Faith

a shroud of confidence covers it all

even sometimes when I hit the wall

like a gambler, I'll just call

tripping, trying not to fall

on the sideline, wagers bet

I'm not close to stumbling yet

pulling out my safety net

for what you think may be a threat

those that wish to see me fail

almost drowning, as I flail

all my plans may seem derailed

once again I reset sail

go ahead bet against my faith

behind my back not in my face

up my sleeve, once more an ace

once again my saving grace

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

helium

floating high above it all 

somewhere 'tween awareness and fantasy 

fragrant this fresh air I breath 

drifting high above mesquite 

bare feet do not touch the rock 

a spirit, light and wandering 

soaring now among the clouds 

filled with fragrant wonder 

helium filled this dream I live 

kindred are these souls that brush 

loving is what should be foretold 

nothing close will I ever touch

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

friend

on this bumpy road which we all travel, 

sometimes smooth sometimes unraveled 

the ones I meet along the way

I may not talk to everyday

through the good times 

and times of strife 

a friend for a minute 

is a friend for life

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

escape

your heart spans across mountain peaks 

tangling in saguaro, sage and tumbleweed 

I hear your song in the crescent glow 

resonating in the valley deep below 

a shadow of all you yearn to be 

all the while your heart is bleeding

a shroud covers the mirror of you soul 

not quite blanketing all of the holes 

bodily, you are not even close 

to all you need and want the most 

drowning in paper in a windy city 

from late at night till the sun has risen 

toiling hard for your escape 

to purge inside all there that scrapes 

no getting around what remains debris 

follow your heart, set it free

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

circle back

is it really that important

that I circle back around?

is there something that needs answered

about all you thought you'd found?

do I really need to go back that way

to help you with your fears?

I don't really want to do that

I just don't need you here

and if I did come back that way

would you think you'd finally won?

dragging me back from all I have

would benefit me none

long ago you made a choice

and I did make one too

sorry if that has faded some

mine's still shiny and new

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

last chance

I pulled out all stops to try to get to you 

you stood on the mountains for a much better view 

while my mind went East, yours headed out West 

the time that I wasted, could have been better spent 

my heart went searching for a love song to sing 

you offered me passion with none of the strings 

my mind got tangled in barbwire reasons 

cut on the hope and bleeding from the lesions 

I boarded my flight and touched down at noon 

my heart left yearning beneath a crescent moon 

sleep does forsake me and so do my dreams 

nothing can blot out these feelings it seems

I pen another sonnet of a heart that is bleak 

wandering aimlessly down love's empty street 

I ponder the consequence of when we last danced 

when I knew it was finished--my heart's last chance

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

ode to a lemon drop

a lemon drop martini 

with sugar 'round the rim 

a tart but sweet aperitif 

savoring the color and flavor 

down the hatch it goes 

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

love lives here today

love lives here today 

how the sun shines bright 

I will sing you faraway 

a love song for your nights 

love breathes here today 

a soft and gentle breeze 

leaves that whisper quietly

of all the things you need 

love sleeps here tonight 

under the moon and stars 

dreams cover you like a blanket 

no matter where you are 

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

deep in your heart

suddenly, your mind is clear 

undoing the angst that brought you near 

sustaining your love with Grace that abounds 

answering questions from love that surrounds 

nestled deep in your soul

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

match

random matches in a book 

the cover closed when lighting 

pulling across the surface 

striking sulfur catches igniting

smoke lifts from the once red head 

the flame burns hot and high 

combustion from the chemicals 

consuming all close by 

a sulphur smell that still remains

when breath softly extinguishes

cooling once exhausted

after abated intensity 

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

three words

three words not spoken
dance lightly on the tip of tongue
swirling around inside of my mouth
gnashing teeth that won't let them out
pressing hard against bitten lips
exhausted from the fight to be set free
swallowed once more down my throat
washed down with a grain of truth
once upon a time I whispered
spilling them from deep inside
on a distant plain they resonated
and returned unheard to me
three words not spoken

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

pirouette

on my toes, but not my game 

a ballerina's pirouette 

Louboutin's with a red soul 

make a pretty silhouette 

crystal clear the morning light

the wine a deepest burgundy 

switching always back and forth 

bending deeply from my knees 

sleep, don't sleep 

dream, don't dream 

black and white to hazy gray 

this is how it seems 

want, don't want

love, don't love

pack it all away

thoughts on a rainy day 

on my toes, but not my game 

a ballerina's pirouette 

Louboutin's with a red soul 

make a pretty silhouette

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

just right tonight

the music is just right tonight 

as the cowboys sing the blues

and all the while I'm dancing with him

I remember dancing with you 

as I set down another long neck 

and take a cowboy's hand 

the steel guitar is whining 

lights reflecting upon the stand

the wood floor is really crowded 

and we give it one more go

as he wraps his arms around me 

he's not the cowboy that I know

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

the prodigal path

through the fire and through the rain 

I walk this same old street again 

the heat off the street is all that greets me 

I feel it all cause I'm running on empty 

ask me the questions, I'll give you the reasons 

I've been stuck in this forest for many a season 

there's a glimmer of hope as the sun breaks the clouds

I'm living in the present, the here and the now 

I'll meet you half way though the trail may be long 

I don't care what they say about right and wrong

the prodigal path is the truest by far 

that's  how we got to where we are

there isn't a score that we need to settle 

dew reflects softly on each fragrant petal 

once more through the fire, once more through the rain 

with nothing to lose, but everything to gain

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

did I miss something?

did I miss something? 

did I not hear when you told me? 

was the music that played too loud 

to distinguish between the whisper of never

and the promise of "I love you" 

were the stars so bright? 

that I was blinded by what I wanted 

to see instead what isn't real 

did I miss something? 

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

time

what if there weren't any tomorrows

if you didn't wake with the sun 

if everything you want to experience

is something that never gets done 

if feelings you want to express 

stay locked up deep inside 

never to be set free 

cause we think we have all of this time 

in case I don't get to tell you 

in case dawn never breaks through 

in case you didn't know it

always remember...I loved you

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

things

things that were 

things that are 

things that will never be 

all these thoughts 

go around in my mind 

like a hamster on an endless wheel

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

velvet

under skies with stars I could touch
hangs the moon, velvet and soft
I shout your name
over and over
love's sound waves reverberate to sea

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

heaven

I am in heaven 

at the crossroads I stand

blue sky and drifting clouds 

I'll love you tomorrow 

as I loved you yesterday 

the wind will blow 

liquid silver drops 

will drench the mountain clover 

and I will dance with you 

until the music is over 

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

love cocoon

wade across this dammed up stream 

bring across your love for me 

erase the lines of demarcation 

invisible walls of separation 

step across, circle back 

feel the breeze, regulate tack 

how do you know unless you do

feed the heart, hungry for you 

lay me down and cover me 

with your heart, blanket me 

here, amongst the flowers strewn 

wrap me in love's silk cocoon

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

the finished portrait

it's a long way to fall between winter and spring 

what would you say if I released everything?

the wind in my sail, the tide on my beach 

how far does my song need to go to reach? 

if I wrote you a song, would you sing along? 

adding some lyrics and music of your own 

is it all just an exercise in my futility? 

could it be that I have everything you need? 

do you think I am your just dessert?

to make you happy and remove the hurt

to expand the empty chambers in your heart 

the finished portrait, a true work of art 

if I wrote you a song, would you sing along? 

adding some lyrics and music of your own 

when the verses take hold and it all filters in 

where your heart finds a place to call home

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

Catalina run

my knees are squeezing tightly, 

my arms wrapped around your waist
the sun reflecting off silver,

a quiet highway on which to chase
centrifugal force in motion, 

as you pop the clutch
chest to back, the muffler crack, 

as we hit the open road

low clouds in the mountains 

offer a beautiful view
heading to Catalina, 

a first for me and you
the Victory purring loudly, 

an awesome humming sound
this vibration that I'm feeling 

has nothing to do with this run

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

caught in the middle

caught in the middle between black and white 

caught betwixt the sun and the pale moonlight

penning in metaphor, oblique is your write 

my perspective clear, but it's only my side 

answers seeking wisdom from purple sage

curtains that won't rise on the actor's stage 

hopes that get caught in a very small cage 

the book that I read has a blank last page 

how do I get in--push right on through 

dots that won't connect between me and you 

rain pours down from the constant monsoon

it always gets darker before the sky turns blue 

far to the West--lays a new promise land 

where we walked together once hand in hand

things keep shifting like the hot desert sand 

nothing ever turns out exactly as we planned 

caught in the middle between black and white 

caught betwixt the sun and the pale moonlight

penning in metaphor, oblique is your write 

my perspective clear, but it's only my side 

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

faith

faith wanes 

questions plague

clouds form 

monsoons rain 

lightning flash 

thunder cracks 

constant turmoil 

wounds rehashed 

sun shines 

moon glows 

ceiling stars 

after the storm

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

open my heart

open my heart to understand 

to run unfettered in the fields 

where flowers bloom and skies are blue 

open my heart to understand 

feel the warmth of the bright sun 

swim in the coolness of the pond

napping after in the tall grass 

feel the warmth of the bright sun 

take my love deep into your soul 

unabashed, I give it to you 

in return give yours to me 

take my love deep into your soul

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