Thursday, June 24, 2021

no crying

She remembered facts. Not only the facts but the details involved, and what she was doing at the time. She had them all categorized, filed away in her memory bank, all tabs open. Not unlike the many lines from movies that she referenced from time to time in her every day life,' She was always ready, armed and dangerous. Ready to take the safety off.

She looked deep in his eyes, listening to everything said. When it was her turn to speak, she responded slowly, "There's no crying in baseball (A League Of Their Own").
Creative Commons License
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

books

like a good book, though I know every line
because I have read it so many times
I know the start, and how it will end
reading it's like, a long lost friend

the story doesn't change, though I want it to
parts make me happy and others make me blue
looking for answers, here deep in a phrase
sometimes things don't work that way

still, once started, I read it through
some parts forgotten, or once misconstrued
always new meaning I find on each page
until it is done and I put it away
Creative Commons License
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Driving Haiku Part Deux

I get pulled over
flashing lights are a bad sign
not my mind that raced!

Travesty?

I got caught here in a travesty 
this game you’re playing is tough 
You're skilled at this charade
I know I’ve had enough 
Captured by your sweetness 
The attention that you paid 
Sucked in by flirtation 
I should have turned away
Now it's too late to leave you
I've way too much invested 
Heart and soul and body 
It’s too late to contest it
I’ll hold on till the finish 
See how it plays out 
This game isn't working
I still have my doubts 
You show no signs of cracking 
You play the game straight through 
Looking for your weakness 
None I see from you 
You say the games are over 
And love you do declare 
Can I trust your feelings?
Are you playing fair?
I want to love you fully 
With all I have to give 
As long as you are honest 
I'll hold on till the end

Baggage Haiku

All my baggage checked
Not even one little tote 
No hang ups with me

No Boundaries

Like the tide flowing over the sandy shores 
Your love engulfs me 
Touching every part 

Like a blazing fire on a cold day 
Your love ignites my passion 
In ways I never knew possible 

Like a cozy cabin in the mountains 
Your love shelters and protects 
Keeping me safe 

Like a bird that soars 
Your love sets no boundaries 
And yet there isn't anywhere I want to go 

Not without you

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

sleep

you knew, once gone, I would be fine
never crossing over the fine, thin line
each and every freakin' time
I am fine...I am fine

you closed your eyes, but not in sleep
happens quick; the reasons deep
up the mountain tall and steep
you closed your eyes, but not in sleep

angels take you high above
leaving all you truly loved
on the wings of snow white doves
angels take you high above

do you visit from the clouds
stirring breezes all around
did you think we let you down
do you visit from the clouds

wondering about what could have been
in this smoky liars den
trying not to commit to sin
wondering about the could have been

one child walks in celestial light
the other wonders in the night
tried to keep them in my sights
one child walks in celestial light
Creative Commons License

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

Monday, June 21, 2021

tinnitus

white noise in my ears
locust noise that I can hear
I hate tinnitus
Creative Commons License
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

someone

I moved on to greener pastures
that stretch for miles and miles
sun shines bright upon my days
nighttime makes me smile
no longer blue, no hidden hues
that creep into my soul
you may not understand this
but he has made me whole

no longer do I fit in
that little, tiny peg
more to me than meets the eye
an overflowing keg
if you had looked much deeper
if it wasn't all about you
all that I presented
was God's almighty truth

someone saw the light in me
how brightly it does shine
someone saw the love in me
and knew it wasn't a line
someone wanted everything
all that I could give
someone gives it back to me
here, where I now live
Creative Commons License
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

gone with the wind

every now and again
when the wind is blowing just right
I hear the music playing
like it did our very first night
maybe it's just the mesquite
or the call of the nightingale
but I know I can hear it
and I think I always will

when the clouds are forming
in the morning sky
I think I see you looking
with those crystal clear blue eyes
and if I squint mine tightly
I think I catch your wink
maybe it just the sun's glare
or you're closer than I think

I can smell the raindrops
and all the flowers that bloom
I can hear the music
that I first heard with you
I can hear you singing
in that perfect pitch
I still get the feeling
that there's much more to this


no longer are there messages
that you once used to text
my phone no longer ringing
and this I truly miss
while you're slaying your dragons
mine won't leave me alone
you don't miss what you don't have
'cause you're not coming home

many things left incomplete
the papers are stacking up
no longer sharing coffee
you took your favorite cup
dust settled on the floorboards
with all you left behind
I could see our future
but I think you were blind

I can smell the raindrops
and all the flowers that bloom
I can hear the music
that I first heard with you
I can hear you singing
in that perfect pitch
I still get the feeling
that there's much more to this

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

Friday, June 18, 2021

my BFF

we've been friends 
for so many years
shared lots of laughter
shed many tears
told each other stuff
for only our ears
coached, when we needed
raised glasses in cheers

you are my Thelma
and I'm your Louise
and when we're together
there's never unease
seems like we've always been
thick as thieves
always fun
up one of our sleeves

whether near
or miles apart
you are buried
deep in my heart
counting on you
right from the start
you my dear friend
are a true work of art!
Creative Commons License
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

trick


The kiss was of passion
Desire, hot and strong
painting a  memory
Long after you're gone
And when we parted
I thought nothing had changed
Our hearts seemed bound
For something long range

We talked of things
Long into the night
Holding and caressing
Exploring delight
But a kiss of deception
Still holds a lie
abruptness of the ending
cuts deeply inside

A kiss of betrayal
a bond came unwound
The last kiss received
was you letting me down
not even gently
but deadly and quick
your sleight of hand
was not a good trick
Creative Commons License
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

fraud

the author, a fraud, in many ways
stealer of will, in fortuitous craze
for many nights and as many days
he went out in one big blaze

he would say, a teller of truth
not about him--all about you
he left many singing the blues
I was just another muse

laughing, as he tells his tale
one that I knew very well
I didn't win but didn't fail
heading out when it turned stale

I hung on for far too long
while he sang his country songs
was I right or was I wrong
like cologne, he's much too strong

and so this fraud reaps what he sewed
now it seems like long ago
I thought I loved him, I don't know
he just wanted away from snow
Creative Commons License
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

Thursday, June 17, 2021

lost sins

you ran the border, hurdled the wall
an alien intruding sacred halls
pillaging, looting, much ignored
breaking down the padlocked door

taking it all but wanting still more
knapsack full of all you scored
not quite ready or about to to leave
you had more tricks up your sleeve

you played a queen and yet I trumped
my ace more like a small speed bump
try as you could to wedge your foot
you thought that I would always stay put

I defended my walls the best I could
my fortress strong, my words made good
try as you might, you can't come in
still paying for your long lost sins

I told you once, we would all go
you ignored what I foretold
truth wins out, as the lies wane
and you fade into yesterday
Creative Commons License
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

al that I need

I believe in sunsets
dawn of new days
phases of the moon
hedging my plays
too many tabs
open in my mind
the time I wasted
that made me blind

I believe in coffee
many, many cups
erasing the grogginess
when I first get up
filling up with petrol
when a quarter tank low
shedding the past
a new life in tow

I believe in miracles
and all that you are
whether you're here
or have traveled afar
you make me the best
that I could be
together unstoppable
you're all that I need
Creative Commons License
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

never look back

she smiled the kind meant only for him
returned by what is now a blur
she looked into eyes  both vacant and cold
what he saw spoke volumes in hers

her thoughts were plentiful, all of them rhymed
his were his own, disingenuous at best
he wrote ideas that excluded her love
she wrote wishes that were not blessed

when last they parted, she knew they were done
he speculated that they'd always go on
to continue a future as friends with a past
she went her way; never looked back

unsigned text sent to keep her confused
not how it works, she is more amused
she told him all would abandon some day
but she was first to get clean away
Creative Commons License
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

another time

in the woods by a large lake
amongst grey wolves and rattlesnakes
with heavy rocks that make your bed
where you'd want to lay your head

buried deep without remorse
it really was my only course
it's where you said you'd want to stay
wouldn't want it another way

your head lays soft on leaves and pine
it's rather like a lost love shrine
I visit once in a great while
feeling the breeze which is your smile

trout swim happy in their pool
you can see the many schools
unable to drop that one last line
that was from another time
Creative Commons License
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

love looks good on me

my friends say I look different
have I changed my hair?
is that a brand new shirt?
or am I dressing with new flair?
they don't know the half of it
if they looked deep they'd see
it's the love I feel inside
that looks so good on me

it's not my Calvin Klein
or my new Michael Kors
it's not Vera Wang
it's the heart that once was yours
shining from deep within
with everything I wear
your love looks good on me
and that's what makes them stare
Creative Commons License
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

olly, olly oxen free

we rattled the windows
then scared the dog
running naked
in the hall
playing games
of hide and seek
but what we hide
ain't for the weak

laughing so hard
we almost cry
I touch yours
and you touch mine
olly, olly, oxen free
I love these games
'tween you and me
Creative Commons License
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

Monday, June 14, 2021

in tact

I took a pass
what little you offered
not nearly enough
what I wanted--needed
was an abundance
not just a little,
however well intended
still....
not enough, or even close

so, I sit here on my ranch
horses running free
like me
running from what was
or not meant to be
relishing the fact
that I got clean away
grace in tact
heart healed

you circle back
from time to time
not understanding that
what you thought
would last forever...
that you knew me that well
when in fact,
if you remember,
you didn't know me at all
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, June 12, 2021

grateful heart

thankful and blessed with all I have
belly full and loved ones about
laughing with friends, my heart is full
I take in what I give out

sun sets early, moon shines bright
weather warm, a patio dine
prepared food by hearts that give
mulling it over with fine white wine

every night before I sleep
I thank the Lord for all received
naming each with grateful heart
I wouldn't change a single thing
Creative Commons License
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License


Friday, June 11, 2021

debris

you burned your bridge to light your path
not worrying about the aftermath
debris falls thickly all around
you knee deep on tilted ground

I guess you thought you could get by
the smoke and mirrors that you supplied
the sleight of hand another trick
you thought that it was pretty slick

manipulations, I see through
I played along to bolster you
but, however, I wasn't blind
knew I'd leave when I had time

the years have come and gone so quick
I don't miss what wouldn't fit
you gave up more than you could know
in your childish rush to go
Creative Commons License
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

nothing

Nothing compares with the feeling I get
The sound of your voice, 
the gleam in your blue eyes 
And that smile
I melt from your touch
Putty in your hands
That's me
No, nothing could ever compare
To what I've found
This life we share
Nothing could ever compare
To you
Creative Commons License
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

Thursday, June 10, 2021

naming names

a good poem, talks in rhyme
you say it doesn't, that's just fine
generic reasons, draw them in
people think, it's all about them

a good poem, makes people think
smearing pages with dry ink
not a waste from where I sit
think the thoughts, make them fit

the one behind the slammed shut door
won't see themselves, in metaphors
but I write them just the same
without fault or naming names
Creative Commons License
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

put away

day after day turns into a month
three years in and we're still broke
tried to tell you how it'd be
before I left and set you free

time after time, the chances piled
in the corner dirty and worn
no mending that can fix this mess
it's just life, a great big test

we danced once and had some fun
dizzy from a board of tiles
one was truer, more than you
dancing better than you do

music ends, the partners leave
dance card full of better things
I told you it would come to this
and I was something that you'd miss

midwest summers come to end
winter comes and freezes it
in the mountain shadowed days
all those thoughts I've put away
Creative Commons License
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License