Mason-Dixon

dividing, between north and south

by a belt of studded leather 

is drawn an imaginary Tangent line 

called the Mason-Dixon

close your eyes and wander 

you won't need GPS 

let your lips and hands roam free 

and discover many delights 

follicles smell of magnolias 

just like the Mississippi trees 

see the pleasure in my eyes 

green as Carolina seas 

savor all of my kisses, 

dripping Virginia maple sugar 

slide your hand down these long limbs 

as soft as Arkansas cotton 

juices flow here sweetly

that taste of Georgia Peach 

come and explore these treasures 

waiting, but within your reach

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

honey do

my "honey-do" list is growing
a lot to be done I know
some trim needs to painted
the weeds are out of control

my palm tree needs a trimming
the pool is giving me fits
this paper isn't long enough
and I don't have a honey to do it

the garage light is not working

I think it has burned out

the bathroom toilet is running
my shower could use some grout
what is a lonely girl to do
with all of these needs adrift

I guess I'll have to hire someone
cause I don't have a honey to do it

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

matriarch

the matriarch, 

now tired and weak 

hugs me tightly 

as I turn to leave 

the bond that secured,

gone many nights 

six years hidden 

from both of our sights 

still, I remain, 

from love and respect 

the child has grown, 

that one you first met 

the common denominator 

from those past years 

still holds fast,

and will keep me near

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

back to the start

I was always guessing at numbers 

this puzzle I pick apart

it is all a question of science 

that I sing from deep in my heart 

tell me if you love me 

take it back to our very start 

as it all spins around in circles

bringing us back where we are 

I didn't say it would be easy 

it isn't with crimes of the heart 

there are no set rules to follow 

I didn't think it would be this hard 

as it all spins around in circles 

bringing us where we now are 

has it all faded into darkness

is it too late for a new start?

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

girl scout

a Persian princess,

a nurse and me 

memories buried in history 

in Southwest skies 

we float like clouds 

and we get beat up 

by a girl scout

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

eyes

eyes are the window to the soul 

and yours you tried to veil 

I could see down deep inside you 

where deeply your ghosts dwell 

but the threat didn't make me run 

you wanted to be something 

and you feigned it pretty well 

you thought that you were someone 

that hid the secrets quelled 

you are the only one who is fooled 

I didn't fall for partial truth 

or obscurity in your song 

although I danced to your music 

the demons still along

shadows you blame reside

it's like a 12-step program

it's there when you are ready 

prayers and candles won't complete

naively your not steady 

for love to show its heart

I'm not saying it doesn't hurt 

you weren't part of my game

you were honest in your verity 

though it doesn't ease this pain 

it wasn't easy loving you

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

a good imitation of the blues

it is not just a good imitation 

not like Jackson says at all 

I think it's the real thing 

when dreams of you recoil 

no, this isn't a good imitation 

these blues in every hue 

even when it's not raining 

I am blue here without you

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

a sweet dream

finally, a sweet dream comes 

of sandy beaches and warm sun 

of moonlight walks, hand in hand 

two sets of footprints

in the sand 

I wake refreshed, 

yawn, and stretch

 this time a dream, 

I don't forget

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

flight

at 5,000 feet I felt real sad 

at 15,000 I had regrets 

at 30,000 I was sorry 

that we had ever met

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

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