the range

from the highest peak 

to the low, cool valley below 

stretched out as far as I can see 

I ride the range of your love 

tumbleweeds blow in the desert wind 

monsoons come with lightning and thunder 

but consistency and a gentleness 

fence in the boundaries of my heart 

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

our picture

on my messy desk 

our picture smiles from its frame 

and so does my heart

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

that day you were born

that day creeps forward...that day you were born 

with memories behind me I've crawled slowly forward

no longer in dreams, nor can I remember your voice 

I remember your words and how you left without choice 

do you rest easy from your cloud in the sky? 

with angels and harps do you see from up high? 

do you watch me and smile or look down in dread? 

can you send me a message when I'm over my head? 

I once thought I lost your little metal tag 

it's off of my keyring secure in my bag 

we may not have always seen eye to eye 

but I always felt your love and will 'til I die 

no time for farewell or even one last kiss 

did you know you were going and what we would miss? 

one last time I viewed you laying cold and still

it plays on this day and always will 

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

footsteps

do I play the smallest part?

footprints left inside your heart 

is there any room for me? 

there, inside of you 

was there once "what could have been?" 

when you see me once again 

I think it's more the other way 

out of sight, out of mind 

forbidden fruit that's always in season 

illicit thoughts there ripe and pleasing 

oozing juices that are sweet 

that is the stuff of many dreams 

did I play the smallest part? 

minuscule footsteps in your heart 

was there ever room for me? 

there, inside your heart

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

in it

on your way to someone else 

we met on a train and did converse 

the things you whispered in my ear 

were meant for no one else to hear 

you kissed me, I kissed you back 

that's when the train went off the track

all has changed for you and me

that is what I'm led to believe 

we play the game without the hurt 

forget the others as we flirt 

and we love without the rules 

forget the others that we fool 

there is only you and I 

and the limit is the sky 

I will take it to the limit 

for this love with you and I in it 

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

so far

so far the path is 

flower strewn and smooth 

so quick come the feelings 

my heart has for you 

so close the lives 

that connect and wind 

so easy the love 

that I sought and now find 

so complete is the way 

I find and I feel 

so distant the past 

now easily healed

so sweet are the dreams 

that now come with the moon

so real in the morning 

when I wake next to you

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

danger?

no danger awaits 

unless the pain of too much love 

is fatal to your heart

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

a new song

love plays a new song 

and it's soft and sweet

although I can't read music 

I feel what's played for me

this beautiful sonnet 

with its own special score 

I hear in my head 

and lock in my heart 

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

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