Violet

Violet, sweet Violet

like a flower you're named

or maybe the color

it's one and the same

wisdom/sensitivity 

both which are you

growing more so each minute

with your vibrant hues

motivation and spirit

in all that you do

always with a smile

that lights up the room

little and funny

how quickly you grow

on all those around you

and all those you know

grow little flower

keep your face to the sun

the wind at your back

as through life you run

always in my prayers

and deep in my heart

a little Violet flower

I loved from your start

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

undeveloped

I've learned when you ponder, it disappears

the ruminations and deep down fears 

it's like the question fails to come near

fog in our mist bringing up the rear

the editing, spliced, on the dark room floor 

contorted images, a mask of horror 

I would have settled, but now I need more 

it stays undeveloped, locked in a drawer 

I tried to run, but could never hide 

as all I feel explodes from deep inside 

you see it all and let it slide

a few little lies and a compromise 

the clouds form, dark, in the desert sky

lightning flashes illuminate night 

I thought I saw but I was blind 

reality chokes my air supply 

my spirit leaves as the battle rages 

you've read the book, studied the pages 

a twelve step program, designed in stages 

the truth always wins, and has for ages

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

nothing

nothing you can see
nothing you can say
nothing is gonna stop me
or get in my way

every feeling here
every idea begins
every fantasy laid bare
making my mind spin

I'm not turning back
I'm not gonna quit
I'm in way too deep
this love is way too thick

don't you feel the love?
don't you hear my heart?
don't you think it's time
to finally let it start?

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

stand up (JJW)

you dance to a beat

only you can hear

without hatred

showing no fear

standing tall

for what you feel

singing songs on

your hearts reel

go your own way

don't look back

learn what you need

from real life hacks

sing your songs

and play your tunes

show what it's like

stand up for you

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

backdrop

the western sky is red tonight 

a full moon lights the stage 

a backdrop for love 

stars that glow 

seen from a moon-roof 

on a warm desert night 

it all starts with a kiss 

it all comes together as bliss 

if we could only stay like this

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

surrender

I'm giving up, giving in 

that's it baby,

I'm surrendering 

no use fighting 

the way I feel 

I can't hide it 

this is real 

I'm surrendering 

you had me hooked 

from that first kiss 

it's been a long time

since I felt like this 

take it all 

every feeling inside 

wrap my heart around your finger 

I surrender 

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

all of these things

what makes you laugh?
what makes you cry?
what you tell yourself
to just get by
the deep down truth
and what it means
I want to know
all of these things

your fantasies
your darkest night
the things you think
when your mind takes flight
your highest high
what you don't show
all of these things
I want to know

let me climb inside
and travel your mind
see it all first hand
and learn with time

let me be the one
that sets you aglow
all of these things
I want to know

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

faith

I'm still believing, baby 

still believing in me and you 

I believe in these dreams of mine 

and will for quite some time 

I believe that you'll still sing

I believe that we'll still dance

I'm keeping my faith in love 

I'm keeping my faith in you 

I believe that as long as this fire

is raging down deep inside 

that if I believe it long enough

you will keep it ignited

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

golden

I can't see the future 

but I've seen the past 

don't want to wake up 

cause the dream will pass

the trees are bare 

but the streets are golden 

my spirit is calm 

cause my heart you are holding

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

when you awake

I'm speeding on this blacktop

taking corners way too fast 

passing on solid lines 

making up for our lost time 

can I get there quick enough? 

or is it way too late? 

sitting at all red lights

as dusk creeps into night 

are you waiting up? 

can you feel I'll be there soon? 

I'm glancing at the clock 

did you leave the door unlocked? 

if you're aslewhen he I arrive

I'll quietly slip in by you 

when you awake in the early dawn

you'll be wrapped, in my arms

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

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