sunset

as I look for love that feels just right 

not too loose and not to tight 

someone to hold me late at night

till the dark sky bleeds red light 

looking for a love that I haven't found yet 

filled with passion, no regrets 

a heart in which my dreams can rest 

as we ride off into the sunset

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

happily ever after

shall I start yet once again? 

look for it, seek it, search hard 

will it come to me? 

a spring breeze 

blowing down from green mountains

or arriving on wings of doves 

will it ride in a cowboy hero? 

from an old black and white 

swinging me up behind on his horse 

as I wrap my hopes and dreams 

around an image of what it should all mean 

hanging on for dear life 

as we gallop off into the sunset 

and live happily every after 

or not

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

blindside

every heart has a blindside

part of all devotion 

overlooking the obvious 

omnifarious emotion

the counterfeit good faith 

that travels across miles 

it's not the first mistake 

but it's part of the file 

when illusion of choice 

goes out a revolving door 

and all the words I hear 

have been said before 

forgiveness becomes weakness 

when it comes down to this 

the blindside sees truth

hidden in the Judas kiss 

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

temple

my body a temple 

where my heart resides 

you hunger for one 

starving the other side 

sustenance I offer 

feeding body, heart and mind 

you consume till you're full

and the rest is declined

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

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.