no fond goodbyes

I walked through the fire

without getting charred

swam through the waters

brimming with sharks

fell down the mountain

without bruises or scars

but when I met you 

I had let down my guard

too late I learned

what loving you meant

living in my heart

without paying rent

after paying the piper

leaving not one red cent

you pack all your gear

and down the road you went

no fond goodbyes

or anything close

not one to miss me

more so than most

not one comparison

from those that oppose

I should have known better

than to let you impose

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

Judas Kiss

a Judas Kiss 

scorches my lips 

you didn't tip your hand, 

show your will 

or the fact that it was done 

betrayal affronts me 

confounding thoughts and feelings 

all that I thought we were

the silence is deafening

ricocheting through my heart

echoing emptiness and despair 

a perfect deception 

hiding all, 

building walls of departure 

separating fact from fiction 

I did not see it

trusting, believing, 

blinded by what I wanted 

the joke is on me 

the Judas Kiss 

that scorched me will 

burns eternal in my soul

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

Star

I took one of the stars from the sky, 

the brightest one 

It illuminates my life 

There are still a lot of them 

left for you

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

No Goodbyes

I would rather say 

à bientôt 

or vaya con dios 

never goodbye

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

evening

the shadows of the mountain 

stretch long across the valley 

as evening approaches 

I sit on the patio

reflecting on the day 

reflecting on you 

are you reflecting also? 

thinking of me 

wondering what I am doing? 

soon it will be dark 

the stars will shine

the moon will rise

I will stay here 

a little while longer 

thinking of you!

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

one day left haiku

I almost missed you 

only one day left for us

timing was perfect!

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

Dog Tag

The last piece of you has been taken from me 

A piece that I thought was insignificant

But, I had it for so long 

that it was a part of me 

It was the first thing you ever gave me 

It was on my key chain 

from the beginning 

I saw it daily 

and it was a reassurance, 

a reminder 

I knew right away that it was gone 

And I searched and searched, 

but it is gone, forever 

Yes, the memories 

of our time together 

Will always remain, 

put in their place, 

filed away 

The anger and loss 

of that one little piece of you 

Tore my heart out, 

brought the loss of you back 

I cried at this loss, 

and from the emptiness 

that came flooding back 

This too, is now filed away, 

with the rest......closure

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

blues

a portrait begins of wondrous things 

crescent moons and love songs sang 

painted in every colorful hue 

all the colors of a love that's new 

time progresses, lyrics slow 

hues turn darker losing the glow 

love comes down to black and white 

your heart gone, mine unrequited

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

pushing west

you can spend your time on warmer schemes 

things searched for and what they mean 

a change in horizons, west it seems 

a climate that suited best your dreams 

a cowboy without mountain peaks

passion pushing what you seek 

now it's laying at your feet

the flavor of victory that you seek 

bury those unpleasant sorrows 

plant your heart in arid tomorrows 

nourish it, let it thrive and grow

love shines honest in the valley below

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

vacation

a four hour drive is worth the price

a chance at heaven with endless nights 

stars that glow and lunar light

my spirit calm, my mind is right 

it is over much too soon 

pack my car and leave at noon 

it floats away like a helium balloon 

over green seas and sandy dunes

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

looking back

you wake and find me gone 

I'm not one for hanging on 

to dreams that drift in cloudless skies 

I'll be gone when you open your eyes 

you'll not think you did something wrong 

it's not in you, not where you belong 

the sun will rise and hide muddy tracks 

what you didn't see till you look back 

you won't miss me, I wasn't even there 

I wasn't the answer to your prayers 

wear the shroud, hide it in the dark 

the shadow will not miss the spark 

you wake and find me gone 

I'm not one for hanging on 

dreams that drift in cloudless skies 

I'll be gone when you open your eyes 

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

ripe

promise comes and shines its light 

a new piece of heaven in azure sky 

it grows ripe on a green vine

to taste this wonder that is now mine 

arms to hold me in the night 

kisses burn and do excite 

heating passion as I squeeze tight 

hidden joy and love's delight 

fantasy plants its seed again 

juice drips freely down my chin 

no turning back once I begin 

I'm staking claim and digging in

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

closed doors

I read the words on the little screen 

without any thought, without any feeling 

they mean nada, nothing to me 

that door closed--not opening 

doors I close without a pause 

not to make you feel any flaws

not a vendetta, I'm not your cause 

if you read this, you know who you are 

never an answer to any of my dreams 

a one-oared boat on a quick moving stream 

remember way back when once you screamed 

a little overboard.. a little too extreme 

go ahead and comment when you're feeling brave 

nothing but this is for you anyway 

answers won't come to anything you say 

the door stays closed on your yesterdays

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

free

as you lie in crescent light 

love reflecting in her eyes

I am awake, another sleepless night 

with abstract dreams unrealized

loves conviction, a contorted shape 

hidden by a shadowed face 

again my heart loses trust and faith 

against condemned walls it scratches and scrapes 

as distance grows between you and me 

a faithful wound continues to bleed

the songs you write for her to read 

the final straw that sets me free 

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

Cowboy

I’m lookin' for a cowboy 

With, boots, hat and a horse 

The kind that doesn’t line dance 

Do real cowboys do that? 

Tall and lean and muscular 

From ridin' the range all day 

Ropin', brandin', workin' hard 

Always fences to mend 

Yeah, there’s something about a cowboy 

And romancin' under the moon 

He can sweep me off my feet 

Or maybe use a lasso 

We’ll get in his pickup 

Or maybe we can ride double 

I can ride in front of him 

So he can keep me from fallin’  

At the end of a long hard day 

His boots tucked under my bed 

He’ll fulfill my fantasies 

Just please don’t call me ma’am!

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

Filed Away

Now the drawer is finally shut 

The ghosts are laid to rest 

All the memories filed away 

The bad along with the best 

The thoughts don’t come now everyday

Only every once in a long while 

Something that trips a trigger 

Makes me remember and smile 

Each piece of you is in my past 

Finally, I’ve moved on 

Didn’t know if it would ever happen 

But you are completely gone 

Starting new, starting fresh 

Get on with my life 

A world of possibilities 

A new world to contrive

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

moot

I wonder how it feels 

as the chalk is rubbed away 

to know that what you mean 

is exactly what you say 

the words hang there like cobwebs 

heavy in a dusty room 

serving as a shelter

protecting like a womb 

there's a shadow on the floor 

a taped outline of truth 

and what you heard was me 

although my point was moot

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

secrets

that hidden place 

where secrets go

a tiny room 

only lovers know 

latent time 

where I have no will 

a memory that 

is hard to kill 

we dance the dance 

and sing a tune 

off kilter 

and a bit off key 

in the next life 

we might get it right 

but for a while 

it served its need 

you scratch a heart 

into a dead tree 

initials there 

for you and me 

and if no one 

is there when it bleeds

are there sound waves

amongst the trees

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

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