wet

the thunder speaks with its loud voice 

a lightning flash answers its call 

the rain pours down, sheets of pain

its not cleansing, its just wet 

each lightning streak flashes a memory 

each thunder clap imparts a fantasy 

dredging it up from deep within 

it's just a storm and you're still gone

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

kiss

tangle your hands in my long hair 

kiss my face and travel a trail 

make the moon jealous of all you find

don't stop baby, don't stop

slide your hands slowly down my back 

pull me close and hold on tight 

I wanna see stars when I close my eyes 

don't stop baby, don't stop 

light the fire that burns in me 

let your passion set you free 

take it all don't leave any 

don't stop baby, don't stop 

let's leave the world outside tonight 

forget all else while we're alone 

this time is meant for just us two 

don't stop baby, don't stop

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

Wednesday's child

a Wednesday's child full of grace 

complacent and forgiving 

always looking for the good

loving and believing 

Irish anger, green eyes flash 

warning of certain danger 

lightning, thunder feel my wrath 

whenever I am angered 

clouds that form quickly disappear 

after the storm that cleanses 

stand with me under this umbrella 

until the rainbow ending

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

your song

I did not stumble into your song 

I did not falter but fell headlong 

willingly I became part of the tune 

it rhymed for a time because of you 

the one who caught the hidden lines 

metaphors of a long lost time 

it flows prolific in crimson ink

some would argue--that's how it reads 

with deep thought your words from within 

meaning you know and others breathe in 

wanting to be part of your poet's soul 

part of your lyric and loving tempo

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

feather

floating lightly from the sky 

slowly dancing from on high

going deep inside my soul 

this feather weighted like a stone

abandoned in the early stage

when as a storm it silently raged 

left to wade through on my own 

the soil cracked and dry as bone 

I dam all that remains inside 

waiting for a feather to once more glide 

transfusion fresh, a cleansing breath 

always starting over again

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

objects of my reflection

thought collides with feeling 

deep inside of my heart 

organically grown and nurtured 

fresh as each day starts 

some are weeds that threaten my being 

the others blossoming vines 

irrigating, tending, attention stealing

both taking too much of my time 

rain falls heavily from the clouds 

lightning, thunderous and jarring 

all lay muddled in deep, deep puddles 

in my ever expanding garden 

the cohabitants rest inside of me

growing in their own direction

spirited they move internally 

these objects of my reflection

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

soar

waiting for enraptured flight 

the bird now spreads its wings 

soaring high above the clouds

she's off to better things

above the fields of corn and bean

across meadows of waist high  wheat

just a speck to the bare eye 

on her feathers the sun shine streaks

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

kinetically

I'm liking this kind of energy 

through this wire from you to me 

I'm loving the way it's making me feel 

flowing from you so easily 

I'm liking the way this is starting out 

a touch...a spark...kinetically 

moon ascends high on a very clear night 

glowing on us poetically 

I'm liking the way that you express 

all the thoughts you hold inside 

loving the way it's making me feel 

like fireworks when they collide

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

one less song

one less song 

in the night air 

mournful is, 

the nightingale's shrill 

when the evening shadows bleed

one less lament 

carried on the breeze

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

taking hold

spring creeps slowly from the mountains

fragrant breezes lilting downward 

erasing disparity from winter's cold 

cleansing comes, is taking hold

I can see more clearly now 

I know all you said is true 

wind blows clear bending sage and grass 

and what was never meant to last

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

love flows

your love flows 

over and around 

it surrounds like audio sound

and what I have found 

nails my feet to the ground 

and peace enters my soul

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

Galileo

away you go with nothing to lose

always picking, never choosing

shift into 5th and give it some gas

hurrying forward as fence posts pass

the timing off; the engine is missing 

instead of purring it's loudly hissing 

no time now to have the motor checked 

it's probably just a little dust fleck 

forgetting the map so you use the stars 

like Galileo they will take you far 

luminosity only works at night 

using the sun when it's daylight 

your car is packed as you look for what you need

seeking fire and a some sweet release 

mountains loom, you are finally getting close 

on this new path you hope leads you home

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

dominoes

what once stood up, now no longer

dominoes, one knocking over the other 

all laying neatly in a straight row 

with a clicking sound as down it goes 

each connected by small white dots 

never enough as I draw my lot 

what I once had and now haven't got 

didn't even get to line up a shot 

too much time to stand them up 

once it was there, but now it's not 

ending coming was way too abrupt 

like a blind man standing on a bluff

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

You

I always knew You would catch up 

with me in the end

no matter how fast I was running, 

how much I stumbled 

or how deep the vortex, 

I spiraled down in 

You were right there 

on my tail 

looking over my shoulder 

there was never a hurdle, 

I couldn't jump

never a mountain 

I couldn't climb

never a strait, 

that I couldn't swim 

a thought, a feeling, 

each blessing 

 without You

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

wish

just one little wish 

that was all that I asked for

it finally cane

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

parallel tracks

you are waltzing Matilda

I'm line-dancing with Bill 

you are writing her love songs 

I'm penning from random will 

you're singing her beautiful ballads

I am living these country tunes 

my days are always rainy 

and yours are sunny and blue 

I am in Chicago 

you are in Mexico 

I am eating chopped salad 

you're eating, God only knows 

you are paving your future

I'm driving with only one wiper 

you are saving for some day 

and I'm still paying the piper 

it's evening and I'm wondering 

if our lives will ever connect

while I am out still wandering

you chose to love and protect 

wondering how these trains 

the smoke coming thick from the stack

how could I ever meet you 

when they run on parallel tracks 

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

angel blessed

heaven comes to those that wait 

a burning desire is all it takes 

well worth the time that you invest

heaven sent and angel blessed 

dancing through the dreams of wonder 

a sweet, sweet spell that you fall under 

a song of passion with an amber glow 

filling you and spilling over 

heaven comes to those that wait 

a burning desire is all it takes 

well worth the time that you invest 

heaven sent and angel blessed 

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

ground hog day

nothing but Haiku 

today was a "ground hog" day 

yesterday repeats 

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

point of no return

past the point of no return 

the dotted line gets broken 

fail safe isn't an option 

with my heart laying in the open

the past shrinks in the distance 

it fades in all its glory 

how could I have missed this 

the storyline to this story

I see the ocean crashing 

under now the blood red sky

lightning flashes closely 

thunder rumbling nearby

I seal it with a windblown kiss 

I view all of its destruction 

what echoes in the emptiness 

is a song without conduction 

I climb the ladder without success

a poet at a loss for words 

I bow my head in silence 

and pray without accord 

you had me from the beginning

but I got lost in my part 

nights grow long and lonely 

while my heart sings in the dark

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

solid ground

you slow for a second as I catch up 

your back the only vision I see 

your stride was always larger than mine 

you're on the move heading away from me 

you found me once when I was lost 

I laid it down in the sinking ground

in this ocean in which I flail 

caught up in hopeless undertow 

each day a little bit longer than the last 

each way a little bit stronger than the past 

all of your light found my soul in the night

I stay in this fight earning second life 

as a hallelujah rips through my veins

the hammer drops, as I shoot without aim

missing the mark and a chance that I saw 

all is lost, there is nothing to gain

you found me once when I was lost 

I laid it down in the sinking ground 

in this ocean in which I flail

caught up in this hopeless undertow 

I won't turn back and won't back down 

although it lies in hallowed ground

it doesn't matter what comes crashing down 

I am gonna stand on this solid ground

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

a perfect day

we walk the Pier, hand in hand 

holding tightly, fingers clasped

bumping shoulders, bumping hips 

connecting sweetly just like this 

sun shines hotly on our faces 

memories new, engaging all 

walking, talking, getting to know 

everything 'bout you, along we go 

the morning winds down, time to part 

one long kiss as we depart

before I get a few feet away

the text reads "a perfect day"

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

control

high on a mountain, in the desert breeze 

nothing but rocks and critters that sneak 

under the sun and relentless heat 

I cast you out far, away from me 

down I trek, careful where I step

down to the valley dripping with sweat 

feelings of remorse; in loneliness creeps 

when I get back home, you're waiting for me 

I can't rid this hold that you have on me

I think that it's gone, then it's back again 

always within, it stays in my soul 

what was it like...before you took control?

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

small change

I bank it all, 

the minuscule portion you give

it doesn't cost you much 

small change, well spent 

your investment is wise 

little do you know 

that the interest is great 

and would reward ten-fold 

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

left behind

I carried you over rough waters 

I protected you from the waves 

I steadied the world around you 

when your spirit started to cave 

I fed you when you were hungry 

with nourishment for your soul 

sustenance to restore you

kindness, forgiveness, consoling 

I warmed you when you shivered 

I shared with you my fire 

I took the chill from your night air 

although it was not required 

I gave to you my willing heart 

my body, soul and mind 

a gift I thought you'd cherish 

a treasure tread upon

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

light

I figured it out

after all this time 

I've got a grip 

on these feelings of mine

read some books 

that hit the mark 

I shed some light 

on what was dark 

I'll take it all 

everything that's there 

made plenty of room

for what you share 

don't park outside 

and not come in 

there's plenty of room 

I'll always make room 

there's plenty of room 

in my heart for you

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