book

I read you like a book 

the cover fading 

the binding cracked 

pages dog-eared and yellowing 

a book I have read many times 

and still reread 

contentment in your story 

comfort in your words 

an old friend I cherish 

a happily ever after 

 never changing 

but still I read 

page by page 

chapter by chapter 

a book I love

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

mask

your mask slips 

reality spills all over me 

drenching me in silent lucidity 

before you can catch it 

before you can retract it 

before you can cover it

but the truth does not set me free 

instead it blurs my vision 

making it harder 

to see my way

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

unwritten

I feel the lyrics 

the chords, not yet written 

compose with your heart

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

flowing script

my love bled across the page 

as a fountain pen's ink 

bleeds into fibers of linen paper 

my heart spilling its love for you 

in crimson flowing script

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

same old

Are you telling yourself 

It’s all you’ll ever need 

All you ever wanted 

The stuff of your dreams 

Are you lying to yourself 

trying to get through the night 

Then the day comes 

And things just aren’t right 

Are you thinking to yourself 

Where did I go wrong 

It's the same old ending 

To the same old song 

Are you saying to yourself 

I’m tired of this charade 

There’s nothing that  I’ve got 

And a large price I’ve paid 

Are you asking yourself 

How do I get back 

How did I ever 

Get so far off track

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

Quid Pro Quo

Will you ever reach the summit 

With all stretched below 

When after all you’ve faced 

Has become a flickering glow 

After all the difficult tries 

And the whispering echoes 

The dilemmas and the fears 

From things you didn’t know 

When it all tumbles down 

Like a whiteout blizzard's snow 

When there’s no turns left 

Where you didn’t already go 

You thought the end was near 

After the hurricane’s blow 

But your angel didn’t come 

With a clearer path shown 

When you didn’t stay in hell 

But were there to say hello 

And you bartered with Satan 

Another quid pro quo 

You tried to speed real fast 

But could only move in slow 

What is there that’s left? 

More dues that you now owe 

For the life that you have lived 

And the wild oats you sowed 

It's the levy that you pay 

For the final quid pro quo

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

blowing on the dice

luck for the next roll 

your fortune on the table 

life is a craps shoot

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

bittersweet

so close to the dream
the taste of reality
left it bittersweet

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

fit

there's a place in your arms
that I just might fit
let me fill that space

there's a place in your mind
with dreams you can share
let me fill that space

there's a place in your heart
that is not being used
let me fill that space

there's a place in your soul
that longs for the truth
let me fill that space

there's a trail untraveled
a path to your love
let me explore it with you

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

soft and simple

a line in a song I heard sung
music soft and simple
seems like yesterday

yesterday, a moment in time
feet firmly on the ground
a night sky abundant with stars

stars, reflecting eyes and thought
blocking what I didn't see
whispers underneath the moon

moon, now full with frosty glow
music in silence echoes
as I lay alone

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

out of breath

running till I'm out of breath

knowing there is nothing left 

hitting hard foreboding walls

nothing my way ever falls 

love is hanging on this ledge 

didn't have the leading edge 

never did if I recall

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

monsoon

in the desert night 

streaks of electricity 

all hype, no rain falls

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

love me

that you can love me

a half that you have made whole

takes my breath away

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

hike

we hike the canyon 

a strong hand if I need it 

watching out for me

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

hurdles

jumping the hurdles

running as fast as I can 

always one faster

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

scrawled

that's right, I'm packing

I'm strong, not lacking

but our love's cracking 

although I'm small 

big dreams befall 

fantasies are squalled 

it bounces like a ball 

against a wall 

where love was scrawled

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

cowboy up

wow, you look terrific 

I made reservations for eight

it's this quiet little bistro

and the food is really great

you open my door and buckle me in 

making sure the door shuts tight

do you know you have the greenest eyes? 

that's the first thing I surmised 

here, put on my jacket 

are you sure you're warm enough?

I discovered at the start of the evening 

this cowboy can cowboy up!

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

candles in the rain

I lay down candles in the rain 

knowing they won't light 

someday the sun will shine again 

and all the wicks will dry 

then I'll light them one by one 

make a tarmac in the dark 

so you can find your way to me 

on this runway to my heart

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

stardust

blanket spread under evening stars 

enjoying the constellations 

the big dipper pours its luminosity 

drenching with anticipation 

up on Pegasus' back you climb 

handing me up behind you 

together we travel across the sky 

for a most memorable ride 

Gemini watches with jealousy 

Leo gives a mighty roar 

Cassiopeia watches in disbelief 

as we continue our star tour 

Sagittarius shoots his arrow 

missing Aquila's wing 

Lyra strums a song for us 

as we travel on this evening 

heated from extraordinary dreams

passion ends with slumber

a fantasy trip, always like this

filled with lightning and thunder

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

love

love comes around 

every once in a while 

unlocks the door 

with its winning smile 

it takes my breath 

and wounds with its scars 

whispers to my soul 

as it plays with my heart 

the lessons I learn, 

questions still remain 

 each new beginning 

as I try it again

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

reflection

I have just a minute 

as I finish my hair 

spray the partum, 

walk through scent left in air 

I look in the mirror, 

will he like what he sees? 

and I turn my back, 

as the reflection winks

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

wires

a break in communication 

somehow the wires get crossed 

or maybe there are no towers 

for the words to flow across

it all ends so abruptly  

the same way that begins

one doesn't give enough 

the other's attention wans

 

it is the fine art of deception 

cloak and dagger I believe 

I don't need to a sleuth 

to see the intricate weave

please excuse my heart 

for showing that it cared 

giving what you needed 

and always being there 

I loved you more than moments 

we did or did not share 

when the darkness falls 

your shadow disappears

searching, ever searching

through the vast, thick haze

questions never answered

lost inside this maze

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

me and you

it is never really over 

this space between me and you 

the harder you fight to leave 

the tighter I hold to you 

the faithful wounds keep coming 

I forgive what you forget 

one more patch, another fresh start 

another notch on my heart 

how did I overlook this part?

block it out when storm clouds form

this candle in the darkness 

makes it harder to see withdrawal

while you look out the window 

at the sky of azure blue 

the choice you make that's right for you 

is the one I couldn't see through

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

cycle of dreams

my dreams grow in an open field 

mixed with prairie grass and tumbleweed

the heat of the sun beating on them by day 

the mountain winds that spread the seeds 

they mushroom into fantasies 

fuel for the desert fires to feed 

igniting with lightning speed 

monsoons come and wash them away 

extinguish the fires, cool the heat 

one by one they grow again 

nourished anew with the spring rain 

to blow and drift like tumbleweeds

the vicious cycle starts over again

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

before you go

I'm holding on tight to just one thought 

is it long enough to know? 

with a mind that moves too fast 

with a dialogue that is too slow 

when it all becomes crystal clear 

and I find you waiting here 

let me love you again before you turn to go 

I can see you in my nightmares 

and I can feel you in my dreams 

it may not be realistic 

but that's the way it seems 

when I can feel your heat 

and your breath upon my face 

till the moon goes with the sun 

and the dreams are all erased 

when it all becomes crystal clear 

and I find you waiting here 

a question on your lips

my thoughts that are dismissed

just this one more time

let me love you again 

before you turn to go

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