oil from a well

it was much harder than you might think
to say the things I bottled up deep
gushing from me, like oil from a well
too late to retrieve, or un-ring that bell

you drifted from reason, space to space
reading my thoughts; lacking in grace 
this doesn't rhyme, but it is all real
it's the way I think and how I feel

when I look back, coming out of the fog
wandering, isolated, all thoughts now jogged
I contemplated all the words that you spoke
but only heard the ones you chastely wrote

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

renaissance man

comfortable in jeans and boots
leather and helmet
waders and cap 
suit and tie

handsome in all 

a man of many talents
master of them all
well read, cultured
connoisseur of music and cigars 

soft spoken, soft touch 

a true renaissance man
in every since of the word
a man's man
every woman's dream

my wish come true 

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

useless things

in the corner or under the bed
that very place I lay my head

the day is done and out goes the light
things go bumping in my night

I thought I had them all at bay
thoughts I manage during the day
but out they wander one by one
those ideas I thought once fun

comes the dawn and there they go
back in the corner like dirty clothes
shaking the sleepiness from my head
tossed and turned from thoughts well read

grab the coffee and fill my cup
it's still early, I'm the only one up
looking at you still fast asleep
dreams seem real but talk ain't cheap

wondering if you have those thoughts
of all the ones that are now lost
deep in memories that can't come out
I wish they'd dry up like a drought

it's not that I would ever go back
or run to you with all you lacked
times are better but still I think
of you sometimes and useless things

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

king for a day

don't talk to me of circumstance
Of useless things after we once danced
there is no time or one more chance
once you slayed me with your lance

on you move to newer things
better times is what it brings
while loving songs your heart may sing
feeling like a once crowned king

the crown may tarnish if your head does dip

you bow your head and off it slips

do you feign amazement or come to grips?

when at last your title is stripped

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

CHRISTMAS

Calling up the reasons
Happiness all around
Reaching deep and giving
Into hearts unbound
Sealing all the cards
To get them there on time
Making all the cookies
A favorite of mine
Season of spirit and hope

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

Christmas in the desert

snow up on the mountains
but none down here below
it doesn't stop the spirit
Christmas will still glow
a yule log on the fire
to keep the chill away
while we open presents
and celebrate the day
it still is kind of silly
to see snowmen on the street
and all those electric reindeer
once a Midwest treat
Christmas in the desert
the best that I have known
traditions I brought with me
Christmas spirit still aglow

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

fireside

love displayed by fireside
burning passion in the night
flickering glow on moistened skin
fire burning from within
with each touch that does excite
verses to the poem we write
winter snow falls soft and white
love that flows with each soft sigh

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

this place

a glimmer of light that shines in my dark

 a candle lit with novena said

like a child at Christmas I feel the wonder 

of all you offer to me 

you, the umbrella that keeps me dry 

the hand I hold when I'm afraid 

blocking out the noise of thunder 

your laughter like my favorite song 

soft and warm I feel your breath 

back to chest upon my neck

arms enfold around me tight 

the sleep of angels comes at last 

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

too much slack

when it all falls apart
what wasn't built to last
what we thought was love
sped by way too fast
the here and the now
that brought us to this place
where heaven is closed
and we've used up its grace

the tries and retries
that just didn't ring true
you were counting on me
but I couldn't pull us through
sometimes it just gets way out of hand
you'd had enough--then turned your back
no matter how hard I pulled and I tugged
I got rope burns from taking in slack

as it all falls apart
cause it wasn't built to last
what we thought was love
sped by way too fast
the here and the now
that brought us to this place
where heaven is closed
and we've used up its grace

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

Give Thanks

a nip in the air
friends and family surround
Happy Thanksgiving

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

Thanksgiving

a Thanksgiving comes
and as the blessing is said
I offer my own

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

explorer

an explorer--trudging through the here and now 

picking up what works and stowing it in my knapsack 

tossing away the discrepancies of what doesn't 

a coward--wondering about what might have been 

backpack-- empty; except for dreams

that never see the light of day

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

steadfast

she slayed all her own dragons
without the help of any
armed with swords and arrows
her armor dents were many
and when a new predicament
would fall into her path
head-on the way she met it
befalling it with her wrath

although her prince was gallant
with offers to assist
she'd shake her head objecting
although she wasn't pissed
"I have to do this my way"
she told him with a smile
"you can help the next time,
I face another trial"

and so here in her kingdom
on no one she relied
to right all the atrocities
that she held in her stride
the prince was ever watchful
ready to come to aide
he shook his head in amazement
but steadfast he did stay

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

far behind

the time was up
your ticket expired

ashes thick from smokeless fire distance grew, you try harder gone the love of my desire messages come left unattended inbox filled with those you send deleted now the memory no good reason to pretend once in awhile, you cross my mind thinking of dreams left far behind nothing here, no aftertaste from those stars not quite aligned

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

Lyrics Of My Life

Prose that’s put to music
Lyrics of my life
Sung in soft and bluesy tones
Wonder, loving, strife

A melody of amazement
A rhapsody of passion
A song of aspiration
An opera of emotion

The chords of deep dissension
Played by violins
A harp for softer moments
A cello for my sins

The maestro does conduct it all
Standing with baton
The symphony well directed
As my life plays on

Avalon

her iris the color of embers 
she hailed from Avalon
they said she was a princess
her beauty far renown
looking in the mirror
she could not see that depth
her search for truth and honesty
wide was the path she swept

they say he was a legend
upon his metal steed
and many were the damsels
he'd left behind with speed
always heading onward
weary was  his quest
sometimes roads not visible
on his sojourn west

she sat next to the window
and prayed a silent plea
she said I'll love no other
just cause he loves me
I will wait for ever
if that's how long it takes
right here, this lonely princess
alone, may be my fate

auspicious, was their meeting
arranged by common friends
fortuitous, when their eyes met
a beginning without end
adventure when together
never, to be apart
a prince upon a metal horse
had finally won her heart

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

for what was

for what was a loving rapport
singing softly at my heart's door
a golden key opening a lock
surrounding--astounding

for what was a warm embrace
hands that gently touched your face
kisses burning into my soul
intensely--immensely

for what was my heart believed
the truth, a spotlight, now floods me
shadows hidden deep within
dwelling--foretelling

for what was that floats as a dream
never really what it seemed
as the key twists in the lock
rending--splintering

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

The Dwelling

In this very deep dark place 

Where all my secrets dwell 

I’ve gathered many memories 

Some which I’ll never tell 

Memories of love long lost 

Memories of hope 

Memories of yesterday 

And things with which to cope 

Always adding something 

More and more each day 

To this cavernous, deep, dark place 

Always locked away

rain haiku

and the rain that fell 

was not cleansing or gentle

it was only wet

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

fester

deep inside, where no one can see
things that fester, won't be set free
so many questions, so many thoughts
of long ago times and the trouble it wrought

simmering, just beginning to boil
reaching a point like a snake that is coiled
ready to spew from once silent lips
nothing in writing, not from the script

surprise from the one who lead it along
minding their business and singing their song
lyric that falls on my ears that won't hear
you once had the chance, when you were endeared

the days hurried forward with no time to waste
and you, you left nothing when you left in haste
water under a bridge that was dammed in the crook
and I wrote the ending in our CliffsNotes book

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

raj

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

strength

the cord is severed on the dangling rope
that once kept me connected to so little hope
here comes the part where I sink or I swim
finding if my strength will last to the end

the highs and the lows of days just now past
reaching for something I knew couldn't last
too little on one side too much on the other
like bugs in the night, with the light fly for cover

like a bumper sticker stating if you can read you're too close
like a firefly whose tail in the night gently glows
like a fire that rages and then simmers to fine ash
like a warning sign you read long after the fact

the cord is now severed on the dangling rope
that once kept me connected to so little hope
I find I don't sink and how strong I can swim
finding my strength holds all the way to the end

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

contract

you're the one that sold me on the crescent moon
a salesman selling ad space, a contract signed by noon
I bought it all with your sweet smile, paper signed with blues
filed in your work folder with other papers of different hues

I reread the manifest, I'm absorbing every word
note the missing feelings and the things not heard
no clauses for my escape, no way that I can purge
not enough of adjectives and way too many verbs

a contract of adhesion, consumer protection not offered
your heart getting richer, another added to your coffer
mine lays by the roadside with the to occupant stuffers
neglected terms and conditions without any other buffers

this contract that I purchased reaches its expiration
renewal not an option without terms coming to fruition
you are up the street, selling honey and aberration
and I'm reading the fine print with a whole new appreciation

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

have you ever?

have you ever wondered....
why the dawn is so red
why the moon and sun appear simultaneously
why it rains across the street, but not on you
why we choose to love those--
who don't love back

have you ever wondered....
why music affects our moods
why you can't sleep when tired
why you dream--
and where they go when they die

have you ever wondered....
what is around the next corner
why some lessons, we just don't learn
where love went--
and if it's ever coming back

have you ever wondered...

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

it's not about

it's not about the breath you take
or breathing in and out
it's not what gets you through the night
or what love is all about
it's not about the rising score
or who might win the race
love isn't about the breathing
it's who takes your breath away

it's not about the hoping
or saying all the prayers
it's the candle in the darkness
that's steady after it flares
it's the hand and heart you hold
after all is said and done
it's the promise of tomorrow
after yesterday is gone

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