coup

a reason to believe 

a victory I won’t taste

tension in the feelings 

a love that’s gone to waste 

I feel it in my soul 

the words escape my lips 

a bloody, useless battle

my mind can’t seem to grip 

the air escapes the room 

and I can’t seem to breathe 

a scar that just won’t heal 

a wound that always seeps 

a heart that is still screaming

it beats it’s disbelief

never, ever thinking 

that you would really leave 

no pleasure in the moments 

that I once spent with you 

the fire that burned inside me 

defeated with your coup

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

toi et moi

a story that needs written 

a sonnet of all that I feel 

a poem that's not yet titled

an ode not yet revealed 

my unpublished heart 

un histoire d'amour 

you and me

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

thoughts

your thoughts on my thoughts 

your fingers caressing keys 

as you kiss my mind

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

Walking Home

You walked me home 

After that bad storm 

Making sure I got there 

Safe from all harm 

Surrounded by darkness 

No light for my way 

No stars in the sky 

The moon tucked away 

holding my hand tightly

Though you were not there 

Talking me onward 

Your voice in my ear 

Alone that late evening 

But your presence was there 

A light in the shadows 

Removing despair 

You walked me home 

The moon tucked away 

Your voice in my ear 

With me the whole way

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

shrines

shrines to those they lost 

dotting the southwest highways 

there are so many

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

terra incognita haiku

fear of the unknown 

a terra incognita 

where we will still go

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

enough is enough

I could write a book

of things I've seen

instant gratification

is what I need

so I write a poem

for you to read

short and simple

and quicker it seems

these times of turmoil

and tainted views

only certain channels

report real news

the rest paint words

the truth may cause

a dark, deep bruise

our intellect

may get confused

I'll take true statements

time after time

sharing the word

of all new crimes

the muck and the mire

the slinging of grime

it's still growing

it's not even half-time

turning it off

when it's too much

cynicism weaves

its painful touch

leaves us limping

without a crutch

come on world

enough is enough

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

feels like love

it's been a long time
since I felt this way
thought it was used up
disappeared with yesterday
just when I thought
it would never be
it was just around the corner
and it feels like love to me

you call me up
in the middle of the night
to see how I am doing
if everything's alright
just when I thought
I was finally home free
I turn 'round the corner
and it feels like love to me

you hold my hand
look into my heart
I feel the electricity
I feel a million sparks
just when I thought
it was something I can't see
it was just around the corner
and it feels like love to me

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

without a sound

you live inside my memory
ricocheting without a sound
the fortress that I built for you 
is crumbling to the ground

I put you on a pedestal
using fiction rather than fact
fables that I told my heart
to keep it all intact

you're the single leaf remaining
on a barren olive tree
withstanding inclement weather
hanging on inside of me

wind will pull you from that branch
eventually, you'll be set free
drifting away with what remains
memories will finally cease

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

summer day

all I want to do
is lay down in tall grass
on a warm summer day
watching clouds pass

all I want to do
is skip stones on the lake
feel the breeze blow
see the ripples it makes

all I want to do
is hold hands while we walk
along the river bank
leaving footprints as we talk

all I want to do
is just let it all be
on this lazy summer day
while you're here with me

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

Driving Haiku

Driving on I-10  

mind racing at 100 mph

Hope I don't get stopped

Sand Dollars

Seashells washed up on the beach 

With the morning tide

Lots of little tide pools 

Swimming with sea life

Searching for sand dollars

None here to be found 

Walking, looking, finding none 

Not this time around 

Finally, one in seaweed 

A perfect little shell 

Stooping to retrieve it 

Before the ocean swells 

Very, very brittle

It breaks right in my hand 

Keep on searching, seeking more 

None on this smooth sand!

Shelter

Lay down and I’ll watch over you 

Protect and keep you safe 

This can be your haven 

Your shelter, your escape 

My arms will wrap around you 

And hold you when you need 

This love I have to offer 

Let me put your life at ease 

Close your eyes, rest your mind 

While you are in my care 

I will shield and deflect all pain 

Waylay all your fears 

While I sooth your weary brow 

Relax and just let go

Protecting, holding, loving 

Forgetting all life’s woes

Collateral Damage

Fool that I was 

I I fell for your charms 

Putting myself 

In the way of harm 

The words you used 

Disguised the facts 

I see it clearly 

When I look back 

Eagerly I followed 

And let you in 

Dropping the walls 

I’d built within 

My heart unprotected 

You attack my defenses 

Turning my head 

Sending me spinning 

Collateral damage 

From when you were here 

What love that you gave 

Completely disappeared

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

winner

the winner's place in glory 

standing on the dais 

receiving your olive wreath 

you participate in the game 

repeating your mantra 

mentally pushing yourself on 

your opponents are skilled 

hitting their stride

long before you 

practiced excellence 

but you persevere 

blinders to the competitor 

in your own zone 

and in the end 

there can only be one winner

one true champion

but you are only the loser

if you throw your hands up, 

quit and walk away

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

if

if I love 

if I feel

if I trust 

if this is real 

if what you say 

if what you need 

if what I want 

if I proceed 

if my heart spills 

if it’s in your grasp

if I look forward 

if I don’t look back 

if the stress factures 

if it all cracks 

if I piece it together 

if I stay on track 

if it is His will 

if it’s supposed to be 

if it does happen 

if it’s you and me 

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

last night you were here

and you held me close 

singing a song just for me 

you come in my dreams

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

unworn love

my love unworn 

you try it on

looking at yourself in the mirror 

turning around to see how it fits 

not liking the look 

you take it off 

toss it on the floor 

and continue shopping 

for a different size

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

no response, no reply

it was loud and clear

I guess that was your answer 

no thank you works too

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

I dreamed you were here

I dreamed you were here 

we sat on my terrace 

sipping wine under the stars 

the full moon bathing us in lunar light

I dreamed you were here 

singing me a love song 

as we danced, locked together, 

barely moving to the song you sang 

I dreamed you were here 

holding me close under Egyptian sheets 

your whispered words 

surrounding me with love 

morning dawns, the dream fades

as I stretch and turn 

reaching out for you 

finding you weren't there

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

book II

I reread this page 

my favorite in this book 

a book about us

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

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