I know

I know right now it's hurting, and I would get the blues 

I know you should have found yourself before we started anew 

I know there were some obstacles I thought I could out run 

I know I would rather hurt than not to have  even tried 

I know that there's a lesson--a lesson to be learned 

I know it's in here somewhere, where all of these feelings churn 

I know that I can't see the sun and all it does is rain 

I know that you don't hurt, because you weren't in love 

I know I thought you hid it, didn't want me to see 

I know that this was wrong, in-spite of my belief 

I know I felt the heat and stood too close to the flame 

I know that for this hurt, I am partially to blame 

I know that when sleep comes, there you are again 

I know that when I wake, you will disappear

I know that you are gone and someday this will fade 

I know it won't hurt always, but that's all I feel today

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

desire

I longed for the pleasures 

desired more treasures 

all that I yearned for I get

 but I forfeit my soul 

when fire took control 

and it burns internally yet

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

that reason to love

When you find someone, that someone special
When everything is right
When true love is shared
When all old heartaches ebb
Then, and only then...
Do you find that purpose,
That reason to smile,
That reason to love

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

depths

Go ahead and watch
See all that is here,
what could have been yours

Live vicariously through my media
It is all posted for you to see,
Well most of it anyway

What you discarded, another cherishes
Another nurtures
Another is loved

In depths that you will never find

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

not touching you

I'm not touching you
my sister said...
her finger a tiny fraction
away from nose...
I'll tell mom!

I'm not touching you
the cowboy said...
sitting on his metal horse
a fraction from my heart...
who do I tell?

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

forward

I burned the bridges, turned the page
learned some lessons on the way
escaped from sadness and from harm
your vanity disguised as charm

when I was out, your pulled me in
never afraid to try again
not worth the pain that I went through
I did my best to get to you

there comes a point where there is none
needing to be the only one
I turned and ran a different path
eyes looked forward, never back

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

dreams

when the dreams came,
they were bent, twisted
distortion of faces
deformed representation
of what I knew; felt...
when I slept at all
which was little

grace appeared
returning sweet slumber
happy thoughts
of what is to be
welcomed...
dreams sent by angels
of you and me

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

a promise to keep

you made me a promise
this one you will keep
you say it each morning
and night before sleep
you say I am yours
forever and a day
and that you are mine
with a love that won't fade
an earnest vow
a symphony for my heart
where one circle ends
the other one starts
an endless sunset
with glorious hues
this is the love
between me and you
you say I am yours
forever and a day
and that you are mine
with a love that won't fade

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

angry skies

I crossed a line that was twisted and broken
you heard the prayers that I had spoken
walking tall my head held high
my voice was just an audible sign

many angry, how could this be?
demonstrations from oh so many
threatening clouds and angry skies
from the one with all the lies

truth wins out, you held your ground
bolstering confidence all around
there are the blind who refuse to see
what is best for you and me

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

lessons

to all the ones I tried to reach

shells washed on a desolate beach

all the lessons I couldn't teach

inner walls that lay unbreeched

circling back, they tried again

begging on knees to make amends

what they did not comprehend

once it's gone, it's a frayed end

emails, texts unanswered whys

like twinkling stars high in the sky

just another lonely guy

whispering "please" their empty tries

permanent marker; names crossed through

gone, forgotten withdrawn and blue

still I ponder with morning brew

how long it was till I met you

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

that's me

my warning label would say
execute extreme caution
Gemini's are like that
changing direction quickly
sometimes in the middle of a thought
or action
I do not apologize
it is my prerogative
swimming up stream
against the current
yep, that's me

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

everyday, I love you

we call it
an everyday I love you gift
something tangible we find
that we know the other will like
different from that everyday
I love you feeling
tucked inside our hearts
voiced continuously
throughout the day
into the evening
beneath stars, moon and sky
everyday, I love you
but sometimes, you get a bonus!

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

victim of love

you tripped me

I fell HARD
gashing my heart

blood spills 

from a cool, white soul
pooling into grout lines

those that said,
I couldn't be caught
don't know for naught

another victim of love

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

past places

last time I checked,  you were there
misery from transgressions collated
like a country song posted for all to see
wondering were they what you sang about

not me--I packed what I brought
not caring if it broke or not
I stowed it and moved on
dwelling in past places; bad for the soul

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

hope floats

you flipped a switch that rang my chimes
not just once, but every time
in a world where this thing's rare
you said I was a dream and prayer

all I looked for I couldn't find
that one true thing I wished was mine
you looked hard and dated many
I'd be rich if each were a penny

that at least, is in our past
I fell hard and you fell fast
funny how it all works out
hope does float without a doubt

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

sweet repast

it is not with sorrow, I pack it all away
tissued hope and mourning, for those long past days
no common ground to meet on--or for it to last
unsated dreams and longing without the sweet repast

it is not with anger that I can now look back
on a path not traveled and the aftermath
the music was once beautiful, to my ringing ears
a whisper of lost magic from when you were near

it is not with regret that I let it all go
the dreams still come as vignettes, with the lunar glow
no longer just a nightmare, no longer a whispered prayer
what stays in thick, dark shadows and was never really there

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

Trojan

not a rubber sheath
a virus, invading space
intruding my stuff

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

truths

I am a cheater
I thought my secret was safe
but the scale told all

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

stone

blindly you stare
my words fall on deaf ears
the city rushes past
some stopping to gawk
others, oblivious
majestic you are
but still...blind and deaf

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

a slew

all of this a constant refrain

 rolling around inside my brain
causing hurt and so much pain
I could tell you how I feel
you denying it was real

wrapped around my pain is you
telling me it's just not true
on and on I read them through
all the things you told me too
practiced on a chosen slew

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

tabs

confused thoughts, too many at once
all tabs open in my brain
resolving one, 5 replace
the locusts, busy in my ear

quiet mornings, busy afternoons
sometimes, sleeping on the couch
at peace?? what is that exactly
maybe someday I'll know

inadvertently, I look up
many tasks still incomplete
you sit smiling at me
my world settles down
but not my heart!

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

books

who would do this?
dog-eared pages
penned, underlining
torn, split binding 
watermarks (maybe tears?)

I appreciate you
how you smell
feel in my hands
expanding my mind
sometimes, reaching my soul

you are a treasure
a rainy day dream
a sunny day friend
keeping me warm at night
 
expanding my horizon

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

born

not born a princess or a queen

not born to wealth or finer things

no silver spoons or golden chalice

not born into an age old palace

born from love and given strength

to get the things that I will need

I was given a strong and hard work ethic

making all life copasetic

I wouldn't trade for jewels or gold

or fairytales like I've been told

all I have, I've worked and strived

it's served me well for my whole life

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

blessed

not just this day, that I give thanks...
for the love you give all year
the caring and giving that you bestow
supportive, nurturing always
you've got my back
no reason for a rearview mirror
any longer

yes, I give thanks every night
in my prayers
grateful for all I have
the bounties we share
as hand in hand we sleep
awakening to new gifts
we are truly blessed

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

what people think

I don't care what people think
doesn't make me cry
push me to the brink
love me, hate me I don't care
it will not cause me
to despair

keep your problems, don't dump on me
stick them deep
where I can't see
I have worries of my own
I work them out
hitting them on stone

everyone won't be your friend
if you think this
it's the wrong trend
stick to those you know are true
everyone may not
be for you

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