negotiater

I'm a problem solver
a negotiator too
offering advice, and
what you need to do
changing the minds
of the many strong willed
most situations
require so much skill

I'm a middle child

sometimes overlooked

sitting in the corner

just reading my books

studying hard

and much I did learn

not giving the folks
much of any concern

wanting us all 

to just get along

trying not to  stay
where I don't belong
leaving my mark
wherever I go
JoJo was here
they'll already know
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

start again

as the old year ends
as the new one will begin
time to start again

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

reflection

the afternoon is gone
drifting into night
moon shines on the water
stars glow in the sky

the only light I see
reflecting in your eyes
love that glistens there
warm and so inviting

your love flows through me
surrounds me, grounds me

all is right around me
as we lay down side by side
whispers of tomorrow
on hold for a short time

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

bubble wrap

memories in bubble wrap
carefully put away
bring them out and look at them
on a rainy day

some are happy, some are sad
I look at some and smile
wondering why I saved all this
as it is all  refiled

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

another Christmas

the mountain snow that fell last night
melting quick in morning light
the wind blows hard and is so cold
desert winters like this we know

another Christmas put away
empty boxes left at bay
another New Year rolls around
with Champagne pops and tooting sounds

what's in store for me next year
I hope all good with nothing to fear
what comes to me I know I'll handle
I may have to light a vigil candle

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

there your heart

where you find pleasure
there your treasure
where the treasure
there your heart
where the heart
there your happiness
where the happiness
there your soul

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

"uncle"

I want to wrap your heart around my little finger 

give you more than you ever thought possible 

make you cry "uncle" from too much love 

give you the feeling, you can't get enough

I want to make you breakfast while the world is asleep 

have coffee with you and watch the sun break 

go back to bed; pick up where we left off 

make you cry "uncle" from too much love

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

a new phase

I'm sweeping it away, all that is left 

getting rid of the dust and old cobwebs 

I'm airing it out, making' a new start 

there's only room for you in my heart

I'm deleting the past and all of the pain 

the text on my phone is all that remains 

it never does ring, that cute tone is gone 

I'm changing the sound to a happier song 

putting away the umbrella so now it won't rain 

I'm drinking in the sun that shines through my panes 

I'm waiting for the moon to move into a new phase 

making room for you and your love that's amazing 

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

Link Haiku

We have a thick link 

A solid mental connection 

A very good start

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

Beach House

I need to go to the beach house 

To walk in the sand and feel the sun 

Let my mind relax, regenerate 

But too much here is left undone 

Working hard with very long days 

Always pulled in multiple directions

Everyone needs a piece of my time 

No moments now for restful reflection 

Doing my job on auto pilot 

Hitting constant turbulence 

I am here in body 

My mind is at the sea 

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

Crystal Lake

On a crystal lake 

Pristine and calm

Early in the morning 

A fisherman prays for a catch 

Birds swoop, looking for food 

The sun not fully risen 

A light breeze blows 

Scattering ads from newspapers 

Laying on porches 

Too early for cars 

On the country road 

Leading into town 

Soon, it will all change 

The town will awake 

Busy with activity 

The crystal lake 

Will come to life 

Calm and pristine no longer

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

Tulip (My Favorite Flower)

Like a tulip that blooms in the spring 

Your love has made me blossom 

My petals open, 

wet from the evening’s dew 

To drink in the morning sun 

 My color, vibrant and pure 

After a long winters rest 

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

Santa Ana wind

a cool desert breeze

you blew down from the mountains 

 a breath of fresh air

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

you offer your hand

and your heart is connected 

I look in your eyes 

and see all that's there 

as I slip my hand in yours 

I give you my heart 

all my love attached

knowing it will be cherished

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

your love

like my patchwork quilt
my grandma made for me
your love surrounds me
your love warms me

like a caramel brulee latte
sweet and creamy, thick and hot
your love fills me
your love warms me

like my favorite garbage salad
tasty and nourishing
your love sustains me
your love warms me

like a angel sent from heaven
to shelter and protect
your love a haven
your love warms me

for the many reasons
and not enough metaphors
your love is immeasurable
your love is all

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

unsaid

if the truth is told
when we disconnect
another missed called
another blank text

if the feelings that hide
inside the heart's wall
are pushed to the bottom
hidden from all

if the thoughts spin around
circling inside my head
unspoken verity
better left unsaid

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

puzzle

I try to put it together
the pieces just don't fit
I'm studying the picture
the puzzle very complex
the border is completed
the edge was not that hard
it's right here in the middle 
where logic doesn't work

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

star

this star that rises
shining brightly down on me
and stays with the sun

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

the sleep of angels

my head rests on your shoulder
I listen to your heart beat
your breathing soft and even
while you lay deep in sleep

my face hidden in shadows
the darkness of the room
the stars drift from the evening
and clouds conceal my moon

why can't I surrender
and dream the way you do
just sleep the sleep of angels
when I lay down my truth

with my head on your shoulder
I listen to your heart beat
the love song that it's playing

the lyrics just for me

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

wonder

when I think of it
my heart is filled with wonder
with your tender touch
your fervent kisses
every way that you love me
the way you love me

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

locked

I wander through the skeleton 

of what used to be your life 

days when you were happy

now emptiness fills the space

your past now a vacuous hole 

the things that you cast off

the things you no longer need 

splatters on once white walls 

weeds have grown where flowers grew 

remnants of yesterday

pristine silence 

echoes in the dark

locked now, 

like this door

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

lover's script

too many in this room
open the window so I can breath
I've been here way too long
watch me pack and leave

I need to find the key
to release me from this chain
the skin that now is chafed
a mark that causes pain

the message that is clear
I can't embrace it all
written in lover's script
flowing across the wall

close the door behind you
don't even leave a crack
let me slip away
instead of pulling me back

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

this Christmas

to share all with you
welcoming in tradition
starting something new

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

winter comes

the weather turns cold
I am warmed from the inside
ready for the change

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

light my dark

light my dark
steal my heart
steal my soul
damage control
remove the thoughts
the hurt they brought
erase the pain
sing your refrain
bury the past
as you hold fast
erase them all
replace them all

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