no relief

I told you the truth and it didn't set me free
I lived a lie and it's killing me
I spilled it all, told you every word
you turned your back and pretend you heard

it rose high in the sky with the mornin sun
it came back to haunt... all I've said and done
I prayed to the wall about rattles in my brain
no relief came...nothing masks my pain

did you love me for a minute underneath the moon?
did I leave a mark deep inside of you?
was it only on the surface or hidden in your heart?
was there anything there after all of our starts?

tomorrow comes and it's like yesterday
I write the same words with the same refrains
somehow I think it will make you realize
that I was smart enough to read between your lines

I told you the truth and it didn't set me free
I lived a lie and it's killing me
I spilled it all, told you every word
you turned your back and pretend you never heard

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

manna

like an over-ripened fruit
juices freely flow
pooling, sticky on the tile
solitary footsteps tracked through

look over your shoulder
a dim light beckons from
a splintered door
what you controlled
the things you held
still worthy of the price

wandering the desert floor
forty days and nights
hungry for the taste of manna
and all that you were promised

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

footsteps

I may be light, but my footsteps will leave
deep imprints on your soul
you will still know that I was there

that for awhile we walked in the sun
that for a short time we loved
that for a minute, love was perfect
that there will never again be
anything like this

that is how memories are created
that is the dream that was realized
that is the song that we all want to sing
and the dance we wish to do forever

wishes

this day starts with wishes
from people that I know
starting this birthday
with a very special glow
friends and family
the ones that I hold
tight in my heart, and
whom I will never let go


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

My Birthday Haiku

Celebrating me

I am blessed with oh so much 

Spirits soar today! 

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

Birthday

at the stroke of midnight

another year blows past 

like dust in the wind 

like fire burns to ash 

reflecting on it all

what is now yesterday 

the lessons that I've learned 

memories that were made 

would I change any one moment

 if I had the chance? 

let me think for a second

NOT ON YOUR LIFE

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

Memorial Day

their last flight in a flag draped box

finally home to those they loved

a foreign land that took their life

right or wrong they payed the price

'honor those that went too young
uniforms soiled with blood and debris
youth left on a battlefield
moving forward, refusing to yield

resting now in eternal sleep
flags lined up in many a row
headstones whitewashed in the sun
leaving before your life had begun

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

Mea culpa

I'll say it was my fault

if it makes things all better

I'll put it in text

or send you a letter

whatever it is

that you need to hear

just ask me the question

in back of your fears

apologies come easy

when you don't know what's wrong

did I not hold you close?

maybe I smothered to long

if I don't ask the questions

the truth will stay hidden

is it a big secret?

is questioning forbidden?

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

Jack and Jill

in the blink of an eye

it all slides downhill

tumbling over and over

like Jack and like Jill

all dirty and dizzy

when you finally stop

and now it's not easy

when you try to stand up

what was the reason

your world did a spin?

where you looking out

or trying to get in

it doesn't really matter

which end is up

if the glass is halffull

or there's a crack in your cup 

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

between the lines

I'm reading every line
and what is inbetween
I'm savoring it all
exploring my own meaning
this story is very different
without the turns and twists
sounds like a beginning
at least that is my gist

not a country song
bout how she done him wrong
more like a little ditty
a lyrical love song
lay it out with music
it'd be my favorite melody
for now I keep on reading
dreaming it's about me

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

everlasting

smile that everlasting smile
that will bring you near to me
sing an everlasting song
lyrics that you wrote for me
give me that everlasting look
eyes that are shining for me
I will give you all my love
if you give all of yours to me

if you think that it's not true
if you think I don't believe
if you think it's only words
if you think you heard it wrong
listen closely to my heart
hear the verses of my song
look in my eyes and you will see
everything I feel is real

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

a friend

on this bumpy road

which we all travel,

sometimes smooth; most times gravel

the ones I meet along the way

I may not talk to everyday

thtough the good times

or times of strife

a friend for a minute

a friend for life

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

worry

your blue eyes troubled

the worry lines deep

the past lays mounded,

deep at my feet

I try so hard

to clear the air

the more I say

adds more despair

what is is that

you need me to say

to remove the stress

put all at bay

I tell the truth

but you have doubts

I don't understand

what this is about

a troubled girl

even as a child

letting loose the fury

inside laying piled

be soothed my girl

I'll tell all I know

answering truthfully

to waylay the load

have I done more harm

than adding what's good?

did I interject

more than I should?

did I make you smile

more than make you cry?

did I not love enough?

please tell me why!

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

connected

you wanted to know everything
right from the very start
the pearls and all the grit
that set my soul apart
the snarky little comments
my wide and happy  smile
I told you all my truths
and emptied every file

you asked me many questions
your charms were so intent
leaning in and whiffing
my No5 sweet scent
a twinkle in your blue eyes
a very sexy grin
and that's the moment I knew
that you would do me in

one date to another
our conversation flowed
over wine or coffee
in sun or the moon's glow
holding hands and learning
the secrets and perspective
listening and loving
that's how we connected

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

Escape

I could have made a clean get away.
Turned and walked.
Never looked back,
But I didn't.

I could have held back the tears
Never resisting.
Never saying a cross word
But I didn't.

I chose to stay,
Connected and tuned in.
Feeling, caring, reacting.
Escaping only in my mind.

around the corner

the road to tomorrow is paved with the past
I step to the left as the dye bleeds fast
you touched my body, I couldn't touch your heart
not in the middle and not from the start

a whisper of truth that cools with its breeze
love wraps around me with new energy
all that I longed for, that I didn't see
was waiting around the corner for me

connected by passion, the heat of your song
all that I gave, stuff you drag around
I keep my dreams...you keep what you found
we both end up where we always belonged

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

all too soon

illusion drips from swollen sky
thunder crashes in the night
there’s no hope of staying dry
I shout a prayer, there’s no reply

poetry and visions creep
inside my brain that tries to sleep
shaking all of the beliefs
nothing sacred here for me

madness wanders to and fro
down this unsigned, dusty road
on my mind, this heavy load
intuition thick with mold

my third eye that’s partially blind
ghosts that hide here in plain sight
it could all work out just fine
if I open my heart and close my mind

another dance, another tune
another one of love’s buffoons
the calendar marks the month of June
it will be over all too soon

mama

with gnarled fingers you fix a bow
gently touch a little nose
hold her tight a second more
before she's running out the door

reading stories till it's late
worrying about her very first date
thinking back when she was small
seeing notches on the wall

a mother's love with all you do
this was once all done for you
close your eyes when all is safe
worry lines that won't erase

no longer can I touch your face
gone for good your warm embrace
I would like just one more time
to feel the love that once was mine

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

Vacant

the ifs and the whys
remain unanswered
no closure will come

adrift, once again
the place you held in my heart
vacant

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

confessions

at the time of my confessions
when no one can hear me
when my needs are deepest
when I’ve lost all belief
sweating out the danger
in the depths of my despair
a mind that travels backward
on a trail that was unfair

the ferocity of the moments
a roadmap with no plan
with faithless understanding
staggering like a blind man
this avalanche of anger
termites eating my soul
slipping from those moments
into Alice's black hole

I'm looking through the window
at the hellish burning flame
always on the outside
but I hear them call my name
in the sorrows of the evening
on a chilly winter night
the loneliness continues
this dream that conjures fright

drenched with trepidation
as I shake myself awake
from this master plan of sorrow
a tale where I remain

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

skin deep

you're sweeping out the cobwebs
from where  I thought there weren't any
burying the feelings from the past
at times there were so many
in my darkest hour
by the light of a half-moon
you came to me, an irreverent dream
and sang the sweetest tune

no longer looking over my shoulder
for the allusions to appear
no longer clinging to shadows
of what was never near
I'm making an investment
depositing what's here in me
I'm giving you my heart and soul
knowing it's more than skin deep

it's more than just skin deep

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

spin

we spin our silken webs...
dreams; 

sparkling droplets of dew 

laying on the top...
reality;

what gets caught in its midst...

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

your love for me

for this short time
I walk the beach
by the sea that knows
where the skeltons rest
on corral reefs
forever untold
tides sweep them from me

I bask in the warmth
lotion blocks harmful rays
no tan lines to hide
this February sun--hot
peacefully, I think
as gulls swoop overhead

all of my thoughts
like all of my love
across the border with you
hoping that your truth
and every action reflects
all of your love for me

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

hidden

is it behind the breastbone buried within?
inside veins where blood runs thin
coursing, hidden, wanting to begin
just beneath the tanned, brown skin
lurking; waiting to do you in

in your mind flowing fast and hot
do you love me or do you not?
you sang it once but I forgot
in that once romantic spot
over and over, say it a lot
show me I am all you sought

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

getting a grip

truth written from one sided views
mostly of me and little of you
pages that glare with flowing script
as I come to terms and get a grip

vigilantes sing lyrics from my heart
ballads of love, unrealized starts
put to music, strummed with pain
where nothings lost or nothing's gained

I bring mine forth with prose and rhyme
five hundred days from another time
I give you the lyrics for yet one more
of windows closed and shutting doors
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License