final photo

he held her hand and stole her heart 

wished her well when he had to go 

his heart aching 

hers was breaking 

they'd gone as far as they could 

the sky was blue, the day was black

rosy tinted when they look back 

the final photo when the camera clicked 

captured an affair 

both deep and intense 

fading smiles, vacant eyes 

a black and white

held in their minds 

framing a shot 

of love that's blind 

he held her hand and stole her heart 

wished her well when he had to go 

his heart aching 

hers was breaking 

they'd gone as far as they could 

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

rider

I saw the rider once again 

on a distant mountaintop 

he didn't wave, he didn't stop 

just turned his back 

and quickly rode off 

I've seen him once or twice before

always the same,

never changes 

watching from afar 

not even a doff of his hat

 

it's a mystery to me 

what is it that he sees? 

down in this valley 

observing, never approaching 

always riding off

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

fuse

the fuse is lit 

a kiss the propellant 

our bodies entwined 

on fire from accelerant 

we burn white-hot 

but we burn too quick 

our liaison had 

a very short wick

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

shooting star

in the valley, 

under darkness of night 

a shooting star 

falls at my feet 

after it's cooled,

I pick it up 

looking at intricacies

turning it over 

a familiarity I see 

what I discover, 

mystery uncovered

it is my dreams 

landed at my feet 

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

electric slide

Between Heaven and Earth

on a wooden floor 

doin the electric slide

givin all we're worth

steel guitars

and a longneck night 

boots slide smoothly 

or tap in time 

cowgirls moving

quickly in line 

dancing late 

in the moon's light 

cowboy up

for one last time

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

love spoken

I can hear you 

surprised at how many ways 

"I've never felt that way" 

can be said 

I see compassion 

in your eyes

the walls I built 

worked so well

keeping you at arms length 

my love still speaks 

leaving a hollow, empty sound 

inside my heart

and falling on deaf ears,

as they drift in moonlight

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

text

a voice-mail number 

text on my screen

my imagination 

parked forever in a dream

satellites scramble 

my heated words 

as you hit delete

now that's absurd!

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

swim

my love for you shines
reflecting on the sea
a million glittering jewels
sparkling in the sun’s light

come and swim in it
dive into its depths
float in its wonder
let it carry you away

Poet

 don't have any expectations
what is it that turned your head?
was it all of the pictures?
or the words from my heart read?
can you be the poet?
the one I've been searching for?
can you fill my heart with romance?
where others have failed before?

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

vignette

I dreamed of you 

again last night 

a short vignette 

which I forget

but I know you were there 

inside fantasies

touching me in

louvered moonlight

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

what we found

like a bird that soars 

in the vast blue sky

like a kite, with a tail, 

floating way up high 

your love lifts me, 

doesn't tie me down 

it's not what I needed, 

it was what we found 

at the end of the day, 

when evening falls 

when the moon climbs high 

among the stars 

you hold me close 

and sing our song 

I'm in your heart, 

where I belong

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

Violeta Pacheta (VRW)

Violeta Pacheta

my favorite girl

I sing you this song

as you laugh and twirl

I know it's not really

your given name

but Violeta Pacheta

is one and the same

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

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