truth

if what I read 

held any truth

if it was more about me 

and less about you 

if it was less opaque  

things I contemplate

then maybe, just maybe

things would be great

 

I think it could go

if there were two

less about others 

just me and you 

the things you say

and the things you do

would make the difference

in how things are skewed

I could write the book

on how you think

when it all falls down

I'm pushed to the brink

apologies given

you keep your grip

as insecurities

slowly slip

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

the state of the union

they contradict the warriors

while criminals get set free

our forefathers toss and turn

at what, at last, will be

Google shows positions

even though you try to hide

and war will once more come

if we just bide our time

population control is working

as they jab them one and all

401's are tanking

the dollar again falls

businesses are closing

citizens do protest

they drive them back with soldiers

but they want to protect

Alexa always listens

and then she'll spill her guts

maybe it is nothing

maybe it means much

just stay under the radar

keep provisions close at hand

while monsters rear their heads

History will take a stand

he said he was uniting

but deep the wedge he drives

confusion thick in daylight

much more viscose at night

do we need to pray for Moses?

to once more free this land

or will the people rise up?

behind each wall they'll man

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

holding on

I don't want to replace

or forget memories 

all lessons learned 

sometimes selfishly

the time together 

not a watch to rewind 

as I stay strong

trying to move on 

with few regrets 

and that is what 

I hold on to

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

sunrise

in this verdant valley 

I sit with coffee and wait

quietly the dawn creeps 

as sunrise takes my breath away 

I see the reddening dawn 

it's still early; no one's up

doves are chirping all around

 as I pour my second cup 

no better time of day

coffee and God's heaven above

waking in this peaceful place

 sheer perfection that I love

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

Infatuation

I said I loved your mind

the rest infatuation

you couldn't be more vague 

or avoiding in conversation 

choosing your words carefully 

when I ask you to reveal 

not trusting me with your feelings 

when I pushed for what was real 

what I read between the lines

faintly resembling truth 

I pretend it's not for me

it's always been about you

does it stroke your ego? 

when you took all that I gave 

my one-sided feelings 

no dues you'll ever pay 

perusing what is left

a thimble not near full

never quite believing 

that it was mostly bull

with alot of understanding

I let you off the hook 

always rewriting chapters

in this well read book

Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Work

s 3.0 United States License

Robbed

lyrics to a country song 

about how he done her wrong

singing to me without feeling 

while my heart is reeling

no chords hit the right note 

it's gone that's all he wrote 

she's the one that stole your heart 

but I'm the one that got robbed 

not a ditty 'bout a dog or train 

still left here standing in the rain 

no lyrics 'bout a cowboy and horse

no level of deep remorse 

not a song about trashing your truck

Underwood's a little bit nuts 

she's the one that stole your heart 

but I'm the one that got robbed 

lyrics sung ages the ages 

music books with tons of pages 

another top country hit 

the CMA confirms it 

recorded by Evans and Strait 

many others up to this date 

she's the one that stole your heart

but I'm the one that got robbed

felled

a savage crash

a lightning flash 

a thunder crack 

brings it all back

a shadow felled 

hopeless hell 

my heart locked

in a pine box 

monsoon rain

washes away 

answers vague 

most every day

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

baby, you make me blue

just one little moment, 

nothing out of the way 

a few seconds for a text, 

a call to just say Hey 

something that would have really 

added to my day 

baby, you make me blue 

just one little thought, 

just poetry to me 

just a few words penned, 

a rhyme for me to read 

no hints of anything special

you'd never plant that seed

baby, you make me blue 

I know I ask a lot 

and you won't make that climb 

if I don't expect much

disappointment won't be mine

I always end up begging, 

begging for more of your time 

baby, you make me blue 

it's all sorted in piles 

like laundry that needs done

the hamper overflowing 

waiting for wash day to come 

pretty soon there's nothing, 

nothing clean to don 

baby, you make me blue 

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

perfection

resurrecting, reflecting, remembering 

I will never forget 

how we met 

how we loved 

perfection 

a place in my heart 

you will always hold

all others replaced

buried with their past

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

what if

when I look back 

what if we hadn't danced 

what if you'd never asked 

what if I hadn't said yes 

what if the stars didn't shine 

what if there's no safety net 

what would've happened 

if we'd never met

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

a

a simple game 

a lover's lair

a cold spring day

a love affair

a first hug 

a first kiss 

a memory made 

a time of bliss

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

coin toss

what happens now? 

your future love secure 

the shadow laying dormant

the door left ajar 

were you successful in separating

the fact from the fiction? 

without delving too deep 

and causing more friction 

one heart secure

the other wild and free 

one strokes your mind 

the other stokes your needs 

do you finally read the book? 

from cover to cover 

solve all the mystery 

see what's uncovered 

the choice always yours 

as you flip the quarter 

is it heads or tails?

is it friend, is it lover? 

one heart secure

the other wild and free 

one strokes your mind

the other stokes your needs

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

torment

torment, torture, burn in hell 

all of these things locked

within this cell 

I scream, I cry, 

the echoes yell 

the more I purge...

the more that dwell 

I thought that only 

time would tell 

still the scent, the sulfur smell 

I see this yon...a very long spell 

drenched, I drown 

in this deep well

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

angle

you are the stranger 

I wanted to know 

hiding in the shadow 

working your angle

an unseen danger 

to my heart 

but the real you

I still haven't met 

the words I hear 

sweet like honey

thick and vague 

watching what you say 

nothing is conveyed

in all that you do

no one sees

into an opaque you 

protection from all

a feeling arranger 

keeper of the key 

that locks the door

nothing set me free

from any part of you 

you weren't in danger 

of falling in love

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

life

it slips, it slides, it floats away.... 

it's more than I can grasp.. 

I can't wrap my mind around..

how fleeting and how fast

grasping at all these memories

all these thought and all these dreams 

this life and all its sweet repass

soars off on newfound wings

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

addiction

and so it begins 

my withdrawal from addiction 

that causes so much pain 

frustration and confusion 

and as I bounce off 

of these barbwire walls 

I file all the thoughts

because I am that strong

you, the addiction

in over my head

you, the distraction

that filled me with dread

you, a misconception

that caused me to bleed

you, the diversion

I no longer need

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

truth

if what I read 

held any truth

if it was more about me 

and less about you 

if it was less opaque  

the things I contemplate

then maybe, just maybe

things would be great

 

I think it could go

if there were two

less about others 

just me and you 

the things you say

and the things you do

would make the difference

in how things are skewed

I could write the book

on how you think

when it all falls down

I'm pushed to the brink

apologies given

you keep your grip

as insecurities

slowly slip

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

a chosen few

all of this a constant refrain
it rolls around inside my brain
causing hurt and so much pain
nothing ventured, nothing gained
everyday is just the same

wrapped around my hurt is you
telling me it was not true
on and on I read them through
all the things you told me too
practiced on a chosen few

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

another day

I reach for you but you're not there

grabbing at straws; clutching thin air

perhaps I imagined, thought you were real

another dream that is congealed

the dawn is bleak, the raindrops fall

another storm as I recall

making it through the long hard day

dreamless nights, I'm held at bay

what was it like, before the gloom?

with beautiful flowers in full bloom

another day, a long lost time

when I was your and you were mine

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

only a fool

only a fool plays by the rules
it's said beggars can't be choosers
only a gambler has nothing to lose
only a rock's too hard to bruise

more than two can play the game
how many in the end remain?
it somehow doesn't come out the same
when each and all start laying blame

when we take off the velvet gloves
inspecting and examining this thing called love
seeing what it's not or is made of
praying this time it's enough

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

glock

I go to the range
and load my glock
the day I had
still in shock
I load up the clip
with hollow points
gonna use them all
before I leave this joint
there's nothing better
than shooting at the range

it feels so good
in the palm of my hand
squeezing off a round
this feels grand
the hit dead center
right through the heart
I never miss
this, my true art
there's nothing better
than shooting at the range

pretend I'm Fiona
the Burn Notice gal
I think you could be
my sidekick, pal
do you think you can handle
a chick with a gun?
you can load my clip
while I'm having fun
there's nothing better
than shooting at the range

maybe if you're good
I'll give you a bout
to relieve your stress and
get rid of those doubts

no doubt about

the way it feels

see the target

get the chills
there's nothing better
than shooting with you


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

Lucky

You got lucky mister 

Lucky when we met

Lucky in my perceptions 

Lucky in my depths 

Like a fortune in a cookie

Like a gambler at the table 

It’s all on the line 

And destiny’s unstable 

Peeling back the layers 

Getting to the heart 

Uncovering the mysteries 

Of all that’s deep and dark 

A meeting that was chance 

Odds a thousand to one 

You still came out on top 

Obscurity undone 

I Put you on the path 

And turned it all around 

Gave you a new insight 

Put your feet back on the ground 

When all is said and done 

I gave it all to you 

And what you take away 

Is more than what you knew 

Yah, you got lucky 

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

litmus test

a true litmus test 

turning me deep crimson red 

a beautiful shade

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

carry on

we carry on
when it all comes down
there's more thunder than rain
our dreams lay in shards
we carry on

we carry on
through the reality of it all
more fable than fairytale
more investment than return
when it all starts to shatter
we carry on

we carry on
because the sun will still shine
a silver lining to be seen
after the storm's rage
tomorrow will come
and it will be a better day
we carry on

match

every dream, every chance
you burned them all
with just one match
brushing against
memories once sweet
incinerated ash
laying at your feet

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