struck

I won't say that I'm sorry 

I can't apologize 

when all the truth comes forward

reflected in my eyes 

I won't keep you longer 

you are much too wise 

as truth hangs in the balance 

the mask won't cover the guise 

you cover me with roses 

and lay me down with hope

reason is not forth coming 

not in the broader scope 

I climb the ladder with fantasy 

it is a slippery slope 

and I light just one more candle 

and in the darkness grope 

we reach and understanding

I wish you all the luck

but when it starts to rain 

it's not worth a sawbuck 

it lays in wreck an ruin 

no way is it unstuck 

lightning flashes quickly 

I'm the only one that's struck 

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

distraction

I need some kind of distraction 

maybe romance under the moon 

something to take my mind off 

of all these thoughts of you 

I'm trying to out run you 

but it's a one way street 

always too much traffic 

quickly you outrun me 

It's like swimming in the ocean 

with a dangerous undertow 

and I am so close to drowning 

I'm just too tired to float 

I need some kind of distraction 

maybe romance under the moon 

something to take my mind off

 of all these thoughts of you

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

affliction

never one to play it safe 

always bending the rules 

always pushing the envelope 

using all the tools

as I buck the system 

fight predisposed convictions 

I don't see this as an affliction 

but more of a contradiction

if there is an "out" I'll find it 

if there is a line, I'll cross it

if there is a wrong, I'll right it 

if there is a border, I'll smudge it

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

make it go

as it grows

I just don't know

fast or slow

just make it go

what it will take

as my heart breaks

the cells it takes

my body aches

God, take it away

and keep it at bay

this prayer I do pray

each night and each day

in six months once more

I'll find out the score

will my spirit soar?

as I come to that door

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

sight

some gifts are true, 

viewed with blind eyes 

while love goes completely 

unrecognized 

it hides in your heart, 

and deep in my mind 

you travel the road, 

look for posted signs 

you look for some joy, 

but there's none to be found 

walls everywhere, 

when you turn around 

it's like a frayed wire, 

that's just not well grounded 

love abounds, still

you won't let surround 

you stumble in the darkness, 

and can't find my light 

my love was still yours, 

the path was just right

it reflected in my eyes, 

was hidden in plain sight 

you couldn't feel the heat

 that raged in the night?

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

one last look

I can tell by that look 

you found what you missed 

a part of your soul

that failed to exist 

may you find the happiness 

that you waited for 

I wish you the best 

and all you deserve 

you were deep in my heart 

she was deep in yours 

I take one last look 

before I shut this door 

may you find the happiness 

you waited for 

I wish you the best 

and all you deserve 

it is not so sudden 

but now it is clear 

I knew it would be soon 

now that it's here 

I love you from me 

wasn't music to your wars

I wish you the best 

this wish is sincere

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

citation

my heart gets pulled over 

the fines are numerous 

I peruse  the citations 

knowing they are justified: 

too fast for conditions 

failure to negotiate turns 

running the red lights 

following too close 

ignoring the road signs 

passing on solid lines 

loving without a license

the price is not too high 

I will gladly pay 

when the officer leaves 

I start it all again

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

day to day

he touched her nights 

she touched his thoughts

he put it away 

she lives it day to day 

each memory that ignites 

each candle burning bright

the crescent moon, 

the star light frames

the passion of lost nights 

he left her many dreams 

she didn't leave a trace

he put it all away 

she lives it day to day

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

mon ami

say a prayer for me 

to find what you have found 

to bask in someone's love

to be adored in their eyes 

say a prayer for me

mon ami, my dear friend 

I wish you all the best 

wish the same for me 

say a prayer for me 

that I haven't used it up 

that I'll get one more chance 

to love the way you love 

say a prayer for me 

I say a prayer for you 

to protect your heart and soul 

to always know deep love

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

lullaby

you burn in me 

a raging inferno

raising my blood pressure

quickening my pulse 

a stroke of your hand 

lips that whisper 

an urgent lover's song 

let me sing it with you 

as you lay me down 

under dark velvet skies

as I softly sigh 

sing this lullaby 

again and again 

sing this lullaby again

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

straight edge

ponder what it all means 

your life with just your dreams 

no longer wasting your time 

this fish gone from the line 

what will you do with that space? 

when I'm gone without a trace 

a straight-edge razor cut 

redemption won't hold you up

 

my gift to you, your space 

a memory cd erased

new memories for you to make

new hearts for you rot break

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

you should have told me

darlin you should have told me 

you can't wrap your mind around

the way my heart keeps calling 

when monsoon rain pours down

the truth is in the corner 

written plainly on the wall 

I guess I couldn't see it 

cause the rain had washed it off 

darlin you should have told me 

your love doesn't have the room 

it's all tangled up in longing 

your heart's already consumed 

you embrace it in the darkness 

but it fades in the light of day 

the picture that is painted

is whitewashed in black and gray 

darlin you should have told me 

I was only spinning my wheels 

you looked it over a couple of times 

there is nothing you want to feel 

someday you'll write some lyrics

it will make such a beautiful song 

about love that was unrequited 

about a heart that you wrong

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

numbered

sometimes a wall is just a wall 

I stand against it feeling small 

maybe it's there to serve and protect 

from the depths of a deeper fall 

would I want it all to change?

that thought is foreign and strange 

I would do it in a flash

all it means is changing lanes

can't hang on to a shooting star 

when it is too far off to call

there's less twinkle in my twilight 

you're better off there where you are 

these days, numbered, growing tall

no one gets to me at all 

you are not the reason there're gone 

that' is just the way they are

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

you and me

you and me

the sun and sea 

desolate sand 

on this quiet beach

sun that warms 

moon that glows 

secrets only 

the sea will know

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

ponder

I will not waste this precious time
wondering why my love won’t rhyme
or of dreams that do recede
like the tide on this vast sea

I will not ponder what to do
about a love that leaves me blue
plenty of time for that at home
when at night I lay alone

I will not squander hours here
it goes too fast then disappears
instead, I’ll enjoy this solitude
deciding later what to do about you

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