Monday, September 25, 2023

blueprint

I thought it was all sorted
the truth from just the one
and you know I'm a sleuth
when there's work to be done
I'm reading between red lines
where clarity escapes
it seems the subjects twisted
this saga has some gaps


I think that the sweet breeze
blowing from mountains north
started way before
the band ever played our song
it doesn't really matter, 
when fragility's lost its glow  
my love doesn't have designs 
blueprint faded long ago

secure in what you have, 
secure in what you need
one holds on still strong, 
and one is hemorrhaging
one that's eyes are blind, 
one that's eyes can see
one that saw too late
an escape to set me free
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Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

love's not blind

only for you would I brave the storm 
leave this place that's safe and warm
rain that turns to sleet and snow 
winds that cut through heavy clothes 
to get to where you are 

only for you would I brave the sea 
waves that threaten to capsize me 
in the darkness of the night 
no moon that shines, no stars to guide 
to get to where you are 

only for you would I brave the past 
forget the ones that did not last 
open my heart just one more time 
knowing this time love's not blind
I will come that far 
and meet you where you are 

fragile or not

on the outside I'm a diamond 
my edges cut through glass
I am up for challenges
rally to each task 
I make my own decisions 
and stand by every one 
I shoot quick from the hip 
my aim again right on 

inside I am soft, 
as fragile as a pearl 
lustrous I shine--
delicate underneath
I won't let much get close 
they see the charade too late 
perfect  am not...
nor never claimed to be

I don't mean to maim others 
and won't let them maim me
if I can't make things better
then I will let them be 
I say this from the first, 
as slowly it begins 
you are one of the few, 
that I'm letting in 

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

epitaph

a heart now broken
shattered, buried deep, entombed
epitaph of love
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Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Tombstone

Walking on the wooden slats 
Past the hitching posts 
Where cowboys tied their trusty steeds 
A town with many ghosts 

A boomtown that was lawless 
With Doc and all the Earps 
Past the Bird Cage Theatre 
Where entertainment was rehearsed 

Into the famous Big Nose Kate’s 
With outlaws playing cards 
Hiding ace’s in their sleeves 
The danger disregarded 

Apparitions of saloon hags 
And six gun toting men 
Of silver miners in dusty clothes 
In this smoky, godless den 

Pick up the Tombstone Epitaph 
To read the local news 
No one shot and no one robbed
According to these reviews 

What must it have been like
In this wild and wicked town 
In the late 1880’s 
When this boomtown was founded 

History was in the making 
A county seat able to survive
For tourists like us on afternoons 
To see that it still thrives 

As we drive North and leave this place 
Past legendary Boot Hill
 All the ghosts put back to rest 
Though it still may raise some chills
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Monday, September 18, 2023

going back haiku

back to the Midwest
fond memories that return
rebuilding my core
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Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

silent

the words fell silent
on deafened ears
no one to listen
no one to hear
quietly screaming
wanting to be heard
missing their mark
as I thought they would
quelling of anger
I'm misunderstood
a waste of my time
in an angry world
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Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

blacktop haiku

a country blacktop
no dotted lines to divide
I find my own way
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Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Monday, September 11, 2023

till we die

if I could see beyond today
past the hurt that I still save
the future in a crystal ball
past the portraits in your hall

in every corner past all the dust
going for broke--do or bust
ghosts scream incessantly in my ear
I listen to them voice all of my fears

on two wheels I round the bend
is it a beginning or nearing the end?
a trophy sits, high on the shelf
winning more than anything else

I want it all and I won't share
talking just won't get me there
yelling hush, you kiss my lips
my hands stay firmly on my hips

hidden deep inside a box
all the secrets stay there locked
till you forget and walk away
none there are in a safe place

I read them all, each and every one
from when we started--it wasn't fun
denial is such an ugly truth
in black and white they lie to you

once again, I hide all pain
till I think I'm going insane
it means nothing--words inside
meant to stay there till we die
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Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

Thursday, September 7, 2023

Midwest

Running through the fresh mown grass
Small town there in the Midwest
We laugh, we fall, we roll around
How our lives seemed oh so blessed

Then as we get older
Our lives begin to change
Not enough time in the day
There’s much to arrange

Seems like we’re always running
Our schedules are to tight
Kids and spouses, work and bosses
Mandating our lives

Somehow we lose our innocence
And start to become jaded
The Midwest fun of younger days
Has now completely faded

Being a child was easy
Back in the Midwest
Adulthood seemed so far away
The future was a guess

red flags haiqua

there were warning signs 
my heart sails pass red flags 
blinded by passion
refusing to come about

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

withdrawn

the effort put forth, a little too much
I did it though, to keep you in touch
thought you should know and you would care
but it settled in without her there

a little to calm, acknowledgement noted
no pain rendered, or sympathy spoken
I guess I expected a somber retreat
but you carried on without missing a beat

was it all in my head, that thing that was there?
did you really not want it or just didn't care?
in heavy thoughts always swimming to light
here in the morning and there late at night

I guess I won't know, I can put it aside
it really doesn't matter, it seems to have died
there it was yesterday, but now it is gone
physically taken, the memories withdrawn
Creative Commons LicensePoetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

swimming at night

dive in deep from cool cement 
chlorinated water above my head 
breath held deep with ease I glide 
swimming with you side by side 
under stars we slowly churn 
eyes shut tight against the burn 
surface break in the still night 
you disappear from my third eye

Saturday, September 2, 2023

paradoxical sleep

Random thoughts at arbitrary times
A life once shared how quick demised
Thoughts that swim in water deep
Nightmares in paradoxical sleep

You watch me flail, in over my head
Drift in and out while I mournfully tread
Choke out the water that’s in my throat
Silently drown or stay afloat

You were here and now you’re gone
Ash still falling with each new dawn
A life invested extinguished fast
Promise yielded to aftermath

Strength for all so they don't see
A tower that crumbles inwardly
Internal tears that my heart cries
The perfected façade is just a guise

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

love, as it relates to baseball

I stand on the plate with the sun in my eyes
the pitcher is ready, a fastball he flies
I swing just as hard as I possibly can
love says "strike one" as I try again

choke up on the bat, pull down on my bill
nodding my head, a new pitcher on the hill
it hurls past my chest, just missing my heart
love says "ball one" as the clock again starts

it's the seventh inning stretch, I need the relief
I brush off the dust, no way I'll retreat
the coach saunters over, giving me a pep talk
as the lines are redrawn on the infield with chalk

the board shows each tally, each inning not close
no intervention from heaven or its holy hosts
I shut the book on yet, another losing season
I'll still play the game with faith in the reasons
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Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Facade

I built this façade 
so very tall 
no one can penetrate
through these thick walls 

I learned from my childhood 
from the forts that I built 
how to engineer 
how to protect

my skills became stronger 
no infiltration can come 
safe from all dangers 
I will not succumb 

so I stand at my post 
observant of all
nothing gets past me 
no peril will fall 

when the time finally comes 
someone special will come through 
until that time 
I will stand guard for you 

All There Is

On this day, most special 
Sunshine, smiles and flowers 
Things that dreams are made of 
Exchanging rings and vows 

Pledging of eternal love 
A future for us two 
Standing at the alter 
As we say “I do” 

 Always work together 
Be loving, loyal and true
End each argument with a kiss 
Give and take in all we do 

I wish us a lifetime of happiness 
I wish us a future of bliss 
I wish us a lifetime of lasting dreams 
I wish us all there is

Thursday, August 24, 2023

a tired mind

inside my mind, where silence eludes
too many tabs open
what am I to do?
thoughts, all at once
tumbling all around
answers not coming
at least, none that I've found

late into night
but there is no change
ideas escaping
and riding the range
next to me, you slumber
but my sleep won't come
tossing and turning
on and on my thoughts drum

no rest for the wicked
well, at least not for me
quiet that escapes
even though it's free
maybe I will nap
a least I can try
a few winks of zzzzz's
for my tired mind
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Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

pages

as I write this pages
by dim candlelight
the ending a mystery
hidden from my sight
I jot down the secrets
that I've never told
when the day was so hot
but the wind blows too cold

many promises broken
angry words that were said
in the white heat of anger
things I won't confess
these pages of love
the ink that's still wet
from the love that I feel
given without regret

the battle I waged
that was met with defeat
I would refight that war
although no easy feat
a chapter on heaven
a chapter on hell
although the latter's
the place where I dwell

I've lost track of the pages
and where this all leads
drawing difficult conclusions
after numerous misleads
erasures, redoing 
sometimes of all lines
thesaurus was handy

I can

I can be your warmth 
the light of your moon
the stardust at night
when sleep comes to you
the minutes in each hour
of every single day
a song from your heart
over and over I play

I can be the sweetness of wine
refreshment for your soul
instilling my spirit
making you again whole
the taste of ambrosia
honey on your lips
braille to a blind love
read with fingertips

I can be your searchlight 
a beacon for rough seas
bringing you homeward
keeping you safe with me
cold, wet and tired
hungry for some peace
a bandage for your heart
that will no longer bleed

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Good Bye

I knew that it was coming
could feel it in my bones
Slowly you’re departing
and leaving me alone

It all went by so quickly
these moments that we shared
And looking back it seems
you were the answer to a prayer

You came when I was lonely
you helped to get me through
I think it was a pleasure
just being there with you

Thanks for what you gave me
the lessons and the time
Thanks for being what you were
when I thought that you were mine

against the wall

baby, you had me against the wall
the kisses long and deep
while all around the music surrounds
this dance that we can't keep

it fills my days and haunts my nights
whenever my dreams do come
these stolen moments that we make
memories to which we succomb

I burn it to my memory
like songs to a new disc
steps we've added with each new score
to play over and over like this
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Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

lessons we don't learn

I told my head a fairy tale 
to keep my heart in tact 
it kept me warm for many nights
reflections when looking back 
the images are hazy 
the faces not as clear 
the music not as sweet now 
as it slowly disappears 

that last time that we shared some wine 
using tiles we spelled it out 
the valley of the sun awaits 
where three is just a crowd 
you run to the mountains 
to let your heart roam free 
I cross the border into Mexico 
to give my soul relief 

the kiss you left is bittersweet
or that's the way it seems
when I close my eyes 
you're no longer in my dreams
you may be getting closer 
but that's not how it appears 
saguaro don't hold answers 
for all of your deepest fears
 
you can love without me 
I found  I could be brave 
while all those feelings get buried 
but it's a shallow grave 
photos fade to memory
etched inside my heart
there's no going back now
the end to all false starts

the fingers numb that light the fuse 
on lessons we don't learn 
wax drips down the side of hope 
on a candle now twice burned
I realize fire would never fit 
the perfection that you yearned
I have drifted out to sea
now that the tide has turned

shallow grave

the darkness and confusion lifts
I do not bring the rain, which you embrace
but the sun briefly, into a cold sky
as I make a clouded descent
into the realms of your reality
I lay fantasy aside
covering it with Irish lace
and burying it in a shallow grave
as your heart's freedom sprouts wings
and flies away into the night
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Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

deep blue sea

in the deep blue sea where fishes school
in seaweed thick, or shallow pools
currents play without remorse
sweeping waves on a violent course

listen to the whispers of each wave
of pirates lost to early graves
wooden ships rest on bottom sand
maybe to be discovered again

drifting above with full blown sail
coming about with much detail
on we go with steady keel
listing next to harbor seals

the sun dips gently in the west
a wonderful day that we were blessed
wet feet step in once smooth sand
I can't wait to sail again
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Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License