replete

we embrace the music and the joy of our dance
in the dusk that falls before night settles in
no notice do we take as the moon starts ascent
you fill me with love--it courses through my veins

is there a better feeling, a confection any sweeter?
your head upon my breast, listening to my heart beat
whispers in the moonlight, a dance that we repeat
a song playing over and over, of love that is replete

slumber will find me wrapped snugly in your arms
dreams of floating on clouds--softly come upon me
you awaken me with kisses and we embrace the day
as last night history lesson is once more completed

is there a better feeling, a confection any sweeter?
your head upon my breast, listening to my heart beat
whispers in the moonlight, a dance that we repeat
a song playing over and over, of love that is replete

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

days drift

days drift
feelings shift
nights are long

winds blow
love goes
rain will fall

hearts break
spirit quakes
I am gone

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

the list

I’ve broken some hearts
when I didn’t mean to
lived months of rain
and skies of blue
been to love’s buffet
where there wasn’t any food
bitten off way more
than I could ever chew

I’ve traveled the world
I like it here best
learned some lessons
from pretty hard tests
been down and out
had to hit reset
turned my face from heaven
and was still blessed

I’ve been betrayed by
some I thought were friends
I’ve been to a Priest
and confessed my sins
the list will grow longer
before it can end
always starting over
and over again

what love should be

as I moved on to sunnier days
past weeks of rain
wondering if I could have done more
given more space
no, it wasn't me

it was always you
and all about you
not listening
pulling back for days on end
no word at all

but--it was for the best
I finally figured it all out
I didn't wrong you
but you me
opening my eyes
to what love could and should be

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

plain to see

some things are plain to see
when your eyes are clear
comparisons and judgments
in your mind linger here
shackled to old memories
chained to what is lost
on a shaky bridge to tomorrow
what I held and what is lost

I sift through the pieces
of all that was untrue
my accordion pleated mind
filing traces left from you
you sleep in the bed you made
it was all your choice
while listening in silence
to what once was my voice

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

I Love....

I love paisley and I love my glock
Alan Jackson, and bad boy Rock
Dwight Yoakam in cowboy boots
I love dancing to Fast As You

I love seafood and I love steak
Surf and turf in a restaurant's great
No longer eating that many carbs
Except for beer in a cowboy bar

I love leather and I love pearls
You can't call me a girlie girl
Camo pants and also tees
Hunting is the life for me

I love quads and I love bikes
Take me on a long, hot ride
I love new cars of many kinds
Drives you out of your ever loving' mind

I love Calvin for his jeans
And his sexy under things
Mention shopping - deal me in
I don't think that is a sin

I love tequila with salt and lime
In Mexico it tastes mighty fine
Love the beach and the casa there
The sea, the sand and the moist air

I love adventure on a ocean cruise
Enjoying coffee in a balcony room
Castle keep with coat of arms
Moats that kept all safe from harm

I love the spa on a starry night
Jets flying over with crew in flight
A full moon that sees it all
You and me and bubbly foam

I love my babies, there are four
Two boys, two girls an even score
Nana is the name for me
It's a wonderful life you see

I could ramble for days on end
This list I'd probably need to amend
Of all the things I truly crave
My soul mate is my favorite fave!!

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

pearls

so many pearls
lustrous, milky white
hand woven the strand that holds
one small tug, pulls it all apart
as all but one drop
bouncing on the tile

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

time stands still

your fingers trace and then expand
you paint a picture with your hands
followed by lips that leave a trail
all the while your motive veiled

flickers on the ceiling tiles
a fan that cools us all the while
knowingly you hit the spot
always finding what you saught

in these moments that I know
loving you by the candle's glow
dreams return and cover me
blanketed with love's fantasies

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

distance and age

it all improved with distance and age
nothing to think about at this stage
I was there, and then was gone
no surrender, no so long

you probably think, that it was me
you did no wrong that you could see
the blame is squarely placed  on you
the games you played when I was true

minutes wept by on the clock
no door bell rings and there's no knock
way beyond the barrier's reef
I stand my ground here by the sea

walking beaches, stepping on shells
here's to those who know me well
the rest of you can fade away
I don't need you here today
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

just once more

the half veiled glances and close, slow dances 

the silken threads that weave temptation 

the loves long past that faded fast 

a toast to what's not made to last

when what lays hidden spills from inside 

when the open door invites once more 

when the embers revive the memories 

and dreams aren't that but now deceive

as the music plays from our yesterdays 

as this day will fade from blue to gray 

as time stands still--as I bend my will 

one more time without the thrill

in the half veiled glances and close, slow dances 

the silken threads that weave temptation 

the loves long past that faded fast

 a toast to what's not made to last 

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

petals

between the petals where the sweetness lays
moisture forms like condensation on glass from humidity
joy lingers by the candle's glow, long into the night
with lunar beam comes the dream--half reality, half fantasy
I wake at dawn, stretch and yawn, languid in your arms
knowing when you slip into this vaporous mist
I'll catch you when you fall
I'll catch you when you fall

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

a "tion" poem

starting new traditions
without any renditions
or horrible superstitions
after much cogitation
not fallacy or fiction
just our inclination
and this fascination
based on laws of attraction

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

one last song

write my goodbye, as only you can
removing all vagueness, so I understand
let the lyrics sing of what your heart reflects
of my love's sorrow and the after affects
one heart strong and one heart weak
where it lays wilting, strewn at you feet

write one last song, write it only for me
to sing in the dark as your spirit breaks free
as it comes to the end and your arm slowly falls
one slipper that is left at the end of the ball
a sonnet of farewell, a poem from your heart
one last goodbye as it all splits apart

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

belong

I call you and you take on airs
pretending that you just don't care
writing songs with usual flair
mine songs laying my soul bare

you talk of things pertaining to you
asking what you're supposed to do
hours took wings and away they flew
same old shit, ain't nothing new

I interject to talk about me
but of course, it's not to be
nothing here you care to see
or anything that you believe

I pull the cord and watch you go
dragging your feet in knee deep snow
I think you took to leaving slow
the desert winds begin to blow

you are here, but I am gone
no longer listening to your songs
I packed your stuff cause we were wrong
here is where you don't belong

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

desert wind

the unrelenting desert wind
stirring my thoughts
conjuring buried memories

you were here
it reminds me
you are gone

you blew through
leaving your mark
like the Santa Ana’s

taking part of me
when you left
erasing my path

the wind still blows
stirring my thoughts
stirring my memories

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

barren desert

is it my imagination
or maybe my heart's dissatisfaction
in sleep you whisper my name
before your heart wanders away
your dreams never of me?

in my mind's predilection
you move inside the ruins
whistling a lover's tune
through phases of the moon
the new moon sheds no light

in this barren desert
my love a dying ember
ashes blowing in the wind
scattering at the end
into the valley below

no one held you like I did
as I gave you one last bid
beseechingly I asked
for that one final dance
but the music stopped

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

a name on a list

a registered owner
a name on a list
each time I take aim
or pop in the clip
I'm waiting for the clatter
as they break down my door
the second amendment
shredded on the floor
surrender your firearm
each one for good measure
decease and desist
this awesome pleasure

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

last breath

when it rained, it came it sheets
I was drenched from head to feet
no shelter close to help affection
feelings drown without protection

next comes windchill down to bone
howling, swirling, on it groans
in my mind I now avow
this is the end, right here and now

but on and on and on it goes
day and night I do not doze
ever watchful and alert
my will now I shall assert

without nourishment it shall die
relationships ebb with swollen lies
it will die a lonely death
sighing with its very last breath

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

luck of the draw

I drew the cards
a game of chance
I should have known
the deck was stacked
your poker face strong
as you called my bluff
was it sleight of hand
or luck of the draw
either way, it was
always your call
and I leave the table
with nothing at all

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

recipe

one cup questions

two tablespoons of faith 

three teaspoons of love 

a smidgen of heartbreak 

one part truth

sift out the lies 

stir the feeling 

a tear from my eye 

set the oven 

see what it makes 

when it is done 

it is still half baked

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

what lays dead

I know you think, it was all a waste
years together now erased
signing your name on a dotted line
but you recall, a different time

healing eludes your heart right now
wounds still fresh from shattered vows
each day packing hopeless hurt
each night leaving you inert

inward screams, outward cries
trying to find the answer why
box it up, stick it under your bed
say a prayer for what lays dead

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

my day

today is the day, that I was born
I grew up quick and grew up strong
Midwest upbringing, instilled beliefs
no one can take it away from me

texts from my family and so many friends
wishes on facebook happily penned
Instagram happiness coming in too
and a great dinner with close ones and you

as I grow older, I've now realized
what is the truth or what has been lies
happy; content with what has been blessed
couldn't ask for more or would settle for less

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

gone away

a candle lit in solitude
prayers prayed in gratitude
a heart in mourning for past days
of love that's here, then gone away

the candle flickers with the breeze
rustling loudly through mesquite
flickering, making shadows loom
soft but stagnant in this room

what was the thing that brought me here?
what were the options laying my soul bare?
another day when it mattered much
out of reach and out of touch

and yet the grace that is foretold
lifting my heart, enlightening soul
all past loves now lay to rest
and journey out for their own quest

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

effervescence

all of these things that I chase around
that bumps and rattles inside of my heart
noises and voices, illusions of choice
soft-coated songs with a velvet alibi

these things that take root here deep inside
weeds that suffocate the blossoms nearby
fragrant petals falling down one by one
runners choking each with a little white lie

if I can block out the buzz of what is 
that effervescence with all of its fizz
it tickles inside as I drink it down
gritty remainders on my crystal glass

as the moon works its phases through each of my nights
as a new star glows brightly on my evening sky
what once rose high with the sun to my east
has now settled softly somewhere in the west

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

green-eyed monsters

I can’t see around the corners
or what in darkness prevails
but I hear the thuds and bumps at night
and the swoosh from the monster’s tail
I smell the stench of aggressions
that putrid, awful  perfume
it permeates my weaknesses
my senses reel in this room

my eyes can’t see before me
this gloom is way too thick
if I could find some matches
I’d light the candle’s wick
green-eyed is its make-up
and while it lays in wait
no activity for weeks and weeks
as it hones its cheating game

trusting is the flag I wave
virtuous and white
blinding in the daytime
fluorescent in the night
a love that doesn’t grow on trees
or on a prickly vine
am I growing like moss upon you?
or wasting precious time

one last shot to get it right
once more I offer a chance
watching, waiting on I go
doing this sweet, sweet dance
I’ll slay the monsters, one by one
I’ll be the only one left
I’ll stand here just as long I can
drying the tears I’ve wept