Monday, October 5, 2020

Pawn

Watching very carefully 
The way you play this game 
Trying not to tip your hand 
Then you can’t be blamed 

More and more the torture 
I take it and remain 
Push me away and pull me back 
Always just the same 

Picking up some pointers 
Some very useful tips 
Storing them in memory 
Till I can come to grips 

One day when you aren’t looking 
You’ll turn and I’ll be gone
Practicing the game I learned
Finding my own pawn

Saturday, October 3, 2020

i'm not asking much

this is all I need 
tenderness and devotion 
your touch and your heart 

Sunlight

Like a cool desert breeze 
On a hot summer day 
Wafting over me 
And offering relief

Like a gentle monsoon rain 
Healing the parched earth 
Drops of understanding
Promising rebirth 

Like the evening sky
Filled with twinkling stars 
Lighting up my night 
Diminishing the scars 

Like the day’s sunlight 
Returning to shine on me 
Surrounding me in warmth 
And all I’ll ever need 

Friday, October 2, 2020

windmills

we come across a windmill 
hidden in the trees 
reminiscent of Don Quixote 
and his misguided beliefs 

a star crossed lover was he 
Dulcinea was her name 
an allusion to illusion 
he chased her just the same 

in his suit of armor 
with Rocinante his trusty steed 
his faithful sidekick Sancho 
to help carry out his deeds 

not a gallant squire 
as he thought that he would be 
always chasing windmills
in search of his lost dreams 

my dreams are about to shatter 
in the shade of the giant blades 
lightning in the background 
threats of impending rain 

you tell me you are leaving 
and this will be goodbye 
that we too are star crossed 
something you can't deny 

you kiss me quick and hug me tight 
say you're sorry for the pain 
and as my tears begin to fall 
you turn your back and walk away 
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Thursday, October 1, 2020

End Of The Affair (not about me)

She told herself she didn’t care 
He was never really there 
It was the end of the affair 
It didn’t matter that it"s unfair 

She takes the bottle and pours a glass 
Drank the first one really fast 
She knew it wouldn't be the last 
Feeling the dead hand of the past

But the memories didn’t fade 
Not even with the alcohol aid 
She should have called a spade a spade
It would have ended anyway 

She goes to bed and closes her eyes 
But even in darkness she couldn’t hide 
The emptiness would not subside 
She's all alone with the tears she cries 

Next to the phone that doesn’t ring 
She was his puppet on a string
He’s moved on to better things 
That’s the part that really stings 

She hears the ticking of the clock 
She can not sleep her mind won’t stop 
Tomorrow she was gonna take stock 
But tonight, she’s not a rock 

The sun dons bright, her mood is grim 
She just can’t quit thinking about him
She is way out on a limb 
Getting back is looking slim 

She closes the door and clicks the lock 
Goes to the closet and gets her glock 
She looks in the mirror and it’s a shock 
Pulls the trigger at nine o' clock

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

separated

by more than desert 
by more than mountains 
by more than time zones 
by more than states 
by more than cities 
by more than plains 
by more than 2,000 miles
by more than distance 
by more than time 
by more than what is 
by more than what could be 
by more than love

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Train Haiku


haunting and mournful
but a sound I love at night
a train whistle blows

Monday, September 28, 2020

the next best thing

are we all waiting for the next best thing? 
while resting on this plateau
is the hidden from sight our active imagination 
causing dreams that come at night? 
are we always looking over our shoulder? 
wondering if it passed us by 
was it at that busy intersection? 
the corner of was and will be 
where we jay-walked with indiscretion 
 why not slow down and just enjoy
keep what we have without the ploys 
learn the nuances, 
emit the true feeling
understanding all that love allows 
and cancel the subscriptions no longer needed

my reflection

what I see in you I see in me 
you are my reflection 
when you hurt I feel your pain 
and want to heal you 
when you soar I too fly 
happy for your joy 
your thoughts are mine on the same wave length 
sometimes no words needed 
you have changed me enriched my life 
in so many ways 
giving back things 
I lost along the way 
thanks for this 
and for so much more 
for being you, 
reflecting me 
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Saturday, September 26, 2020

Lost Dreams

The things I left along life’s trail 
I thought I could live without 
Broken hearts and broken dreams
 I’ve hurt some, there’s no doubt 

Leaving ego, leaving self 
Leaving some of my dreams 
Leaving bits of integrity 
That can never be redeemed 

The trail is getting longer 
Losing more along the path 
Looking back in anger 
Need to find a way back 

Stop and reassess my life 
Need to get back on track 
Preserve the little I have left 
Resurrect the things I lack

Time may be to short now 
For redemption of my soul 
To stop the hurt and hurting 
To climb out of this black hole 

Need to listen to my heart 
And do the things that are right 
Restore the days of sunshine 
And end these sleepless nights 

 A 12-step intervention 
Beg forgiveness from those I hurt
 A very slow healing process 
Will my pain also revert?

Friday, September 25, 2020

Chapters

Walking on a desolate beach 
Past castles made of sand 
This same beach we walked once 
Together hand in hand 

I smell the salt water from the sea 
Feel the wet, cool tide 
Solitary footsteps now 
You’re no longer at my side 

The tide it ebbs and then it flows 
Coincides with my life 
Highs and lows like pounding waves 
Happiness then strife 

The castles now have washed away 
The sand is clean and smooth 
Another chapter in my life 
A chapter without you

For You Baby

This one’s for you baby 
Even though you’re not here 
To love me when I need it 
And hold me when I’m scared 

This one’s for you baby 
You’ve been gone too long 
Something always coming up 
Singing that same old song 

This one’s for you baby 
You better come home soon 
I can’t take it much longer 
I feel like I’m marooned 

This one’s for you baby 
Maybe I should come to you
I need a break here anyway 
Are you being true? 

This one’s for you baby 
Again the same excuse 
I think it may be over 
I think you need to choose 
 
This one’s for you baby 
Writing’s on the wall 
You should have told me sooner 
Instead of all the stall!

Thursday, September 24, 2020

A Friend (for you)

As you tell me your story 
Your fears and inner thoughts 
Your wounds still fresh and bleeding 
Your mind is overwrought 

I listen without judging 
I am what you need me to be 
A confidant and sounding board 
Helping with the debris 

I understand your apprehension 
The stress that you’ve been through 
That hopefully has been laid to rest 
With nothing more to do 

I am what I appear to be 
No agendas, no hidden scheme 
Trust that I am here for you 
A friend when you are in need 

Tell me all your secrets 
Don’t fear me or hold back 
Trust the connection we have built 
This foundation has no cracks

Morning

Unexpected pleasures 
Like a pirate’s sunken treasure 
Await 

The mountains at dawn 
As I stretch and yawn 
Grandeur 

The rising sun 
As each day’s begun 
Warmth 

Coffee to start 
Jump start my heart 
Electric 

 A nice hot shower 
Could stay there for hours 
Awaken 

Start a new day 
In the same way 
Glorious 

Now go to work 
Always that quirk 
Consistent 

Think of you on the drive 
Helps me to survive 
Wondrous 

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Edge of Reason

On the edge of reason
A thread of hope remains
Wanting just to believe
A thin chance of the truth

Hanging on to rationale
Longing for validation
The slender thread is fraying
Not much for substantiation

When the questions are unanswered
Or the answers take to long
The edge of reason starts to wane
And hope is fading fast

The logic now exhausted
All the reckoning is lost
The thread of reason just now snapped
All suspicions wrought

Joy?

Joy is overrated 
It seems that way to me 
Couples all seem happy 
On the surface that you see 

I have been in relationships 
Not as easy as it seems 
One person doing all the work 
Going to extremes 

Next time that I fall in love 
My lover can work harder 
To win love and affection 
And appreciate my ardor

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Dark Side Of The Moon

There is a dark side of the moon 
One that I have seen 
It is not all that luminous 
But hidden by moonbeams 

Falling for the obvious 
The moon, it plays some tricks 
Everything is softly lit 
And you are transfixed 

Keep your guard up 
Don’t relent or fall under the spell 
Or you’ll be in deep trouble 
I know this very well 

You need to heed this warning 
You won’t get another chance 
Stay indoors on full moon nights 
Avoid the dangerous trance 

Once you see the dark side 
Your whole life will change 
Everything previous forgotten 
Nothing will be the same

Monday, September 21, 2020

my sky burns

my sky burns 
I smell the acrid smoke 
taste the ash on my lips 
a thirst unquenched 
my skin hot from the heat 
my soul singed my heart incinerates

Paradoxical sleep

Random thoughts at arbitrary times
A life once shared quickly demised
Thoughts that swim in water deep
Nightmares come in paradoxical sleep

You watch me flail, in over my head
Drift in and out while I mournfully tread
Choke out the water that’s in my throat
Silently drown or try to stay afloat

You were here and now you’re gone
Ash still falling with each new dawn
A life invested extinguished fast
Promise yields to the aftermath

Strength for all so they don't see
A tower that crumbles inwardly
Internal tears that my heart cries
The perfected façade is just a guise
Creative Commons License
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Saturday, September 19, 2020

love

like a flower I bloom 
the sun warm on my blossom 
heat radiates from my center 
moisture, rich on my petals 
I bask in your love 

simple math

I know > than I need
but < than I want
true - false = questions

if you + love
and / trust
the quotient
is ambiguous
at best
Creative Commons License
  
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

pipe-dream

feelings rush through this pipe-dream 
gushing like the leak in Louisiana 
leaking barrels and barrels of me 
killing what surrounds as it bleeds 

there is no fixing this enormous spill 
it spews too fast, with its own will 
Haliburton can't control the danger 
my heart the only thing in range

Friday, September 18, 2020

winter

golden leaves drop--dead
frost forms thickly all around
winter bares its soul
Creative Commons License
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

Tell It To Me Softly

Tell it to me softly 
Whisper the words 
Nuzzle my neck 
Hold me tight 

Take me there slowly 
With passion and fervor 
We have all night 
Let’s not hurry 

Stay with me after 
Caress and sooth 
Until it comes again 
Urgent and pressing 

Just like in the beginning

The Band Plays On

Tired of this same old tune 
Although the music has changed 
Tired of all the ins and outs 
And still the band plays on 

Tired of broken promises 
Wishes that won’t come true 
A one sided relationship 
And still the band plays on 

I think I finally get it 
You were never really there 
It was just my imagination 
And still the band plays on 

Don’t know why I stayed this long 
Knew you couldn’t change 
I know I’ve reached the breaking point 
And still the band plays on 

 I’ve given enough chances 
For you to make it right 
I guess it was too much to expect 
And still the band plays on 

 I’m not dancin' any more 
No matter what the song 
See my back as I walk away 
The band has finally stopped