pick and choose

as my future turns around 

you bury all you lose 

your winter sky will come again 

moon shining on empty rooms 

these pieces of my heart I loaned

are truth as you flashback

you may try to shake them loose

to just cut you some slack

I realize I lost myself 

the day that I found you 

when you played your shell game 

with the option to pick and choose 

honesty that you once portrayed 

said "you weren't my kind of guy" 

too bad I didn't read that then

might've kept me warm some nights

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

act of will

a bridge to burn 

an act of will 

a future turns 

a soul to fill 

a scrap of truth

a piece of me 

a heart gets fooled 

as you step free 

only one looses

is what I see

you're losses cut

when I broke free 

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

silence

like a cancer spreads 

across the wires, distance grows 

placid like your heart

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

light of day

without clouds above my head 

everything else packed neatly away 

there is a lot of nothing to be done

as I bask in this warm, warm sun 

ln this whiter shade of pale 

as the darkness slips then fades 

the loudest words it seems I read

are the ones that do not ever get said 

you can scream from mountains high

or whisper them in dead of night 

when you're laying all alone 

wondering if the truth was told

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

shadow

once I met a shadow 

who wasn't really there 

I listened to the whispers 

that lilted on the breeze 

I fell in love with a love song 

a tune to which I danced 

once I met a shadow

that vanished in thin air

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

six feet deep and rising

over six feet deep and rising

this water doesn't flow 

as the rain continues falling 

I'm caught in the undertow 

I am in way over my head now

the pump works way too slow 

no place for it to drain to

no place for it to go 

over six feet deep and rising 

this water doesn't flow 

once more I slip down 

extinguishing the afterglow

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

enough

are there words that could ever be said? 

words that could actually mean enough? 

when light drains quickly into night

was it that I it wasn't enough? 

do you think it could have worked? 

missing lyrics to a perfect song 

blinded by pain but not by truth 

do you think it could have worked?

will the chance ever come around? 

trains that pass on parallel tracks 

viewing it through a small square window 

will that chance ever come around? 

do you think back about that time? 

remembering what we were once like 

the early stages of a long running game 

do you ever think back about that time? 

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

carte blanche

when I love, it's generously 

carte blanche the given liberties 

always tendering, not always receiving 

someday, I pray, it returns to me 

my love is like a credit card 

the sky's the limit for every charge 

this way I love...I pray someday 

it'll be returned the same way

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

dew in the morning sun

exposed skin...chilled from the night air 

or is it the touch of your warm hands 

slightly stroking, tenderly provoking 

either way--bumps raise on ivory skin 

soft sighs...escape through moistened lips 

beads glisten like dew in the morning sun 

sheets twists as love tumbles 

in the paleness of the moon's light 

music plays...in our minds 

as rhythmically we move 

a dance we have danced before 

but each time like the first

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

once the dance is done

I'm not sorry baby 

don't you ever think that 

there isn't anything I would change

nothing I would take back 

when my dreams come 

they are still of sand and sea 

the footsteps we left 

on a smooth, moonlit beach 

don’t you worry 'bout me baby 

I'll get by somehow 

but the music isn't the same 

once the dance is done 

the clouds moved by the breeze 

the sun still shines 

the moon rises high 

I still think of you 

and tiles from a game 

sometimes wondering 

if you ever think of me

don’t you worry 'bout me baby 

I'll get by somehow 

but the music isn't the same 

once the dance is done

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

shallow water

if we cross in shallow water 

waist deep in murkiness 

if we can deny the demons 

and smother the pain 

we can make it to the other side

if we can keep our sights 

on the trail ahead 

leave the past behind,

keep the wind at our back 

lay some stones for the future 

ahead, the river gets too wide 

the bridge we build is right here 

if we wait, 

we may not reach the other side 

fears haunting the night

disappear with dawn 

the winds of change blow 

lightning and thunder 

clear the way for cleansing 

with the rain that falls 

take my hand 

let me hold yours

shall we cross together? 

shall we build a bridge for all time? 

shall we look ahead together?

help me lay the foundation 

take my hand

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

fun

I'm overdue for excitement 

need to get out of Dodge 

and have a little fun I think 

a vacation in a nice lodge

a little lovin wouldn't hurt anything 

nine to five is making me frown 

I keep taking what they're given 

and they keep weighing me down 

I need a trip to clear me head

to sleep late would be nice

yeah, bring on some excitement

I don't care what the price

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

where you look

it's never where you search for it 

you find it when not looking

it kind of takes you by surprise 

before you know it you're hooked

there isn't any warnings 

you can't hide from the storm 

looking for that certain place 

that keeps you dry and warm 

to fall asleep in a lover's arms 

is that wondrous feeling close? 

is what I'm seeking far or near? 

will I find what's looked for most?

how much longer do I persevere? 

it's just not where I'm looking

I long to be taken by surprise 

I too just want to be hooked

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

dust

as you brushed past 

stirring things in me

feelings buried deep 

I forgot I needed 

what do I do now? 

you said you couldn't stay 

loving me for a moment 

before you were on your way 

now the dust won't settle 

on things you wouldn't say

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

blindness

so close you can feel it 

clutched tightly in your grasp

the taste of honey on your lips

as just as quickly it all slips 

dropping all the pieces you held 

endless dreams that floated past

as I escape in the night 

not enough love to hold me 

not enough of you to give

the blindness in your heart 

has finally done us in

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

blown away

the wind rages and waves are high

ferociously they pound the shore 

I stand on the portico, wind whipping my hair 

zipping my jacket against the chill 

the moon hides as does the stars 

ocean life swims in deeper fathoms 

but tomorrow the sun will shine 

the sand will be swept clean 

nothing of the storm will remain 

nor will thoughts of you 

that I cast into the wind 

now completely blown away

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

I remember

as I sit and ponder 

under the desert stars 

I look up at the moon 

and wonder where you are 

why you went away 

and why it was so far 

I remember the way 

your eyes twinkled at me 

I remember the way 

your smile set my heart free 

I remember the way 

it felt here just to be 

it's not that I am sad 

bout the way that it turned out 

it' not that I lost something 

that I can't live without 

it's not that I am left here 

not contemplating doubts 

I remember the way 

your eyes twinkled at me 

I remember the way 

your smile set my heart free

I remember the way 

it felt here just to be

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

waiting for my chance

desperate for changes 

hungry for more truth 

further from where I started 

since I fell in love with you 

just waiting for my chance 

I've let go of it all 

it didn't do much good now

I still can't make you fall 

there's nothing that I'm lacking 

I'm absolutely complete

open your eyes and see me 

I got tired of tryin to compete

I've got nothing to lose 

and everything to win 

if I can spin your heart 

that's where we begin

I'm running out of time 

not sure where I should go 

clinging to these moments 

my lost time with you

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

space

my heart was once full 

now it has a hole your size 

a big space to fill

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

just a friend

I know what it means and what it doesn't

there isn't anything I haven't read

It's just a friend lending a hand to a friend

getting back on track from where it ended

I know how it started and the ups and downs

I know there isn't more or less to be wanted 

it is just a friend lending a hand to a friend 

supporting a need, that is all that it means

I know that I can depend on you 

even when I call out of the blue 

it is just a friend lending a hand to a friend 

that's where it starts and how it ends 

that is always the way that it turns out 

it is just a friend lending a hand to a friend

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

what if

what if...
the only commonality was love
nothing else
would that hold you?
keeping you content
not complacent
day in
day out
only love


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

goodnight baby

goodnight baby, wherever you are

dream sweet dreams, safe from harm 

just a few weeks till you feel the warmth 

wrapped in the arms of the one you love

rest sweet baby, lay down your head

let things that plague you fade away

let dreams of the West keep worries at bay

till there with your love you at last remain

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

flickers

quickly it flickers
like a candle we just lit
now the flame burns high

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

picture

your picture on my desk
your voice is in my ear
calling to say goodnight
I'm wishing you were here

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

reading each other

you like all the country songs 

ballads that twang a bit 

I like music from the seventies 

and a few more recent hits 

you like all the deep, deep reads 

I prefer less intense 

ok, maybe some thrillers 

where the heroine always wins 

you like all those space flicks 

and sci-fi on TV 

I like more of a drama 

or chick-flicks easy to see 

but we like reading each other 

and coffee the same way 

and sometimes I may get wacky 

but I'm a friend that's here to stay

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