cracked

you light the filtered end

of your last cigarette

you were going to kick the habit

but you're not ready yet

dressing for a quick run

to the convenience store

and you're lighting up another

as you walk through the door

home alone with coffee

trying to plan your day

but too many thoughts are rushing

and on and on  they play 

like an old scratched vinyl record

that skips and gets hung up

you pour yourself more coffee

in your chipped and cracked old cup

you toss the cup in the garbage

and buy a set of eight

happy with the decision

now the coffee should taste great

you wash them very carefully

put them in the drying rack

you clink two of them together

and both of them get cracked

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

truce

beneath a white and tattered flag 

rests and uneasy truce 

unfurling over wounded hearts 

and truth that was seduced

one more walking wounded 

one more tourniquet

the battlefield left bloody 

and it's not settled yet 

riddled with holes, it waves in the breeze

over all of this muck and mire

silent the heavy artillery

that rests for several hours

will we ever find armistice?

the peace on either side?

which one will surrender?

and cover their wounded pride 

do we live to fight another day? 

duck and cover from the truth?

how did this get started?

was it with me or you?

the silence of the cease-fire 

that spans on either end 

as we reload our ammo 

I'll break but will not bend 

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

blemish

the mirror reflects every wrinkle 

every blemish and all fine lines 

looking closer in the  brilliant light 

I still see the pieces whole 

though I try to cover it completely

cosmetics just don't do the trick

truth stares back at the end of the day 

when the powder is washed away 

with the breaking of each crimson dawn 

weakness filters in with the sun

after  sweet dreams...how real they seemed 

cotton candied fantasies -- 

before they overcome me 

before I trip on what's not there

I reckon with the reflection 

and how I got from there to here

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

poetry

poetry still flows 

music that you left still plays 

each verse about me

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

happy endings

I believe in happy endings 

and in each new beginning 

I believe that when life is darkest

it's always before the dawn 

I believe the glass is half-full 

just waiting to be topped off 

I believe that what gets broken 

can sometimes be repaired 

I believe if you look deep enough

there is good in everyone 

I believe that the bitterest lemons 

make the sweetest lemonade 

I believe if you want something  

that you can make it happen 

I believe it's a radiant light that shines 

at the end of the dark tunnel 

I believe in silver linings

in every single cloud

I believe that there's a lesson

in every test you face 

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

hollow point haiku

a hollow point, 

it sounds so impersonal, 

in the mag where  lodged

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

Sixth sense

I’m reading you like

the current best seller 

Nothing you can hide 

Your eyes always tell 

I can read your actions 

and I can read your mind 

Filling in the gaps 

From the things that you hide 

I can read the hesitation 

Just tell me if I’m wrong 

Usually dead on accurate 

This curse is quite strong 

So just be straight forward 

Always better than a lie 

My mind’s eye sees through 

everything implied 

The truth is your ally 

Be concise and be real 

Don’t hedge or taint facts 

Don’t try to conceal 

You know I will know

If  the words are not true 

Because I have a sixth sense 

When it comes down to you

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

Heaven's Closed Door

Like a shattered glass 

Edges jagged and sharp 

Cutting into my soul 

With fragmented shards 

Sinking in silence 

Spiraling into an abyss 

Shadows surrounding

Free falling in blackness 

This engulfing nightmare 

Only I’m wide awake 

Tortured and confused 

Which I just can't shake 

I know what is waiting 

I’ve been here before 

No chance of salvation

From heaven’s closed door 

The rage of angel’s 

Their fury unleashed 

The wrath of deities 

Raining down on me

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

A Disingenuous Act

You looked through me 

Like I wasn’t even there 

You were saying words 

That I couldn’t hear 

I thought I knew you better 

I guess it wasn’t so 

The only things I saw 

Were what you put on show 

 A veil of deception 

A cloak of desperation 

A mask of dishonesty 

A shroud of aberration 

A disingenuous act 

That took me by surprise 

A nefarious performance 

That was well disguised 

You looked through me 

To see the other side 

Like I wasn’t even there

A memory brushed aside

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

Roller Coaster

Like an old roller coaster 

With wooden slated tracks

The cars all freshly painted 

The kind we saw way back 

The feeling in the pit of your stomach 

As you slowly start the ride 

Ready with eyes wide open 

With your fears laid to the side 

Starting up the first steep slope 

The excitement starts to build 

Ready for what is coming

Ready for all the thrills 

 And as the ride continues 

Seems like it will never end 

The clicking and the clacking

Going faster around each bend 

You finally ascend the last peak 

The cars all picking up speed 

Descending downward quickly 

Around the corner with eyes squeezed 

Are these not the same feelings? 

You have when you’re in love 

The ups and downs of relationships

Euphoria, highs and lows

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

linger

sweet kisses linger 

on my mind and on my soul

prophecies to come

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

Temptation

Looking for a soul to steal 

You thought you might have mine 

But it won’t be that easy 

I’m afraid I’ll have to decline 

You are right behind me 

As I climb up every rung 

I won’t be overtaken 

I will not be undone 

Tempting me with promise 

Of riches and of glory 

Things I haven’t worked for

I’ve heard that same old story 

Offering up damnation 

Is all I’m reading in you

I won’t forfeit salvation 

I’m not close to being through 

An angel on my shoulder 

My intuition is strong 

Your temptation will not sway me 

I know what’s right and wrong 

This scalp you won’t be adding 

To those there on your belt 

Get thee behind me Satan

In me you will not dwell

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

peace

in chaos I found abandonment

in abandonment, I found peace

I looked too hard for compassion

and for my pain to ease

in quite solitude--what I looked to for

and what I prayed to find

was locked up in a chamber

but hid there this whole time

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

PHD

got a PHD

from the university of hard knocks 

the sheep skin framed 

hanging on my wall 

reminding me of my ineptitudes  

graduating with honors 

top of my class 

no one could touch me 

studied hard for that 

as I move the tassel from the left to right 

shaking hands with those that taught me 

on graduation night

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

knave of hearts

my heart now missing a souvenir 

that you took

displayed on your shelf 

quickly forgotten 

hidden behind the others 

you, the knave of hearts 

a true master of the game 

no deviations from the plan devised 

me, blindsided by moonlight

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

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.