hissssss

I've seen snakes that walked upright 
instead of a quick crawl
biting when my back was turned
I didn't know at all

jealousy, burning deep inside
they just can't help themselves
a face in front and one behind
into your soul they delve

there are those you just can't trust
a friendly face portrayed
then when you expect it least
you found you've been betrayed

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

red flag

a red flag warning 

do I proceed with caution? 

or do I turn back? 

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

inside

there is nothing but blue sky 

nothing but warmth from your sun 

nothing to hold me back

nothing that I lack 

and I'll find my way

inside your love 

there is nothing but notes on a scale 

lyrics written as I slowly inhale 

nothing to hold me back

nothing that I lack 

and I'll find my way 

inside your song 

there is nothing but untried love 

there is nothing like this feeling 

nothing to hold me back 

nothing that I lack 

and I'll find my way 

inside your heart 

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

the citation

was for speeding through life...
rolling stops at all intersections...
following to close--to life
and rear-ending
love

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

safety

I release the safety on the grip 

then take aim and let 'er rip 

when will I learn 

it can't be too soon

like a bullet 

words can wound

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

some thought

some thought they knew me
no questions asked
taking what I put forward
as who I was

some thought they knew me
what was best
my heart set aside
what they wanted

one saw right through me
did all the right things
asked the questions, looked inside
to the depths of my soul

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

last step, first step

the last step,
I swore I wouldn't take
teetering in new shoes
seeing you...
paisley tie...
you know what I like

the first step
a new journey 
together, you and I
tie and shoes on the floor
entwined, forever
the way it was meant to be

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

rich

not rich in all ways
but love flows in every room
that's enough for me

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

time heals

quickly, I ripped off the Band-Aid
there was barely any seepage, no blood
what I thought would take a long time to heal,
leaving a hideous scar
was mended...

a slight pinkness
no added thickness
but gone
hardly noticeable
time heals all things

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

neighborhood watch

while the neighborhood watch wasn't watching
and the electronic lens asleep
you snuck into the depths of my soul
and stole my heart from me

it wasn't against gunpoint
no arrows in the bow
not with calculation
but all the wiles you know

with a wink and crook of a finger
unaided I climb on board
and all that lays unsettled
will keep us from our course

the restful wake from slumber
from windows they check the drive
gone and now forgotten
all those we leave behind

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

yep!

we get what's deserved
no investment, no return
what did you expect?

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

comfortably numb

comfortably numb to all around
walking slowly eyes cast down
wasn't flailing-- didn't drown
all was blue that did surround

clouds like soldiers marched the sky
heat from sun there way up high
I let my breath out with a sigh
said many prayers with no replies

there was no pain, the waves recede
a perfect day on tranquil beach
rocks all smooth from ocean's leech
in my head all the thoughts preached

I heard all that you were conveying
words like so much fabric fraying
I saw the piper you were paying
and the role I was portraying

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

familiar

the territory wasn't unfamiliar
in fact, we were old friends
the scenery greener and denser
the lush growth fragrant
wild flowers, everywhere
under an azure sky
yes, I had been here before
but this time it's different
now it has changed,
or I have
maybe--

because I am older and wiser
know the difference between
lust and love
right and wrong
day and night...
yes, it is familiar
and where I wish to stay
till the end of my days

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

all I wanted

all I wanted was a heart
one true one that I could have
ruffled or not, red or pink
all I wanted was a heart

what I found was love
more than just a heart
not red or pink, unruffled
what I found was you

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

?

if I took past loves
laying them all end to end
I would not reach far

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

there

in your deep blue eyes
I could see my happiness
written in their depths

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

if

if I could find a way to hit delete
if there was lock, I would turn the key
if there was an easier way,
a quicker path
I would take it immediately

if there were no shadows
or once flowering meadows
if the silver had  tarnished
not polished to gleam
if old black and whites
had been torn and discarded
I might have felt more at ease

if there were no songs
forgotten not long
if the tune didn’t play in your memory
when I don’t know is an easy road
to protect those good old days

if there were no thoughts of any but me
if the little black book I didn’t see
if doesn’t cover the well used pillow
of dances not ever quite complete

if I could read your mind
what would I find
what else is there I don’t know
what will I discover shrouded
there undercover… just
waiting to rain down on me

there I sat...

legs crossed, foot swinging
like I always do
waiting for nothing
hoping for anything
praying for a sign
any little thing

love doesn't work that way
signals mix
hopes shatter--
eyes close to open doors
windows left ajar
a soft breeze envelops
tears dry

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

against the odds

I took it slow, no need to rush
over the crowd, there grew a hush
most of them betting against the laud
thinking me just another fraud

never one to show much grace
no hint of smile upon my face
serious 'bout what I had to do
to capture all there was of you

nothing was gonna hold me back
reeling in the length of slack
never fighting the hook that caught
not one action was for naught

not an option, not a game
nor a trophy with some fame
the only prize for which I called
in it for a very long haul

leaving all the rest behind
they could not see, they were too blind
but you saw right off from the start
looking deep into my heart

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

wet

one would assume, it didn't mean a thing
no deposits in a memory bank
nothing stored on an internal hard drive
blank time floating in space

what I felt, the complete opposite
giving my all, as usual
nothing ventured...yada, yada, yada
absolutely nothing gained

I was wrong about so many things
options I presented returned unopened
rainy days came and went
all I got was wet

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

bondaries

the truth knows boundaries
a lie--not so much
expounding words
descriptions vague 
disingenuous reasons

I will take facts please
purchased with my soul
what cost will I pay?
closed mind, opened eyes
ears hearing every word

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

at peace (HEH)

at peace, you sleep
unaware of all those dear
saying goodbye
as tears flow

a big man now quiet
smaller than all of those years
you ruled the roost
instilling values

sleep on Dad
rest knowing...
what you taught us
lives in our heart

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

recognition

just south of my dreams
a little north of recognition
acceptance; not forthcoming
the mirror's reflection
flaws and imperfections
hidden
by a Mona Lisa smile

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

the point

I can’t tell the point
where I stop and you begin
we are intertwined

nourished

the sky opens and you rain down on me
lightning flashes across my sky
your thunder rocks my world

my petals open,
nourished by each droplet
and you root
yourself deep inside of me

never, have I known such happiness
forever, how long I want this to last
not an annual that blooms then dies
but a perennial constantly self renewing

I bask in the glory of your love