there were those

if I wanted less, I could have settled
always wondering
if I should have waited
a full return;  more is all I wanted

there were those who wouldn't understand
they couldn't be part of all my plans
wanting full flavor instead of
a half empty, savorless cup

I'm sorry if nothing I did was for you
stagnant nothing, what was I to do--except
search it out, hunt with reckless ardor
the trophy well worth my quest

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

exhausted

I was fresh out of puppets and crayons
the flow charts not flowing
all workarounds exhausted
I tried everything to make you see
what was happening
but, as usual
it was all about you
waiting until
I slammed the door on you
not quick enough
to get your foot in
because...
you had to pull it
out of your mouth first

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

just thoughts

my thoughts of you would fill--
the sky with stars
the oceans with fish
the beach with sand
my heart with love

and yet...
I still need more examples

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

let's go (8/10/2021 - 8/16/2021 NM)

I need a road trip
miles and miles of open road
and just you n me

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

accused

I stand accused of over thinking
convicted of over reacting
guilty on both counts...
but one party always does
in any relationship

while the plaintiff's lackadaisicalness
allows them to sit back
participating only when
the defendant starts to retreat
offering a small gesture
of caring to keep them in their
velvet prison

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

Magic!

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

not a princess

I am not a princess
no kingdom by the sea
I gave up on fairy tales
or they gave up on me
the shoe was the wrong color
or it just did not fit
there was only one of them
that was the gist of it

my hair was never long enough
to drop from the ivory tower
my apples were not poisoned
to make me sleep for hours
I couldn't feel the pea
nestled under the covers
no, I'm not a princess
my outlook now is dour

not a knight upon a horse
did I see riding by
wishes filled my buckets
hope has all but died
are you out there somewhere?
my one and only that's true
inside are all my longings
as I wait here just for you

once I thought I found him
disingenuous was his game
cracks grew in the brick façade
it turned out just the same
with telescope I sit here
and look in all directions
for my one and only
happily ever after perfection

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

whole

in between under covers kisses 

you tell me how much you missed me

in between the hugs and the lovin 

I tell you just the same

the ceiling fan spins and it all unwinds 

the pent-up passion from a few short days 

equal parts coming together 

to make us once more whole 

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

words unspoken

for all of the feelings I hid away 

words unspoken, I will not say 

what will happen if that dam breaks 

spilling them all over you

all of these words that I held too close 

bubble up till I think I will choke 

I speak to the shadows...talk to the ghosts 

all that remains of you 

every hour of every single day 

I fight the urge to whisper your name 

the levy is cracking, I'm afraid it will break

secure just for the moment in this place 

I fall from you forgetting those words 

that didn't ring true and you never heard 

what else is there? what else could I can do?

but bury them deep inside 

thinking that love would finally play fair 

a tower of ivory to secure them all there 

my passport stamped with nothing to declare 

all of this left behind... 

words you could not find 

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

tumbleweed

my mind drifts...

a tumbleweed in the wind 

blowing across open desert

bouncing over past thoughts 

briefly lingering in prickly places 

unsettled dreams with thorny consequence

aimless is the trail 

it wanders...

spiny twigs left as memories fail 

a trail of broken remembrances 

in hot sand

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

I love you

we met by accident 

or was it fate 

either way leaves

this honey sweet taste 

dreams of us in our special place 

moonlight shining from angel's grace 

I lick my lips and want even more 

filling a place left empty from before

 passion stirs with every touch 

loving that I want so much 

painted in flowing, vibrant strokes 

every thought is "I love you"

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

before you

you have more than anyone before you 

yours on celluloid 

mine in my mind 

the liberties you take 

the ones I concede 

sensual pleasure not framed 

you have given more than anyone before you 

yours from your heart, mine from mine 

the love you take 

the love I give 

pressed like a rose in a book 

I love you more than anyone before you 

you say the same to me

 hearts entwine 

flowers bloom from the vines 

fragrant all that we share 

love, at last grows here

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

The Valley

The Valley was not always green, like the name implied. During the hot summer months, in-between the months of monsoon, my soul would dry and crack. Not unlike the deep desert washes that surrounded the small village. (Start of a book?) mjb

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

through my eyes

it’s not about just what makes sense
lyrics formed in proper tense
minced then spliced,  poured into verse
this life that we are rehearsing

it’s not about who reads or not
your money’s worth is what you’ve got
what did you expect for free?
it’s not about what you believe

it’s not about haiku or rhyme
I’m still editing all the time
wondering if I’ve any left
your comments say I am adept

it’s not about the  days of storms
or the cold nights I couldn’t get warm
it’s all about what I believe
through my eyes—the way I see it

our dim past

I can rehang and rearrange
add my pictures to all of yours
make your house a home for two
that's what I am trying to do

some old photos just don’t fit
or memory behind the photographer’s lens
what was the thought that put them there
hidden now behind heaven’s stair

in cold storage goes the rest
some of yours and some of mine
even if I could delete
erasing would be quite a fete

encumbered, feelings hanging low
like monsoon clouds in desert sky
overthinking as I speed fast
broken hearts from our dim past

if I fall

if I fall, will you go with me? 

holding my hand so I'm not afraid 

like the jerking reaction before I sleep 

if I fall, will you go with me? 

if I offer my heart, will you take it?

treasure and keep it safe from harm

locking it tightly inside of yours 

if I offer my heart, will you take it?

 

if I fall, will you go with me? 

holding my hand so I'm not afraid 

I shouldn't have to fall alone

if I fall, will you go with me? 

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

for Mary

without a whimper 

she closes her eyes 

slipping away peacefully 

into the night 

leaving a spot of darkness 

behind in the night 

a new star will blind 

we can look and find her there

ever present in our prayers 

rest, dear one, rest

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

in the end

it all just depends 

which end of the stick you hold 

both lose in the end

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

before I sleep

I lay in the dark in this sweet place 

hear the train whistle, 

long and mournful 

taking some where they don't want to go

taking others to those they miss 

I hear the dog laying next to me 

snoring peacefully, dreaming a dream 

maybe she's chasing a rabbit 

or digging a bone 

maybe something else; 

only she knows 

I feel your heart beating 

against my back 

feel your breath, 

warm and even

 before I sleep in this sweet place 

I place a kiss on your sleeping face

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

I've got...

a license to drive and for concealed carry
one for the dog and the day we married
a passport to take me near or far
to travel by plane or boat or car

a permit to hunt when the season is right
early in morning or late twilight
a diploma for time I spent at school
and one from college, I'm no fool

most of these used day to day
some to keep the wolves at bay
in every state, I guess I'm legal
and they make me feel quite regal

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

dusk and dawn

mistletoe choking the mesquite
rambling, aimless through dense trees
jackrabbits, taller than my knees
dust and pollen make me sneeze

layers of clothes to keep me warm
bees are buzzing in a swarm
weather clear, no chance of storms
lets head this way you inform

scouting for javalina tracks
I think they're way behind our backs
avoiding all the desert cracks
adjusting straps on my backpack

for one week we hit the trails
morning, evening without fail
sometimes slowly like a snail
kicking up the coveys of quail

but that season's come and gone
we see deer and baby fawn
knowing soon we'll sing their song
you and I, at dusk and dawn

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

royal flush

I eliminate the manipulators
the ones who hold nothing for me
people with empty promises
a wink of an eye
with holds barred
vows of injustice 

while playing the hand
held close to the chest
without good intention
a strong poker face
not knowing...
my cards were better
as I lay down a
Royal Flush

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

we are

etched deep in my heart

 is everything that we are

indelible love

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

there on time

the view is different 

depending where you sit 

on the passenger side

or behind the wheel 

no longer content 

or enjoying the view

I'm switching seats 

and I'm gonna steer 

I couldn't be sure 

of the roads we traveled 

it all looked close

in the rear view mirror 

we'll get there quicker 

I know the right way 

I don't need a map 

for where we're heading

 

so buckle up baby

and enjoy the ride 

no side seat driving

or bitchin' allowed

enjoy the music or

you can sing along

baby, I'll get us there 

right on time 

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

wrapped in warmth

night is almost over 

I watch the sun rise 

painting its way 

across the desert sky 

watching with my coffee 

and thinking of you 

wondering if you're watching 

and thinking of me too 

these nights I spend 

here all by myself

thinking about some things

that now lay shelved

nothing that has to do 

with parts of us at all

mostly thinking about 

how you broke my fall

the wind starts to blow

with its sweet breath 

last nights rain 

goes back where it is kept 

those all around me 

are still fast asleep

I'm wrapped in this warmth 

that you've given me 

night is almost over 

and I watch the sun rise 

painting its way 

across the desert sky 

watching with my coffee 

and thinking of you 

wondering if you're watching 

and thinking of me too

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