smile

I open my eyes and watch this grow 

not running on fumes this time 

I connect the lines 

in a graceful arc 

this time it all fits 

I'm loving every minute of this 

I shout it loud to anyone who'll listen 

I yell it to the moon and the stars above 

I tell people on the street 

strangers that I meet 

but they can see it in my eyes

it's your love that makes me smile

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

sand castles

all of the beautiful castles 

I built while on the beach 

with grains of sand and water 

from the ebbing sea 

finally, I view my masterpiece 

castle walls built high with hope 

surrounding this delicate structure 

love overflows the moat 

it didn't last an hour

'fore the wind has swept it clean 

blowing into the ocean 

all of my hopes and dreams 

I'm starting it all once over 

packing harder to make it stand 

I am always rebuilding castles

the wind won't do me in 

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

silver lariat

he told her that he loved her 

and that his love was true

he sealed it with a kiss 

underneath a crescent moon 

besides this gift of loving 

he placed around her neck 

an intricate piece of jewelry

a silver lariat

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

too far gone

I'm just too far gone, 

lost in this massive space 

heading into darkness 

no point slowing my pace

the sun has faded quickly

the moon is closer to me 

it is oh so beautiful 

the prettiest light I've seen 

it guides me and protects me 

and reflects in all of my dreams 

as I fall off your radar 

no longer a blip on the screen 

there are no maps to save me 

or GPS it seems 

but I'm not turning back 

I'll find my way in dreams

 

when you take my hand 

I know I've hit my mark

I know that this is something

because I feel the sparks

it was well worth the searching

although I had some doubts

twists and turns don't stop me

I'll see how this plays out 

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

the dance of yesterday

that day came and went 

hours of passion spent

love lingered long, late into the eve 

a winter song was written for you and me 

months pass quickly, hours tick by 

the touch of a hand and a sweet whispered sigh 

laid away in memory as tomorrow dawns 

loneliness flows after it's gone 

the dance of yesterday plays it's own tune

the paper blows away after reading old news 

I sit with my coffee and once more reflect 

hours of love that I'll never forget

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

ponder

if you ponder as you wander 

and you trip on all the wonder 

that threatens to take you deeply under 

'cause of the lightning and the thunder 

still you know you didn't blunder 

on all that you try not to plunder 

when you stumbled on the wonder 

as you pondered and you wandered 

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

standing by part deux

I'm packing my bag

standing by with not much hope

adventure awaits

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

echoes of the truth

the saguaro holds the answer 

and it blossoms in the spring 

with the thunder and the lightning

the cleansing monsoon rain

if you listen you can hear it 

the echoes of the truth 

resounding against the mountains 

filtering down to you 

the response to all the questions 

on the twisted road you travel

the signs that point directions 

as your destiny unravels 

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

I am loved

I cannot find the word 

a word that projects what we are

these feelings deep that blossom 

in rich soil 

seeds planted and tended 

watered with caring hands and heart... 

love is not strong enough 

beloved doesn't fit and yet...

it is the only word I know 

that can cover these feelings 

with this blanket statement... 

"I am loved"

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

shadows from the moon

the moon glows eerily on mountain ranges

casting shadows long and strange 

saguaro standing tall and lean 

with brush and boulders in between 

stars don't help or shed some light 

no settling this disturbance tonight 

coyote roam and search for prey 

to keep the rumblings stomachs at bay 

thoughts cast and fall on desert terrain 

wondering what'll happen if we meet again 

distance grows like the shadows from the moon 

dreams discarded that were roughly hewn

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

stormy night

in darkened silence of the fullest moon 

rain beats heavily against my panes 

I tender a question, await a reply

none forthcoming on this stormy night

 

I laugh, you ponder, 

we do the same dance

if I do this--

what will be your response 

the sun rises and sets without regrets 

phases of the moon no longer phase me 

I fly west and you fly east 

one more time 

our connection is dropped 

it shatters into a million small thoughts 

cast into the darkness 

as a billion stars

fade into light 

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

what it says

I love you comes across my screen 

followed by kisses and hugs

I feel the absence of your strong arms 

the emptiness of my heart 

echoes yours

good night baby, sleep well is what it says 

I read the message in between the words 

be safe, hurry home, I'm waiting for you 

there isn't a flight fast enough 

to get me to you

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

wings

I believe in you and the good things that wait

I believe you can fly with the wings we created 

in the arms of a lover, the heart of a friend 

with tenderness we hold in our heart what won't end 

the wonder that stays, may its aura never cease 

the high price we paid for the wounds and healing 

all of it precious and part of you and me 

the roots that were sowed from that one fertile seed

the crop that is yielded holds promise that's rare 

if you ever need me--you know I'll be there 

I hold on tight with my far away arms 

as you take flight with my prayers for no harm 

in the arms of a lover, the heart of a friend 

with tenderness we hold in our heart what won't end

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

all

all I see when I look at you 

a reflection of my feelings 

a mirror of what is true

happiness long forgotten 

I know that I finally got it right 

I'm not afraid to show all I feel 

what you give comes forth so easily

all you say falls softly on my heart 

a strong force field with kinetic energy 

keeping me warm when we're apart 

I don't care that I'm not your first 

I don't care what happened in your past

here in this moment, 

now in this time; all I know 

is that I want to be your last

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

love

in the deepest chamber...love grows 

the sun breaks cloudy skies

the moon glows on quiet seas

heartbreak ebbs on distant relationships 

and flows anew 

gently over my soul

I dance a dance long forgotten 

to music written from inside

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

like a dream

when the dream becomes reality 

and the reality like a dream 

when fire catches and ignites 

but is much more extreme 

the moon breaks through the scattered clouds 

the wind pushes colors of fall 

a galaxy of stars surround 

as love takes in it all 

closed eyes open, my heart beats faster 

it's all in the scheme of things 

when the dream becomes reality 

and the reality like a dream

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

one last time

what I see in your blue eyes 

what I feel inside that's true

nothing left to shelter me

no umbrella to keep me dry 

let's walk the beach this one last time

let's just pretend that it's all fine 

you and I this one last time

just this one last time 

let's feel the sun upon our skin 

smooth tracks we leave in the sand

hand in hand this one last time 

just this one last time 

past the pretense and all of the struggles 

past new hello's and endless goodbyes 

past renewing, reinventing, resurrecting 

inside the door of hopeless love 

let's feel the sun upon our skin

smooth tracks we leave in the sand

hand in hand this one last time 

just this one last time 

it all comes down to nothing 

and the end is very near 

but hand in hand, this one last time 

let's  pretend that it's all fine 

 

you and I this one last time

just this one last time

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

clairvoyant

in the smooth sand down by the sea 

you never declared your love for me 

you tell me there's an easy way 

then you try to illustrate...

after, tellin me I'm not part of your plan 

sayin "I'm not the man you think I am"

I never issued an ultimatum 

didn't quote the rules verbatim 

never told you I would not wait 

never turned my back in haste 

tellin me I'm not part of your plan 

sayin "I'm not the man you think I am" 

how would you know with just one look?

you opened the cover, didn't read the book 

I gave you lots of latitude 

while you were givin me attitude 

you told me I'm not part of your plan 

said "I'm not the man you think I am" 

but you were wrong, couldn't read the cards 

the reasons why I fought so hard 

I fell in love still anyway 

but all of that is yesterday 

tellin me I'm not part of your plan 

sayin "I'm not the man you think I am"

I never issued an ultimatum 

didn't quote the rules verbatim 

never told you I would not wait 

never turned my back in haste 

tellin me I'm not part of your plan 

sayin "I'm not the man you think I am"

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

you

the flame flickers, there by the bed

the buzz is there inside my head 

you--the last thing I think about at night 

you--the first thought on my mind

restore my faith, renew my heart 

tell me you will do your part 

don't be cruel, 

don't play the fool 

it's all here if you want it 

it's all right where you left it 

damn you for stealing my thoughts and mind 

for making love restless, being so blind

you--the love I can't forget 

you--everywhere inside my head 

restore my faith, renew my heart 

tell me you will do your part

don't be cruel, 

don't play the fool 

it's all here if you want it 

it's all right where you left it 

why don't you come back and get it

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

spun dreams

As tulips lift their heads in bloom 

Closing tightly with the rise of the moon

Open this chamber filled with love

Stay with me till this life is done 

As storm clouds bring the springtime rain 

To cleanse the past--release all pain 

The sun comes warm and shines serene 

As we live this life spun from our dreams

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

realization

when all of this is over 

and still the answer lays deep 

a start without a finish

that would not let me sleep 

we didn't get any closer 

we didn't get any closure 

a surface dive for pleasure 

that brought forth hidden treasures 

somewhere in the mountains 

you lay out your golden plan 

while nestled in the valley 

oxidation slowly creeps 

corrosion locks it all in tight 

rust won't let it move 

sadly, as the monsoon pours 

realization stays there too

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

a spot in Heaven

if I go to HELL...
I'm pretty sure it won't be
for eating meat on Friday's
of lent
or not abstaining
you see,

I have been there
on various occasions
visiting briefly
I know...
it is not a good place to be
or a place I wish to go back to
I try to be good
and do unto others
although,
they don't always reciprocate
but still...

I was brought up
to show respect
to say please and thank you
yes sir or ma'am
to work hard
be on time
help when I can
and I do
no, surely...
there is a spot in Heaven
for me

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

third eye blind

I've penned when happy
maybe too sappy
got my point across
to those I lost
along my path

mostly, I've blogged
poems from the fog
thick with remorse
what could've been worse
not from your view

yes, it's easier you see
when left without glee
to create sorrowful words
on deaf ears unheard
the third eye blind

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

bikin'

leathered, head to toe 

mounting up the horse I know 

arms holding on tight

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

hidden

leather to the eye 

but what lays hidden inside

a lace covered heart

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