnal rest

I remember it all
like yesterday
the way it feels
you're still here
a warm embrace
my touch to your face
passion burning
heart's yearning
yesterday

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

never

I'll never say those words again
I'll bite my tongue and hold them in
what lays spilled and sticky on the floor
when it all gushed out that time before
I'll never say those words again

I'll never feel like that again
I'll bury it deep like unforgiven sin
what drifts in dreams, forgotten by morn
swept up like hair after its been shorn
I'll never feel like that again

I'll never hope like that again
hidden by that lovesick grin
it didn't work then nor does it now
I give you this, my solemn vow
I'll never hope like that again

I'll never say those words again
I'll bite my tongue and hold them in
what lays spilled and sticky on the floor
when it all gushed out that time before
I'll never say those words again

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

roll the credits

you rode off into the sunset
like all the cowboys do
you didn't take the girl
swinging her up behind you
the clock is sticking twelve
and Cinderella lost her shoe
and what you leave behind
may someday make you blue

from the very start
you looked for the happy ending
days of many false starts
that seemed like a beginning
every love you had
it seemed like you were winning
but it never happened that way
your wheels were constantly spinning

you came here offering nothing
and with it you are leaving
the first and last don't matter
it's what happens in between
you can write the lyrics
and the music that I sing
it all plays out like a movie
roll the credits on the dark screen

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

how can I tell you?

there in your album
smiling on a page
the ghost of all the others
that leave me so outraged
those you say meant nothing
not worthy of your love
sitting tight and waiting
for a wink or a brief nod

trust is just not given
it needs to be well earned
it mixes in the metaphors
and quietly there it burns 
if they are your past
those limbs upon a tree
they just don't belong here
with you and now with me

I can't find the words to tell you
I don't know what to say

those you say meant nothing
still sitting there at bay
wondering and watching
the truth has many doubts
bless the crying angel
insecurities shall win out

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