perception

a one sided perception 

in the mirrored reflection 

feelings that get penned 

when I feel hemmed in 

always the same direction 

about a heart's inflection

rain that just won't stop 

and potholed riddled blacktops

not looking for resurrection 

or scattered, raw affections 

just looking to make sense 

using a different tense

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

20/20

conclusions drawn in crimson

they're the hardest to erase 

as is seeps from every pore 

pooling on tile like waste 

I guess that some would say

it has a bitter aftertaste 

it shrouds like a hooded cape

never quite fading away 

it's there in all of my dreams 

remaining here when I wake 

gnawing like a critter 

that is trying to satiate 

is it all illusion? 

a cruel magician's trick 

a smoke and mirrors side-show 

the sleight of hand is quick 

with one quick glimpse it goes 

now you see it, then you've tripped 

it's a double edged sword

that I have fallen and I curse

it's the fickle hand of fate 

and maybe it could be worse

the whole thing has me pondering 

if I could have changed the course 

hindsight is 20/20 

you don't need glasses to see

maybe with cleaner lenses

 you could avoid the trees

it's hard to change directions 

in the middle of what will be

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

parking lot

you've been circling for hours 

trying to find a small space 

where all the pieces fit 

you'll park the remaining trace 

the electric arm went up 

you got a ticket at the gate 

but the lot is way too full 

this wasn't anticipated 

the choices are keep it with you 

or driving around and waiting 

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

one kiss (M)

is not a promise

it is more like a thank you

nothing more than that

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

I love you

it's moving much too fast 

no time to stop and reflect 

before it's time to go 

I'm in up to my neck 

I can't think for myself 

reasoning just won't do 

my mind spins on its axis 

my thoughts are far from few 

everyone is wanting something 

I think there is nothing left 

I am dusting off my soul 

my spirit has started to drift 

my heart is palpitating 

trying to figure out what to do 

I can't remember a day 

when I didn't have the blues 

I start to make a list 

by the light of the crescent moon

listing all the ways

that you left me the blues

still I write it down

what else is there to do 

and scrawled across the top 

it starts with "I love you"

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

yesterday's news

it happens every time 

I didn't sign on for this 

here between the lines 

in happiness and reminisce 

I fell for all your charms 

I melt in your abyss 

sometimes it implodes 

c-4 taking down the shell 

touch and taste it all 

look deep where it all dwells 

you can stop this spinning

as you bid your fond farewell 

publish it in the papers 

yesterday's news will sell 

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

I believe

I will be happy 

this I believe

I'll meet someone 

who loves only me 

he'll chase away the clouds

and bring me only sun 

poetic verse in love songs 

dancing when the day is done 

this I believe 

this I believe

this I believe

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

all/part

it's all part of believing 

that it can come to you 

more than that, it's what's in my heart 

that I want to share with you 

it's all part of my giving 

and I'm giving it all to you 

more than love it's a way of loving 

and what it could bring to you

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

flailing

there are angels on the water 

spirits in every wave 

and if it washes over me 

it may sanctify and cleanse 

my heart is at the ocean

there is turbulence in my thought 

but the angels walking on water 

may not relieve this pain 

the heavy truth sinks like a stone 

and falsehoods are the swells 

I'm going through the motions 

and flailing in this hell

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

video

once I made a video 

I'm dancing to a tune 

I can dance all by myself 

or I can dance with you 

once I wrote a love song 

from feelings that you knew 

I can sing it to myself

or I can sing it to you

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

if I

got paid commissions 

for the times you made me blue 

I could quit my job 

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

phone

I don't carry it in my pocket 

don't sleep with it by my bed 

it doesn't flash and it doesn't ring 

I think the battery's dead

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

all that I am

I am the sunrise in the morning 

the moon and stars at night 

a loving heart to guide you 

a candle you can light 

I will give you all of that 

I am the breeze blowing down the mountain

a gentle rain that brings relief

I am the song playing in your head 

and this you should believe 

I will give you all of that 

I am the whisper of love arriving 

soft footsteps in the sand 

a shadow watching over

if you will take my hand

I will give you all of that 

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

long ago

once you held me safe and warm 

through lightning flashes, monsoon storms 

love songs played and so we danced 

hearts in tune that took a chance 

long ago fades quickly away 

embers burned, ash remains

things my heart once used to know 

diminish now to afterglow

 

but my love yearns to remember...

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

war

I gain my strength

from battles I wage

one after another

day after day

minute upon minute

I learn strategy

and on I will fight

my most gallantly

the highs and the lows

the times in-between

from the peaks and the valleys

and now dried up streams

from where I once went

down the paths I must go

there's no holding back

till I strike final blows

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

drift

I drift 

on a splinter from a bridge 

the sliver that missed your heart

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

wonderland

in this wonderland, wonder wanders 

in this dreamlike state, dreams drift 

in this fantasy-land, fantasy fades 

in this promise-land, promise ponders 

as it floats away on a cloud 

the sun shines on a barren memory 

rain falls on concrete 

love, loves itself 

more than it loves me

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

ocean breeze

love lingers lost in black clouds, 

stormy skies 

in the empty chambers of the heart 

silence echoes, soundless waves in the air 

escaping your spirit, raining down on me 

liquid silver drops pelt from heaven

fog hangs heavy on violent seas

as seduction buries itself 

like a crab in the sand 

waiting for the ocean breeze 

to blow them away

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

love

how do I move it? 

from yesterday to today

from there to here 

from was to is 

from fantasy to real 

from once to now 

from you to new

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

sssshhhhh

it was the silence 

the gift you gave most often

that brings reckoning

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

tunes

birds happily chirp 

windchimes are playing their tune 

morning sounds are best :)

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

self portrait

with calm and turmoil

I paint my canvass

guts and grit

dripping from my brush 

I paint boldly

with courage and trust

and when it is dry

it is a self portrait

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

kodachrome

saw you in a photograph 

we met on a crowded street 

I didn't recognize your face

but my heart skipped a beat 

my defenses crumbled 

the wall fell at your feet 

knowingly you step around 

as you made a hasty retreat 

how quickly it all changes 

like the seasons full of treason 

under trance of circumstance 

I'm left without rhyme or reason 

saw you in a photograph 

we met on a crowded street 

I didn't recognize your face 

but my heart sure skipped a beat

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

play

an incomplete pass 

I see it as it spirals 

I am a good catch

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

a song of forever

sing me a song of forever

a slow waltz that we can dance to 

not for a minute or few hours 

but a lifetime with me and with you 

read me a story about loving 

about how it was lost and then found 

make it a happily ever after 

a book that I just can't put down 

tell me again that you love me 

touch me as only you can 

at the end of the day, as the sun fades

show me so I understand

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