face to face

our time will come
when the dust settles
we stand together
face to face
hand in hand
heart to heart
we begin

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

REALITY

Reasoning
Enlightening
Agonizing
Literal
Intuitive
Tough
Yielding

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

armband on my sleeve

my heart worn
an armband on my sleeve
ignored by oh so many
but by you was seen

thinking it was hidden
a foolish little scheme
looking through the façade
and seeing into my dreams

what do you do now?
as you remove the cuff
capturing my love
calling hard my bluff

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

golden plan

you drift in, a shadow
you walk out a man
learning hard lessons
in His golden plan
you lay it all down
with the hurt that it brings
you're telling your truth
in the lyrics you sing

you drifted in, a shadow
you walked out a man

talking to saguaro

here tall in the sand

blown like the sage

wet from the rain

but when it's all over

a strong man remains

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

game to game

I moved quickly, game to game
control intact, always the same
and when they call, my standard refrain
it wasn't you, I'm to blame

a cool façade, I didn't let go
going always against the flow
at heartbreak, I was quite a pro
never letting my feelings show

now I know how the other side feels
the hurt it causes when it all spills
an open heart, which I revealed
how long does it take the pain to heal?

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

two shadows

two shadows meet
and fuse into one
a mixture, a blending
of sorts has begun
when darkness falls
a new song has been sung
when daylight re-emerges
so does a tight bond

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

catch you if you fall

I'll be there behind you 

a distant memory 

I'll be there behind you 

if there's anything you need

I'll be there behind you 

call if you're in a clutch 

I'll be there behind you 

beside you hurts too much 

I'll be there behind you 

to catch you if you fall 

I'll be there behind you 

that's what friends are for

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

cup of Joe

my favorite cup 

always heats me up 

straight to my brain 

infusing my veins 

making my heart pump 

giving me a good jump  

won't drink it cold

don't like it too bold

aaaaaahhhhhhhh, cup of Joe

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

places (all true)

been to London to see the queen 

Scotland yard has nothing on me 

posed with Bobbies, rode the tube in the rain

loved the castles, wanted to stay 

been to Scotland, drove on the left side 

saw a yak grazing in the countryside 

found I'm related to the house of Bruce 

heard bagpipes and hung out at St. Andrews

been to Paris for twenty-four hours 

saw the Louvre and the Eiffel tower 

stayed at Paris Hilton then flew home 

gonna stay longer next time I go 

been to most of our capital cities 

the U.S. of A. sure is pretty 

sampled the culture in New York City 

didn't need a passport for any of these 

been to Canada loved it eh? 

some speak French but most speak English 

went to the Gardens at the Empress Hotel 

didn't have tea but it sure was swell 

been to the beach down in old Mexico 

when I'm there I don't want to come home 

the sand, the sun, the sea and tide 

the place I go to get my mind right

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

quiver

I'll make you quiver like jello 

shake like an earthquake

burn like an inferno

sweat from all the heat 

glow from white hot embers 

drunk with all the passion 

this is just the beginning

I'm just getting started

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

sparkler

it all heats up with just one match 

like a sparkler that's been lit 

it's all now coming to the final point 

and I can see the gist of it 

I may have missed a few of your notes

but what were you expecting 

in every mirror, in every thought 

it is here again reflecting 

I opened up my heart to you

and it spewed out everywhere 

like a soda that you shook, too much 

contents spraying in the air 

all those sticky droplets, 

that stain if not wiped up 

the glass that once remained half-full 

is now an empty cup 

yesterday has ebbed away 

like the sea from the smooth sand 

what I needed most from you 

withdrawn just like your hand 

sparklers eventually fizzle out 

dying with one last glow 

the actuality of anything happening 

was like hell that gets some snow

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

score

with the intensity of a big game 

where the score is finally tied 

what determines how we both win 

is going to be how hard we try 

minutes tick away the time 

while we wait in a final huddle 

the buzzer sounds, time runs out 

as we stand here in the middle

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

listen

a heart which aches and begs to believe 

listening in silence, whispering a plea 

no secret longing do I hide away 

sadly its whisper grows weaker each day 

listening for hope that's been left behind 

listening for small traces it can not find 

baby, please listen before it all disappears 

let your heart listen and try to hear 

listen in that place where your heart hides 

listen through the languor laying inside 

baby, please listen for a love that is near 

baby, please listen before it all disappears

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

hardest one to take

I know I am despondent 

as I wander through the day 

then light fades into darkness 

where dreams will play cruel games 

my lips move ever softly 

as once more I silently pray 

but the answer that love gives 

is the hardest one to take 

I wake up in the morning 

from a few short hours of sleep 

tossed and turned all night 

always dreams of you and me 

my lips move ever softly 

the same prayer I always pray 

but the answer that love gives 

is the hardest one to take

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

strings

I know you're watching me 

to see what I will do 

trying to figure out 

this time what made me blue 

as you drifted in and out 

a specter of a friend

always leaving questions 

money my heart spent 

you may control the strings 

pulling tightly at my heart 

but you don't control my wings 

as once more I depart 

you gave me too much space 

never enough of you 

always an afterthought 

like I didn't matter to you 

if you think that this was easy

baby, you've got it all wrong 

this may be the hardest thing

that I have ever done 

you may control the strings 

pulling tightly at my heart 

but you don't control my mind 

which is the stronger part

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

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