Wednesday, January 26, 2022

New Years Eve

no fancy dress bought
for New Year's Eve
we're staying in
just you and me 
steaks on the grill
and a bottle of wine
I think that sounds
like a very good time

A fire burns bright
warming the room
we're starting to yawn
it's way too soon
in bed before midnight
it doesn't matter much
as we settle for sleep
our hands tightly clutched 
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Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

hold on to me

when the day is long
and we're far apart
nothing goes right
from the very start
my mind needing
a quick jumpstart
baby, hold on to me

when the night is long
and we're far apart
a waste of the moon
and those twinkling stars
and I am missing you
with all my heart
baby, hold on to me
baby, hold on to me
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Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

running on empty

didn't see the light turn red
thoughts that burn inside my head
running on empty, running hard
all around me lies in shards

all the things I try to hide
eating like a cancer inside
pour them out into a glass
a leaking sieve that empties fast

I can see it fading away
memories sweet from yesterday
as I hold on to what was untrue
doing my best to hold on to you
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Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

inspire

what inspires a poet 
to pen the things that we write 
about hope long lost, a new love affair 
or passion by candle's light 

I read sonnets written by others 
and I can see myself in their text 
I can place myself in some lines 
but I am not always there in the next

the subjects that inspire me
always have a rhyme and a reason 
and I hope to remain inspired 
and pen on for many more seasons

so far

so far it's been wine and roses 
so far the trail has been smooth 
so far the stars shine brightly 
and you think that I hung the moon 
so far it all fits together 
so far there has been no rain 
so far the road we've traveled 
to get past all of the old pains 
so far you've showed every reason 
so far there've been no test 
so far the path still to travel
so far to gather the rest

adhesive

it surrounds my heart 
an easy feeling
bonding us together
love's the adhesive
it's an absolute truth 
between you and me 
this road we're on 
all limits exceeded 

Monday, January 24, 2022

the truth

you're digging for the truth 
and using both of your hands 
it's a losing cause you know
against the shifting sands 

like a dying man's thirst 
as you race against the clock 
tryin to figure it out 
and why the thoughts don't stop 

you should have brought a shovel 
and a hat for the desert heat 
a thermos with some water 
replacing sweat excreted

when did I have it last? 
I thought I buried it there 
no answer to your questions 
as you labor with despair 

you reach into your pocket 
for a kerchief to wipe the grime 
and there you find the truth 
in your back pocket this whole time

chance

Contingency
Hope
Ambivalent
Need
Coincidence
Expectation
Creative Commons License
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Thursday, January 20, 2022

dreams to dawn

I meander through dreams looking for you
cloaked in darkness; confusion
I traipse through tall prairie grass and dense forest
observing from the shadows within while you wait
soundless, stoic, statuesque
a bird of prey, talons ready
I stumble over your heart's protective tripwire
and I fall....from dreams to dawn
Creative Commons License
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

I am

I am.... 
the last thought in your evening 
the first though in your dawn
moving in your memory 
swaying to your song 
I am...
a melody that you're singing
softly in your heart 
a minute in your history 
though miles that we're apart
I am... 
a book that you're re-reading 
a chapter in your soul 
a bookmark in your spirit 
the piece that makes you whole

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

for awhile

you lifted me 
as if I weighed nothing 
you carried me, when I needed it 
you kissed away the hurt and pain 
and for awhile it was sweet again 
for awhile it was spring 
for awhile you sang me a song 
for awhile it was like before... 
before I knew

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

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

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

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

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
Creative Commons License
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

Monday, January 17, 2022

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

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!

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

Friday, January 14, 2022

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 

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

Thursday, January 13, 2022

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

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

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

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
Creative Commons License
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