shell game

I know you were here for a reason
but it beats the heck out of me
as you give me a lame excuse
thinking I can't solve this mystery
your sleight of hand may be real quick
a shell game in which you believe
but you've forgotten my magical power
of seeing into hidden things

maybe we're in the same room
but we're not in the same place
we do the dance and sing the songs
as we both stare off into space
you turn left and I turn right
the moon goes behind a cloud
it's not a win, it's not a loss
as love shuffles away in the crowd

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

perfection

your love is perfection
a confection I can not live without
sweeter than anything
I have ever or will ever taste

this union flies a flag
our castle surrounded
by a treacherous moat
to keep infringement away

I will dwell in this love
forever; in the arms of bliss
kissed by angels
and blessed by God

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

one love ended

one love ended
suddenly
one sigh
one last breath
no fanfare
closing your eyes
you just slipped away

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

more

the warning shot was for your protection
the concealed carry for mine
a total waste of ammo
no discharge heard
spent casings falling to earth

not unlike
words tumbling on deaf ears
cautionary discretion
on your part
I always wanted more

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

more time

never a beggar, or one to plead
never a borrower or lender you see
but, and this is a big one please
I want more time for you and me

I need to spend the rest of my days
being with you in every way
I don't care if debts aren't paid
I'm determined--can't be swayed

here in the autumn of my years
I've put to bed those nagging fears
happiness without the tears
envied by each and every peer

stay with me, and I avow
to live in the here and in the now
and each night, when my head I bow
thanks for every second allowed

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

At Bay

This tumultuous relationship 

With it's ups and downs 

Is wearing down my spirit 

Not what I thought I'd found 

A difference of opinion 

Not feeling the same way 

Very loving sometimes 

And then I'm held at bay 

The time I have invested 

Seems like a one way street 

Getting nothing from your side 

Indifference when we meet 

So now I reconsider 

Take back the love I gave 

I think that you could care less 

There's nothing here to save

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

The Tree

the tree has been cut down 

the one we played around when we were kids

the one with our tree house 

the tree stood there for decades 

shading the lawn, the sidewalk, 

its shadow spilling into the street 

the tree was a gentle reminder 

of days gone by

of our childhood and innocence 

the tree that would shed it’s leaves 

of brown and gold and orange 

every fall 

the tree that said, 

you can go home again

although things won't look or be the same 

the tree may be gone 

my memories of you are still here 

locked in my heart, my mind, and soul 

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

Genuine Haiku

I like genuine

Leather bags, boots, belts: not fake 

And real people too! 

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

Your Last Hurrah

This is the last go around 

Your last hurrah 

Make it count 

One last chance 

To prove you have what it takes 

To win me over 

Time and time again 

You have failed 

Miserably 

Can you turn it all around?

Do you have what it takes? 

Prove it!

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

Captive Heart

Thoughts of you keep playing back 

Resounding in my brain 

Things you said and things you did 

For ever will remain 

Times we are together 

Moments of pure bliss 

Loving, tender, passionate 

Never been loved like this 

You know just how to touch me

Like no one ever could 

Whispering words I love to hear 

Intentions understood 

When you are not here with me

I still can feel you near 

Close my eyes, reliving you 

Willing you to appear 

My heart is being held captive 

A prisoner in your care 

Surrendering all I have to give 

No effort needed here 

Come unlock this captured heart 

You have the only key 

Come and work your magic 

Nirvana waits for me

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

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").

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

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

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

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

Baggage Haiku

All my baggage checked

Not even one little tote 

No hang ups with me

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

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

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


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

tinnitus

white noise in my ears
locust noise that I can hear
I hate tinnitus

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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