out to sea

as promises get swept away 

under the front door mat 

dreams hang like cobwebs 

in the corner of tomorrows

conviction is in second place 

a runner up to this heartbreak 

reasoning floats out to sea 

thought I knew it all, 

I guess now I know better 

I lay awake reflecting on this 

we came far, but had further to go 

as the dust settles on the past 

unsung songs echo in memory 

a compact disc of what could have been

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

epic: for RAJ

what I was looking for was but a fragment
a very small fragment of what I found
hidden amongst the clutter
of broken dreams and hearts
I found you

epic:  resplendent, splendiferous, 
not enough adjectives to describe
although I read them all
with thoughts of each
and rejected them as lacking

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

plight

for dreams that dissipate
much too soon
hanging like cobwebs
in deserted rooms
for hopes unanswered
on a moonless night
longing's, emptiness
forever in sight
for loneliness
that won't ever abate
the empty heart
where it resonates
I say a prayer
a candle I light
till you are delivered
from this deep plight

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

flight

at 5,000 feet I was miserable
that I didn't get to see you

at 7,000 feet I was angry
that you don't answer my texts

at 12,000 feet I was happy
that a message did come thru

at 30,000 feet I was sorry
that we had ever met

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

glimmer

a glimmer isn't coming

your hand held steady not tipped 

silence--others watching

your cards close to your chest 

stoic, no twitch or tremor

never betraying what you hold 

the stakes are slowly building

my ante will not come

one more chance to beat you

one more winner take all

I look at the flush you dealt me

and then I quickly fold

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  

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 my insecurities

slowly slip

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

BREAK

Beside the disillusion
Rendering unclear thoughts
Each of us are hurting
And wondering if we can re-
Kindle everything we've lost

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

voyage

the horizon is endless
a lone ship at sea
passage for one
an intolerable feat

navigation by stars
like the days of old
just constant drifting
nights of rain and cold

no lighthouse to guide me
no havens on this tide
treacherous rocks and sandbars
along the windward side

tired of this journey
tired of manning this helm
tired of fighting the current
tired of being overwhelmed

sleep that forsakes me
dreams that won’t come
nightmares by day
for a soul that is numb

will this voyage ever end?
can salvation be near?
will I find a safe harbor?
or will I disappear?

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

undisturbed

I push past the reasons 

and all expectations
no comparisons or judging, 

unexpected gyrations
you do your best 

with all that is offered
while I pack my bags 

and head for the border

call me or don't, 

script it or not
don't fill me with songs, 

that you once forgot
sing from your heart 

or don't sing at all
dance with me once 

or fill my dance card

hike up the mountains 

for a much grander view
once you get there, 

there's nothing that's new
drink from your bottle 

but it won't quench the thirst
the knowledge is power 

that bruises and hurts

you thought that you loved 

and all was so easy
but it leaves you numb 

and feeling more queasy
the one that you want 

boards a plane for the coast
and there goes your heart 

with a lot of your ghosts

the one by your side 

that hangs on your word
is silently sleeping 

and lays undisturbed
your mind wanders to things 

better left unsaid
laying in piles 

like leaves that are dead

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

never to be heard

you stood there in the shadow
watched without a word
saw where I was heading
thought my vision blurred
wondering and waiting
thought it all absurd
shifting in the darkness
never to be heard

you thought that I was making
the biggest mistake of all
shaking your head in wonder
ready to catch my fall
and just when you were thinking
that this would be the day
I spread my wings discovering
that I could fly away
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

silent legacy

you just can't understand
you wonder what went wrong
shake your head in misery
you knew it all along
you saw it in a movie
you've seen it on the streets
hear it in the lyrics
as your blood begins to heat

so good at indefinable
so good at concealing too
so good at using shadows
yet you wonder why you're blue
you're praying in the darkness
for redemption on your knees
begging for forgiveness
from this silent legacy

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

shoot

you like to text 

and you are a hoot 

you own a Harley

and like to shoot 

you like country music 

play the guitar too 

we can ride the Harley 

when we go to shoot

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

Harley

a horse of a different color
chaps of a different kind
wrap my legs around you
as I climb on behind
Sundays on the Harley
a favorite of mine

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

moldy stuff

deep within the things that I hold
stay there forever, and sometimes mold
in contemplation, complexities lay
part of who I am on this day

way, way down where no light can shine
too much salt in an 8 hour brine
don't stir too much, a little will do
that's what I felt, when I was with you

standing on one leg, ready to tip
what did the job, was a kiss from your lips
not so much filling, as a minuscule snack
that will leave me hungry long 'fore I get back

but I digress, water under a bridge
that looks far off when I stand on the ridge
turning my back, I start the trek down
hoping all this shit will eventually drown

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

easy seas

deep in the valley

lost loves linger,

when the moon is full

and coyotes howl

echoes of trouble purge forth.

what I thought I had found,

my true soul mate,

gone and once thought forgotten.

as droplets fall on dry wash.

thunder claps

and lightning flashes

burrows it deep again

fog, like a soft blanket,

covers easy seas.

as memories recede

my bewitched mind

will rest again

with tomorrow's dawn

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

Irish lass

I'm an Irish lass, I can be fun
but hold a grudge
longer than anyone

man, do I freckle
under blazing sun
eyes of green
from a loved one

I love taters
but they don't love me
they cluster on my hips
as you can see
so does bread
I'd have to agree
this wasn't a problem
I could every foresee

I would love a castle 
where I could lay my head
when the day was long
here at my desk

all would be fine
I would write my songs
odes and lyrics
how could that go wrong?

on this now warm, St. Patty's day
I think of those
who've passed away
Grandpa Ferrell
who did purvey
my Irish roots
that're here to stay

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

quiet

it is all quiet
the western front sleeps
white noises ebb...my mind rests
dreams are of cotton candy clouds
the sky no longer bleeds
the moon glows, the stars shine
the western front sleeps

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

the beast

you fed the beast
and nursed its growth
it's devouring your spirit,
absorbing your soul
now out of control it
obliterates the night
massive paws sweeping
the stars from your sky

unable to stop the
apocalypse that builds
a tourniquet untwisted
as the truth is revealed
too late to impede, the
demolition goes on
the beast you created
destroying your love

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

trials

I have to use my bicycle

gas prices are too high

I won't do electric, cause

in a few kilos it dies

my mind is really spinning

it's hurting my lifestyle

I can't see the distance

when I used to see for miles

from my side I get head shakes

from the other I get smiles

I don't know what they're thinking

but I don't like this trial

my other ride was fancy

and it had many dials

now I'm on a plain one

because I must comply

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

that ship sailed

you wonder if you called me up

when you're in the depths of despair

thinking maybe I'll just show up

maybe I'll suddenly appear

did that ship sail far away?

or maybe it just sank

either way I'm telling you

just how low you rank

holding on to it way too tight

my heart inside your hand

but you weren't thinking clearly

nothing worked as you planned

the fever pitch was way too fast

you missed it time and again

as it all slipped through your fingers

the shredded ribbon strands

some thoughts bring back the laughter

and some from darkest hell

either way, I'm telling you

we both have stories to tell

delete me from your speed dial

erase my special tune

make your bed and lay there

mine won't be shared with you

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

a moment in poetry

a moment caught in poetry
I want to always hold
I close my eyes and capture
this memory of purest gold

a dream slips into memory
right here where it will linger
the sun rising on the horizon
with the voice of heavenly singers

it fills me with this wonder
a soft breeze in my mind
a whisper I can walk on
that spans the breath of time

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

let them fall

let them fall without fragrant line
teardrops one by one they drop
if I bottle it up, and they don't fall
I will die a little inside

a release of anxiety or maybe what's lost
each word smeared, by incessant saline
I don't care --I'll just start again
no matter if you read or not

how many times, have I gotten the call?
your world shattered, what do I do?
never once asking, how is it with you?
my life pushed inside my heart

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

a fool's game

I listened to all, every word that you shared
you spilled it all while I sat there
nodding my head like I understood
feeling compassion like any friend would

inside a voice screams what about me?
I'm tired of it all and pretending is weak
you tell me your secrets, stockpiled and stacked
not stopping to breath, or checking for facts

you spill it all and it pools on the floor
the spillage is thick, I know I'm done for
I realized early, a fool's game I played
for desperate measures I should've prayed

go ahead and talk, the walls will now listen
and I turn my head as the tears start to glisten
I listened too long and fell far too deep
climbing out won't happen, the walls are too steep
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

aftermath

the whisper of your words
as they tangle in my hair
the evening slipping away
the passion resting there
the shadows in the room
hidden in your lover's lair
truth on the tip of a tongue
a heart which won't be spared

the morning dawning red
a caution for the sea
a storm is about to come
while you shake yourself free
and as you lay it down
your eyes looking through me
my love an apparition
something you don't need

go ahead and turn your back
it's what you always do
how many times I've been here
as we tried to work it through
my heart is once more bleeding
another casualty in your path
another walking wounded
in the hazy aftermath


once too weak to turn away
a welcome always came
you there flirting endlessly
but can't recall my name
this time no surrender
when I find you at my door
no white flag or welcome back
this time you lost the war

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

Veterans Day

we honor our vets both here and gone

who fight the wars whether right or wrong

on foreign soil or domestic lands

our future held in the palm of their hands

God bless our troops

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