tick

I read every word to see what makes you tick

the deeper I go the thicker it gets

still no clearer as I start to regress 

I find myself trapped in the midst of it 

meaning obscure, indefinable, vague 

the less clear it is, the less you betray 

it could be about you or anyone any day 

the less you give, the more you take away

I was always there waiting for you 

to drop the shroud and show me truth 

I stayed too long and got caught in the blues 

nothing you offer to keep me next to you

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

solace

no kisses come in the morning
or in the evening before I sleep
everyday, grows more apparent
I'm not the solace you seek

in the words of a stranger
in the heart of a friend
one has no beginning
the other has no end

a cactus flower in this valley
with the breeze I bend
white-washing all of the fences
that keep me here hemmed in

in the words of a stranger
in the heart of a friend
one has no beginning
the other has no end

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

words not spoken

as we look for things 

we're afraid to find 

and we tear down walls

that we hide behind 

it's easier to be broken 

erase words not spoken 

look for what's not true 

painted in black and blue 

tear down the walls 

that we hide behind

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

my sea

come with me
to my sea
let's make love
on the beach
sand and tide
day and night
livin on lovin
this feels right

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

inside

my hands on your face 

a probing kiss 

I close my eyes 

for a new taste 

that very first day 

cold and gray

forever in thought

exactly what I sought 

and what was rendered 

was full of splendor 

indelible memories 

ink stained on forever

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

long-distance melodies

there are too many words that we can say 

spoken over long-distance melodies 

casual greetings turn to breathless goodbyes 

 while you ponder, your heart wanders 

forgiveness spread thick like honey on bread 

washed down with truth and reasoning 

for what you put in and I got out 

zero credits in that account

there are too many words that we can say 

spoken over long-distance melodies 

a call that drops without return 

text open to interpretation

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

one hell of a night

it is in the lateness of the hour 

the clock ticks minutes off 

you say you will be right back 

do a disappearing act 

hey, what's up with that? 

later, when we're ready for bed 

you follow me down the hall 

to candles, music and turned down sheets 

something that's never been done for me 

romance done just right 

and it's one hell of a night!

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

you love me

I was out of touch just for awhile 

reality lay on a distant shore 

that's when you came into my life 

your love surrounds me

every aspect secure

giving more than I looked for

a candle in my darkness 

an angel with a devilish grin 

sunshine ending days of rain 

a dream that comes after sleepless nights 

serenity in many forms 

 my spirit smiles my soul responds

like the feeling I get by endless seas 

the moon casts light on what's to be

a million stars in my night

anticipation drips like honey 

all because you love me

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

movies

let's go to the movies

and when the lights turn low 

snuggle up with popcorn 

and watch some of the show 

I won't need a jacket 

you're all the warmth I need 

there is nothing more romantic 

I don't care what we see 

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

triumph

it would have been so easy 

to let my body overrule my heart 

passion flowing like a sweet wine 

 past tastes remain bittersweet 

large chunks of sediment--

dregs poured out

my heart will never again pay the price 

that passion charges

this time love will grow 

building already like a summer monsoon 

intense with electrical energy

this time I will get it right 

when it all comes together 

simultaneously--

both will triumph

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

the corner of the street

we bump into each other on the corner of the street 

you invite me for coffee and a breakfast treat 

you said "we've got some catching up to do" 

let's sit down here in this vacant booth

in between the "how are you's" and "what's new"

we talk about the kids and crazy work we do

we laugh a lot and before the afternoon is through 

everyone has left and there's only me and you 

you say "we really must do this again" "

it's always so good to catch up with a friend" 

we kiss, we hug and each go our own way

going back to the lives that separate

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

this that I am

accept me for this that I am 

show me all that we can be 

forget what belongs to yesterday 

infusing all new memories

don't compare me to what once was 

let me dream of you in my rem 

show me all that I need to know 

love me for this that I am

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

poetry

It is poetry to me
not to all
nor do I care
the thinking of thoughts
the rhyming of words
sometimes, too many
but still,
the ideas come
in everyday ways
things from my past,
the future yet to be
I will compose,
as long as
the good Lord allows
read me or not
comment or don't
it is for me
and
anyone to read

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

nothing prepared me for this

when day comes, dawn with its hues 

I awake and look over at you 

morning sun playing songs I missed 

nothing ever prepared me for this 

I make the coffee as you stretch in bed 

shaking away dreams from your tousled head 

another day, a good morning kiss

nothing ever prepared me for this 

everyday, every night that we span

thanking God that I am where I am 

for love that shines, for this sweet bliss 

nothing ever prepared me for this

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

perception

possession is not 9/10ths of the law 

perception is the thing that counts 

it's your perception that I'm obsessing 

about the possession you've got

from the conception I wanted to be the possession 

but all of my perceptions were wrong 

because of deception regarding preconceptions 

that extrasensory perception failed on

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

room

room in your closet 

room for stuff I leave behind

room also in your heart

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

hasn't been around much since

it seems like it was yesterday
we danced and played our childish games
loving, laughing like we were kids
the fun hasn't been around much since

it seems like just a minute ago
you were teasing me about something or the other
pulling my hair...grinning all the while
anything to make me smile

it's strange how quickly that it slips
how memories fade, how it all changes
not the same as when it started out
friendship rifts and starts to drift

the loving and laughter from when we were kids
hasn't been around much since
no, it hasn't been around much since

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

a smoothie

is missing one fruit 

it ripened much too quickly 

leaves a bitter taste

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

souvenirs

you bought a ticket stow your bag overhead

headed out west to see cracked riverbeds

you talk to the saguaro like they are your friends

the answers aren't there and you round the bend

looking to the clouds for relief from the heat

removing your shoes, relieving your feet

you purchase the postcards to send from the trail

licked all the stamps and post them to mail 

you hike through the desert with the sun as your guide

no tan lines you show that you cannot hide 

time goes so fast and it's time to go home 

you pack up your heart, wishing the hours to slow 

a kiss for your lover and the ones you hold dear

heading back north, without souvenirs 

no answers to questions that continue to daunt

more now forthcoming and starting to haunt

put 'em in your backpack if just for one day

or leave them forever, keeping them at bay

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

you and me

beginnings forgot 

countless hours of passion weep 

lovers hold steadfast

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

burma shave

I read every sign

they were stretched out for miles 

couldn't piece them together 

took me a good while 

each one was a warning 

to watch out for the knave 

too late I found the answer 

to this Burma Shave

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

your shirt

you hand me your shirt, the palest of yellow
said this is the one that I wore when we met
you button each one leavin' two at the top
sayin darlin, you sure make that shirt look real hot

and I don't remember the color of your shirt
all I remember is the total outlook
the careless appeal with that twinkle in your eyes
I knew I was a goner that very first night

stilettos click clack on the cool, dark tile
we snuggle up close for a movie and wine
long before the credits begin to role
we're lost in the moment of being so close

one by one, each button gets undone
we're back where we started...when I first put it on
nothing but white noise from the plasma tv
the shirt looks good on the floor where it lays

and I don't remember the color of your shirt
all I remember is the total outlook
the careless appeal with that twinkle in your eyes
I knew I was goner that very first night

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

ante

too late to ante 

it's time to fold

your bluff is good 

with the cards you hold

five-card draw, 

winner take all 

I pay a price 

but after I call

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

things

things I can live without... 

appendix 

tonsils 

gallbladder 

one kidney 

spleen 

you

 

so far 

I still have all of these 

God willing...

I will keep them 

you...

have already been surgically removed

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

ridge line

from the ridge line, a mountain breeze 

among saguaro and mesquite trees 

a lone rider spurs his horse 

and from a distance lassos my heart 

not riding off into the sunset 

he has a thirst he needs to wet 

in the valley the oasis waits 

drink your fill, drink your fill

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