when you

when you can learn a lesson 

when you get a new perspective 

when you work through the pain 

and discover what remains 

when you take a giant step 

when you have a little help 

when you don't have a plan 

but it works itself out 

when you look inside 

when you chuck the pride 

when my heart finally accepts 

tears no longer wept

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

norm

outside the norm 

but an inside part 

over their lines 

but inside my heart

not listening to others 

decide what's for me 

the books and tapes

discussing thoughts and feelings 

gonna live outside the rules 

of typical behavior 

an aggregate response 

a taste I'll savor 

outside the norm 

but an inside part 

crossing over their lines

but listening to my heart 

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

piper's tune

I want to dance

to the piper's tune

I want to love you 

under a crescent moon 

you started a fire 

I still feel the heat

and what it brought 

was what I needed 

so dance with me baby 

to the piper's tune 

hold me tight, 

one more night 

under a crescent moon 

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

a cappella

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

brick upon brick

love that we build 

laying brick upon brick 

mortared with heart and hope 

a firm foundation 

that is holding fast

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

you

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

You Rock!

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

contrast

once again I dream 

vivid visions that vary 

contrasts dark to light

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

I'll take it

too long denying 

too hard trying

it is what it is 

I'll take it like this 

too many tears 

too many fears 

but you I always miss 

I'll take it just like this 

I pushed you away 

but want you here to stay 

let's seal it with a kiss 

and keep it just like this

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

rescue

I don't need a hero 

I don't want to be saved 

you can come to my rescue 

with an invisible cape 

I jumped off the ledge

the feeling is not new 

a hero cannot save me 

from falling in love with you

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

wizard of oz haiku

no thoughts like Scarecrow 

no heart to break like Tinman

no courage like Lion

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

the sea

my house by the sea 

smelling the salty air 

as waves crash on the beach 

the sound of the waves 

as they cover the sand 

smoothing the beach once again 

erasing footsteps and castles 

under the moon’s soft light 

and the sea’s evening flow

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

dreams haiku

when I close my eyes 

thoughts of us run through my mind

dreams of what could be

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

storm

lightning flashes in the dark sky 

following by rolling thunder

vibrating deep inside my soul 

shaking everything that I know 

rain falls heavy, filling the wash

soaking unprotected life 

zero the visibility 

so many things that I don't see 

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

all or part

all or part of what I give 

more than love this way of living 

more tomorrow than yesterday 

this is my gift to you 

all or part of every dream 

we piece it together with fantasies

more tomorrow than yesterday 

this is my gift to you 

all or part of what we are 

days of blue or thunderstorms 

more tomorrow than yesterday 

this is my gift to you

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

us fools

what is it or was it I could have done? 

to bring this rain that blacks my sun 

you made all the rules 

I danced happily to your tune 

time doesn't change 

the way for us fools 

I love you now and all yesterdays 

paying the piper all of his wages 

I drank from the well 

till it all ran dry 

asking the questions, 

the what and the whys 

you know deep down I played my part 

walking away with this broken heart 

you made all the rules 

I danced happily to your tune 

time doesn't change

the way for us fools

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

with you

I can understand what you do 

I can believe what you say is true 

time not wasted 

love not tasted 

fantasies created 

with you

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

stop

take this heart 

make it fill 

with hopes and dreams 

until it spills 

don't quit then 

though it's at the top

keep on going 

till I say stop

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

blank pages

a new book 

a new chapter

beginning with the start 

ending with the end 

blank pages 

in between

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

lace

black satin and lace 

a slow, sweet taste 

the moon winks down 

on what it found

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

loves me not

I don't pretend that you love me 

it would be a child's game 

like pulling petals from a flower 

"loves me not" is what it's saying

I don't pretend that I hold a spot 

inside the chamber of your heart 

not more than lovers, nor less than friends

I am addicted and play a part 

I don't pretend or keep hidden 

here inside these words I pen 

references plainly you can read 

depending if I hit send

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

forward and back

what I think and what I feel

flow freely from my pen

up and down, high and low 

forward and back again 

never vague, always true

these words I feel and express 

not delusional, not even close 

never any nearer to you

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

the first few minutes

not that long ago, 

the day when we first met 

I knew it was day, 

I would not forget

all the planets aligned 

chills rushed down my spine 

in the first few minutes 

you had me

dreaming out loud 

floating like a cloud 

running on the beach 

hugging every tree 

you had me driving 

a smooth road 

thought I would explode 

the sun shining down on me 

everything as it should be 

that was the first few minutes 

time has a way of turning 

everything around 

it doesn't always end, 

the way that it starts out 

you live the highs and lows, 

rocking to and fro 

around and around it goes

and if you're lucky,

you can feel it it grow

you had me 

dreaming out loud 

floating like a cloud 

running on the beach 

hugging every tree 

you had me driving 

a smooth road 

thought I would explode 

the sun shining down on me 

everything as it should be 

that was the first few minutes 

that was only the first few minutes!

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

rpm's

the rpm's are starting to slow 

each spin revolving smoothly

evolution takes on new light 

as minutes fall in line with clarity.

clear like crystal thunderous wonder 

sweeps with the speed of light

reaching across the mountain's peak 

catching me off balance 

with stealth from my blind-side

it enraptures,

complete surrender 

embracing all that I find

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

Tick

Do you pray to God? 

Only when in need?

Promising a change 

If He will intercede 

Do you see your soul? 

In the mirror when you look 

What does it reveal? 

Anything you’ve overlooked? 

Do you see the clock? 

As it ticks your time away 

Seconds, minutes, hours 

How heavy does it weigh? 

Do you see the years? 

Like a brushfire that has burned

Laying in smoke and ash 

From a heart that doesn’t yearn

Do you see your life? 

As it passes before your eyes 

Speeding quickly forward 

Where the consequences lie

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