token

every word written on the wall 

one last kiss as you kick the door open 

your back was all I ever saw 

as you hit the ground runnin 

you grabbed what you could 

what you leave, not needed

one of them was me 

flip a token in the turn-style 

lookin for a clean getaway 

all the questions you're leaving 

no simple answers resolve 

it hangs out in the open 

like clothes upon the line 

they may smell fresh from the sweet air 

but the sun sets the spots in 

what is it that's in store? 

can you put it out of sight? 

how does it all end up 

after disillusionment 

if it didn't mean a thing 

and the burden broke your back

the arrow hits the target 

splitting it all in half

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

holding strong

your breeze blowing down from the mountains 

cool and sweet it lifted me 

I heard the crack of roaring thunder

I held strong, never ran for cover 

I saw the flash of zigzagged lightning 

felt the energy but it didn't frighten me 

now my cover may have been blown

but I'm standing firm on this long road 

I turned my back to walk away 

that's when I heard you call my name 

over my shoulder I can see your face

is it time to go or do I remain? 

confusion rocks my very core 

it's always this and nothing more 

still, I hold strong, I hold strong 

am I in it for a minute, or the long haul?

your breeze blowing down from the mountains 

cool and sweet it lifted me 

I heard the crack of roaring thunder

I held strong, never ran for cover

 

I hold strong, I hold strong

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

always back to you

gravity attracts, stronger than a magnet 

force shield broken, I already tried it

there's something I can't put my finger on 

something pulling me back to you 

the steps are steep, but I keep climbing 

up through the clouds to my piece of heaven 

sometimes I slip, I'm close to the edge 

something pulling me back to you 

sometimes there's a light at the end of the tunnel 

sometimes it's dim and my thoughts get muddled 

I'll keep going to get to where you are 

it's worth every penny, no matter the price 

there is something I can't put my finger on 

something that's pulling me back to you 

always, always back to you

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

spark

what is this difference that I feel 

this  instant fire and energy 

from that very first moment 

an instant chemistry 

are you using heavy artillery? 

I don't think it's needed 

if this is you au natural 

you're sweeping me off my feet

just the first electrical spark 

that I've been looking for 

infused right from the very start 

as you reopen that door

your words are just like poetry 

an arrow straight through my heart 

as one misses the opportunity 

another will take it and runs

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

if

if you fell for it

believe that I don't love you 

then you are a fool

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

crown of thorns

it's all curled up, resting demure and sweet 

laying face down, harmless and still 

it snarls and growls like the beast that it is 

when you turn it over or step on its tail 

viciously it bites, inflicting before it runs

there aren't enough drugs to ease its pain 

the bitterness dies and so does regret

like the wind from the mountains 

we change what we can and bury the rest 

no questions of why or who knows what's best 

another failure, another flunked test 

we let it all go, saying never again 

no medals awarded for this crown of thorns 

it shrinks so much smaller as distance grows 

the memories fade like the trail behind

the heart will just keep on

as it just seems to do 

believing that next time 

it will all be different

it will all be different

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

Relationship

Relationships revolve, as they 

Evolve

Laying

A foundation 

That is strong 

In others we plant seeds 

Offering what we both 

Need 

Sealing 

Hearts 

In a lasting 

Partnership 

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

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