skipping pages

I'm reading a book 

but skipping pages 

a true story 

about a fire that rages 

viewed from a valley 

surrounded by ranges 

dense black smoke 

from the scorching sages 

I skim ahead, 

parts quite enthralling 

some chapters don't fit 

this book at all 

other parts tear 

at my hearts wall

it doesn't end 

quite like I thought

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

lower the bar

I need to lower the bar 

the measure I'm using is wrong 

I look too deep inside 

and quickly move along

it's not that I ask too much 

romance and a hand to hold 

seeking one that is true 

a heart that is made of gold 

do you think there are any left? 

someone who'll rock my world 

a kindred spirit that wants 

and can make my heart unfurl 

I need to lower the bar 

the measure I'm using is wrong 

I look too deep inside 

and quickly move along

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

thief

like a thief in the night
coming in crescent light
you slip inside of me
stealing all of my dreams

what is a gal to do?
to get her mind off you
you stay when I awake
causing way too much heart ache

Heaven

from here I can see Heaven
it is in the clouds
and on this beach
it is the rays of the sun
sparkling on the sea
it is the moon and stars
reflecting on the ebbing tide

yes...
this is Heaven
this is where Your grace rests
and where I want to stay
it is where my spirit soars
and where my soul finds peace
it is heaven for me

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

cleanse

laying on the sandy beach 

at the ocean's edge 

toes close to the water 

hands behind my head 

I shut my eyes real tight 

and suck in deep my breath

I'm ready for the briny waves 

to sanctify and cleanse 

this always worked before 

but doesn't help this time 

the wound is way too deep

and burns when the sea gets in

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

no such thing

there is no such thing 

as this turning out badly 

it's my hopes and dreams 

going up in smoke 

there is no way 

that all this can end sadly 

where you're concerned 

only one one of us was in love 

there is no way 

you'll have trouble forgetting 

cause there's no such thing

as heartache or mistrust

there's no such thing 

as remorse or regretting 

where you're concerned 

only one of us was in love 

there is no way 

you'll feel lonely or blue 

no tears will be shed 

for me it's true 

there is no such thing 

as a memory of us two 

cause there was never any such thing 

as me and you 

where you're concerned 

only one of us was in love

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

follow me

I've come a long way 

still further to go 

sometimes there's no reason 

that I see to keep going 

when I think it's too much 

and I'm ready to quit 

I hear your voice i

n the midst of it saying: 

I'll show you the path 

I'll show you the light 

I'll be here if you need me 

I am right by your side 

you are half-way there

don't give up now 

follow me, follow me 

the path I was on 

was crooked and wrong 

each corner I turned 

wasn't where I belonged 

hell bent on destruction, 

hurting those close 

then thunder was crashing

--saw lightning flashes 

and I heard a voice 

in the midst of it 

saying: I'll show you the path 

I'll show you the light 

I'll be here if you need me 

I am right by your side 

you are half-way there 

don't give up now

follow me, follow me

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

blessings

when you say your evening prayers 

blessing those that you love most 

does my name cross your lips?

blessing one you once held close 

when you pray for saving grace 

blessings for less important things 

in your mind's eye can you see my face 

blessing me for a long ago spring

when you say your evening prayer 

blessing those that you love most 

does my name ever cross your lips? 

blessing one you once held close

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

wind

the wind blows down from the mountains 

whipping the prairie grass 

the mesquites bend and toss 

as it sweeps across, 

wiping the sand clean

and all the thoughts 

I thought I left 

bottled and corked

in the sea 

have found there way 

on curling waves

back inside of me 

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

haiku

my expectations 

were always set very low 

you met every one

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

Heaven's gate

the ruins that I live in 

created by the pain 

where darkness never falters 

no candle illuminate 

where conviction hides in corners 

truth finally penetrates 

my dreams have now been shredded 

outside of Heaven's gate

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

sounds

I love the sounds of the trains at night

semi trucks that are our of sight

the gears shifting on a 5 speed car

soft voices lilting under the stars

your soft breathing next to me

when I'm awake, and just can't sleep

the dog snoring next to the bed

and reading books, already read

I love the sounds outside our door

coyotes bay and owls hoot more

gentle creatures roaming the woods

seeking shelter for their own good

good night moon and good night stars

good night loved ones wherever you are

have sweet dreams once you lay down

rocked to sleep by sounds from town

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

another year older

closer to another year older 

wiser?? not so much!

I'm living on fast forward 

and over extended luck 

time is slipping away 

all those things I wanted to do 

my bucket list gets longer 

my sentence not commuted 

I need to revise a long, long list 

is there time to beat the clock? 

before my life is over 

and on pearly gates I knock

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

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