the end of the game

Why ask the sage? 

Why pray to the heavens? 

Why seek the answers? 

You are just not saying 

Nothing is worse 

Than not believing 

Where is the faith? 

Without the deceiving 

The moon cycle changes 

The stars are the same 

The night sky is dark 

At the end of the game

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

is that too much?

I've quit you before, 

tried to stay away 

something draws me back 

like a fly to web 

I just get stuck 

and I can't stay away

ready for more hurt

ready for the pain

can you give me a hug, 

is that too much? 

can you kiss me long, 

is that pushing it? 

can you look at me 

like I'm all you want? 

hey there baby, 

can you loan me some love? 

I remember way back, 

how it all started out

I thought we were on 

the road to true love

didn't see the warnings, 

couldn't read the signs 

I thought I was yours 

and that you were mine 

somehow it just 

got twisted and bent 

soon there was nothing 

for you to relent 

you turned left 

and I went straight 

what we missed 

is a crying shame 

I've quit you before, 

tried to stay away 

something draws me back 

like a fly to web 

I just get stuck 

and I can't stay away

ready for more hurt

ready for the pain

can you give me a hug, 

is that too much? 

can you kiss me long, 

is that pushing it? 

can you look at me like 

I'm all you want? 

hey there baby, 

can you loan me some love? 

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

parking

let's go parking in the desert
you know that you want to
open up the moon-roof
and neck like a couple of fools

a million stars overhead
a full moon lights the sky
it's just a little cramped
that's why these seats slide

let's pretend that we are teens
I leave a mark on your neck
you'll need to wear high collars
oh but what the heck

let's pop in a cd
and listen to some tunes
while you are kissing on me
I'll be kissing on you

we'll have to keep one eye open
to watch out for cop cars
they shouldn't be looking for parkers
but rousting drunks in bars

ouch, my leg is hurting
it hit the steering wheel
your back is almost breaking
but honey, you make me squeal

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

paper rain

paper rain a confetti parade
falling around, littering the ground
you think you see clearly
in the eye of this storm
the things that you can't see
and one of them is me

thunder crashes, not shaking your calm
deafening your ears, so you can't hear
the sound of your voice
this storm that rages on
the things that you can't hear
and one of them is me

a lightning flash that starts your fire
burning your soul, spirit sprayed with holes
ash settles to your feet
you will never admit defeat
as you leave old ties behind
one of them is me

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

I

I see You in the mountains
I feel You in the breeze
I taste You in the raindrops
I smell Your sweetness in the flowers
I hear the sound of You in thunder
I sense that You are near

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

a dream come true

a constant craving 

my blood racing 

our hearts pounding

it's astounding 

what I'm feeling

keeps me reeling 

a dream come true 

when I met you 

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

tattoo

yeah, I've got ink no one can see 

hidden down deep inside of me 

not across my back or on my arm 

it's your love tattooed on my heart 

didn't go to a parlor and have it etched 

I don't need ink cause I can't forget 

the way we are...or the way we feel

I don't need ink cause this is real 

you know it's there as I'm riding the legend 

you can feel it's smooth, soft, deep, deep edges 

it's not apparent--this invisible ink 

but you put it there inside of me 

yeah, I've got ink no one can see 

hidden down deep inside of me 

not across my back or on my arm 

it's your love tattooed on my heart 

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

just one look

just one look is all it takes

blue sky eyes into ones of sea green  

I feel the spark--the intensity 

the fresh breath of love 

breathing life into me 

there is nothing more I could want 

nothing more I could ever need 

goosebumps form without a chill 

a touch brings heat from deep within 

I feel the spark--the intensity the fresh 

breath of love breathing life into me

through a door left slightly ajar 

bolted from the inside 

once you enter 

I feel the spark--the intensity the 

fresh breath of love 

breathing life into me 

There is nothing more I could want 

nothing more I could ever need 

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

swells

on the outside, all looks fine
no one sees the things I hide
walled off deep within my heart
is a darkness set apart

I know all that I have done
buried baggage that would stun
would you think the same of me?
undertow sweeps inside my sea

moon predicts the sudden swells
washing sands with seaweed smell
once again, my beach is smooth
not at all to do with you

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

in the end

in the end, you weren't any stronger
in fact, the last time we met
the opposite happened
I grew stronger, more in control
you, a distant beacon
once glowing brightly
now--dim

what little you learned of me
wouldn't fill a thimble
and every time I told you
you said hmmm, "I don't think that's true"
but it was..
not the way we connected
you said

I set a new course, one just for me
and every footstep away from you
made me more sure
after all I had thought
that my future would hold...
wasn't even close to what I got

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

aging

I walked room to room
forgetting what I needed
aging sucks big time!

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

truly blessed

don't know how I got so lucky
I am truly blessed
you said I was a keeper

discarding all the rest
heaven smiles upon us
the full moon shines above
stars twinkle in the nighttime sky
because I am your love

the rains are just a sprinkle
the sun is bright and warm
the rainbows are more brilliant
because of all your charms
in your embrace I'm happy
the kisses never end
the flowers smell so fragrant
on you I can depend


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

Let's

let’s cozy up on the love seat 

sit and talk a while 

asking unanswered questions 

exploring who we are

let’s find out all the secrets 

share deepest thoughts and fears 

telling childhood traumas 

the juncture that landed us here 

let’s share the funny stories 

one’s that others don’t know 

it’s been so long since we talked this way 

it’s the you I want to know 

let’s talk into the evening 

till there’s nothing left to tell 

the hours spent together 

drawing us closer still

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

What I Need

I had forgotten 

What it was like 

To be put first 

Till you 

You worry about me 

Am I doing ok 

How is my day going 

Am I taking care of myself 

You are cautious 

Careful of my feelings 

Careful of my space 

Careful of rushing me 

You are sincere 

You want to know all about me 

You ask the right questions 

You remember the answers 

This can work 

This is what I need 

This you understand 

This could finally be it

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

magician

my heart bleeds before you 

you do not see 

or choose to overlook; 

oblivious to my wounds 

how can you be so blind? 

how can you be so detached? 

how could I have been such a fool? 

smoke and mirrors 

sleight of hand, 

a magician twisting my fate

I stumble out of the darkness 

of this relationship 

into the blinding light of day 

the fog clearing from my mind, 

perspicacious once again

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

Things You Taught Me (JPB)

High peaks and low valleys of a relationship 

About money 

About investing 

How to fillet fish 

Passion 

Anger 

Retail 

Shrewdness when buying a car 

Trust

Distrust 

Love

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

Cat and Mouse

Play a game of cat and mouse 

Following your lead 

Is there potential danger?

Following at full speed 

Sometimes going slowly 

Sometimes way too fast 

You are always leading 

I follow unsurpassed 

You think you are a master

A master to this sport 

Teasing and provoking 

A flirting prince consort 

Are you really thinking 

That I am your prey?

It is I that am the cat 

It’s really double play

disturbing

the cold wind whips 

down the mountainside 

stirring leaves 

blowing dust 

disturbing things 

once settled

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

wild night

you walk up 

ask me to dance 

see if I might want to

take a chance 

I can tell by the look 

there in your eye 

this just may be 

one wild night

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

flash

unsuspecting flash
tells me I travel too fast
too late to slow down

love lottery

where the darkness once surrounded 

light sifts through each tiny crack 

where the monsoon rained for days 

Eden's greenery now remains 

what I thought was gone forever 

returns much sweeter than before 

on display for all to see 

like winning the love lottery 

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

twilight

explore mind and soul 

hands travel a path they know 

love lingers after

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

without beginning or end

in the whisper of the wind 

as leaves of color fall 

the afternoon shadows stretch 

reaching skinny and tall 

skipping cracks in the sidewalk 

hopscotching to avoid bad luck 

laughter fills the empty void 

of conversation when we're stuck 

desperately we hold on to

what little that we have left 

thinking if we don't look hard 

we can continue to drift 

how do we get back to there? 

that safe place we used to be

when distance isn't the only thing 

that's keeping you from me 

as the time slips quickly away 

we kiss and part once more 

each time a little more difficult 

and different from the time before 

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

look closely

baby, I couldn't let you down 

you can put your trust in me 

I will never make you blue 

if you look closely you will see 

my love is pure...my heart is full 

it's all because of you 

what you give rests easy 

and you know this is true 

there aren't any stormy nights 

here where our love dwells 

no thunder nor bright lightning 

just moonlit nights and sunny days 

I believe in miracles 

each one a shining star 

like the ones glowing in my night 

and burning white-hot in my heart

baby, I won't let you down

you can rest here easy with me

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

it's just like this

it's just like this 

it all stays in here 

with just one kiss

it all becomes clear 

like the flower that blossoms 

like the tide that ebbs 

like a small insect captured 

in love's intricate web 

for all that was 

and what's yet to be 

all that's ahead 

that cannot be seen 

my heart's revolution 

as you pump through my soul 

fragmented sections 

now once again whole 

it's just like this 

it all stays in here 

with just one kiss 

it all becomes clear 

like the flower that blossoms 

like the tide that ebbs 

like a small insect captured 

in love's intricate web

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