shadows

shadows drip from darkened walls
a cold, bright moon enhances all
many a sleepless night is caused
a love that waits at beck and call

wind

the wind blows change

for better or worse 

stirring up questions 

answers gritty and coarse 

tell the truth 

so I can file it away 

and we can get back 

to yesterday

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

Breakfast With The Mafia

breakfast with the mafia 

an early Thursday morn 

we watch them through the window 

not happy with their discord

eating their New York bagels 

while they plan and plot 

we're watching for a drive by

making sure we know when to drop 

one looks like Jr Soprano 

getting out of his chauffeured car 

we're guessing they're all packing 

at least their bodyguards are 

we wonder who's gonna get massacred   

whose days just might be numbered 

we're glad that they don't know us 

and we won't be encumbered 

the underworld sure is thriving 

by the looks of this tight clan 

they're  silenced by other patrons 

so they don't overhear their plans 

we hurry with our coffee 

before Tony Soprano arrives 

we just want to leave here 

while we're still alive

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

dysphoric heart

feelings that died 

or got buried too deep 

a dysphoric heart 

that is left to weep 

a mind that is numb 

from the games that were played 

a spirit that is shattered 

a soul that is grey

no answers that come 

to the question "why?" 

or the reason you left 

which I try to deny 

file it away like

the others before 

a window will open 

behind this slammed door 

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

center word

I draw 7 tiles 

trying to build 

off the center word

in this Scrabble of life

nothing I can construct 

from this soul of vowels 

no consonants 

in my heart 

the game plays on 

your turn is quick 

your tiles better 

your heart unscathed 

no words to make 

to lead me forward 

after the board is folded 

and the game put away 

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

Vic Vegas

on a silver bed
beauties clothed in wispy smoke
purring as we go

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

you are

you are a part of every hour 

the light that shines inside 

the song I sing in the morning 

the poetry that I write 

the wonder of each moment

a candle in my dark 

a now eternal flame 

burning always in my heart

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

me

this is how I think 

and sometimes the way I feel

my Haiku and Prose 

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

tenfold

this love that I feel 

as vast and deep as the sea 

and returned tenfold

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

Picasso

my life 

a Picasso abstract 

conceptual pieces 

that somehow make up

a work of art

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

unanswered

I professed it all 

my feelings and love for you 

by the light of the moon

I cork the bottle 

and toss it far out to sea 

in the early morning 

as I walk the beach 

I find the bottle at my feet 

my exposed love 

still enclosed, 

intact, unanswered

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

for you

you understand it all 

you look inside 

delving into the depths

exploring mind and heart 

looking at the whole picture 

the unfinished portrait of me

seeing what can be 

look into my eyes 

what you find there 

what you see there 

is all for you

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

where

where chambered feelings once were kept 

levied love over dams now swept 

overflowing and forming a pool

in the depths of all that's new

where thoughts and dreams have not formed yet

from an accordion folder in my heart's depths 

memories painted on blue sky days

no clouds in sight on which to gaze

where love flows inward over sandy shores

gregariously, we allow for more 

a crescent moon that shines above 

a ceiling of stars that blanket my fall 

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

beginnings

as the window shuts 

a fragrant breeze sweeps inward 

love begins anew

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

peace abounds

upon forgiveness the Lord's face shines

water turned to sweet, sweet wine

drink my friend, let it renew 

the gift of love that awaits you 

grace surrounds, peace abounds 

faith will never let you down 

in the teachings of His book 

sometimes quickly overlooked 

although some pain I can't forget 

you do not fill me with regret 

yesterday's petals now less fragrant 

tomorrow's flower blooms resplendent 

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

complete

softly caress 

the skin you undress 

kisses so tender 

while the candles flicker

by the light of the moon

until the dawn looms 

in your arms I sleep 

loving complete

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

the heart of a friend

you can't move around 

you're afraid you might trip 

over all of the baggage 

in the cartons that ripped 

you can't see the light 

if your darkness won't end

but you can find peace 

in the heart of a friend 

you can't catch a star 

in the clouds of the day 

you can't move the boulders 

that get in your way 

you can't read the signals 

in the lights on the street 

or read all of the people 

that are not indiscreet 

you can touch the small screen 

and still lose your place 

you can touch my heart 

without touching my face 

you can travel the back roads 

without getting lost 

you can settle here 

and lose all of your ghosts 

you can placate your life 

and bring down those walls 

you can cry in your dark 

or run screaming down the hall 

you can stand the comparisons 

and the judgements that will come 

from the ones that don't care 

and live their lives numb 

you tossed out the love 

of a heart that was true 

but retained all the links 

that connect me to you 

it all intertwines 

with the thickest of ropes 

that will sustain all your life 

and salvage all of your hopes 

you can find your peace

and all that matters 

you can get it back

what lays there in tatters

you can't live your life

without making amends

you can find it here

in the heart of a friend

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

evening

in the quiet of this night 

on the patio sipping wine

winding down the end of the day

a time to pause and offer grace

in the light of the moon bright 

twinkling stars blanket the night 

listening to the train whistle blow 

miles and miles from sleeping homes 

serenity and love abound 

comfort in the evening sounds 

all is resting here in me 

my heart is full my soul at peace

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

faith

faith is forsaking 

and belief can not take me 

where I want to go 

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

loss

what slips from your grasp 

more than most will ever have 

extravagant waste

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

withdrawn

what I thought was going to last, 

drains like sand from the hour glass

did I blink, when that look faded? 

my ears not attuned to closing doors

to the smile, that came more slowly

to the touch, growing cold, before it was withdrawn

to love, that packs its bags and leaves

the passport stamped with yesterday

dehydrated

there isn't any medication 

that can cure this febricity 

I break out in a soaking sweat 

with cold chills racking me 

maybe it is the fever that's causing discombobulation 

no, I think it is just you making my heart dehydrated 

I've been thinking that you, may be the only cure

just what the Doctor ordered 

a prescription for these ills 

I need an overdose, 

a morphine drip won't do 

but definitely, every part of you

next to every part of me

that is the cure I need

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

negatives

just a piece of scenery 

smiling photos reveal empty portraits,

pasted lips

eyes that don't smile

negatives, cut on a dark room floor

a photo montage 

in black and white 

over exposed, hopes and dreams 

never developed

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

my heart

you have my heart. is it too heavy to carry? 

does it drag you down...make your own seem now weary?

can you carry it longer or is it just too much? 

does yours beat faster with every touch?

is it a burden, does it weigh you down? 

does it wipe away your smile, making you want to frown? 

does it speak to you softly or does it not make a sound? 

does it cause you to flail, make you think that you'll drown? 

is it so light that it makes you want to sing? 

fills you with laughter and thoughts of good things? 

does it make your heart feel like it now has wings? 

do you want to keep it and all that it brings?

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

sleepless

around and around and around it all spins

this vortex of you that sucks me in 

I think I've managed some damage control 

when yesterday's paper rocks all that I know 

I think that it's gone and buried real deep

then it's at the top of the heap

I start to falter and so does my faith 

I realize I'm slipping and in dire straights 

I write with anger trying to work it all out 

five hundred days of dissension and doubt 

you do not read me; no longer subscribe 

nothing is sacred and none of it jives

I won't speak the words that I want you to say 

I scrawl them in crimson--the same ole cliché 

West rises the sun and bleeds red across my sky 

and sleepless I write in the dead of the night

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