frayed

a fractured country

a flag that is tattered

youth that's forsaken

and don't seem to matter

adults who have fallen

on hard times and strife

overdose on ignorance

and give up their life

looking back with their sadness

tired ideas, values misspoken

no money for a ride

with their valueless tokens

lackluster thoughts

on too many crimes

so blows the wind

on uncertain times

as skeletons abound

and wander this land

a truth that's forsaken

in administered plans

a frayed flag still proudly

waves in the breeze

over the land of misguided

in a fractured country

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

the brink

sometimes, my soul flickers

like a candle in the breeze

grasping at straws to reason

but in the reasoning creeps

standing at a crossroad

where hope and reason meet

one path will hold victory

the other strong defeat

the echoes of the numbness

from silence to extreme

from shadows in the sunlight

to a night with no moon beams

the world that once did prosper

so shiny, it did gleam

slides down the slippery slope

along with American dreams

the storm of all mankind

who surely mean no harm

as callousness spreads thickly

on what has lost its charm

silence, they say quickly

lay down those firearms

we're here to protect you

no need for that alarm

still my mind roams freely

as I jot shit down in ink

it may come back to bite me

when I'm not allowed to think

"it isn't what I wanted"

they shush without a blink

and everything is crooked

that's pushed over the brink

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

within reach

the moon lays buried 

where solitude expands

I'm gazing at billboards

and broken lines on asphalt

all lead away from the past 

I'm longing for the morning 

to rise upon the hills 

I can't get the speed I need 

but I'm still shifting gears 

while watching for the sunrise

and blue sky days ahead 

I sink within the darkness 

I rise with each new sun

knowing the pivotal point I'll reach 

before this day is done

it will shrink in the rear view 

and that's all I will leave 

better for having been there

but much too proud to stay 

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

yesterday

the lights went out and you're long gone
things that mattered don't matter now
I told you things that I wanted to say
what's past is past I'm your girl from yesterday

the days stretch long and the nights are worse
messages left are short and terse
perspective that you held at bay
days move forward but I'm stuck in yesterday

my heart is gonna hurt for just a little while
when I see your picture it makes me smile
I guess the words kinda got in your way
there is nothing left for you when you think of yesterday

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

imaginary love song

I kiss the disappearing image
the apparition that is you
my arms around a shadow
something I can’t hold on to
I hear the imaginary lyrics
the love song that you sang
of promises not tendered
but I heard them just the same

as I write the endless letters
with invisible, hopeless ink
professing one-sided feelings
unstamped empty sheets
the sun peaks through the window
as another nightmare fades
the only evidence remaining
teardrops on a pillowcase

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

just one

frost forms thick on all around
feet crunch loud on frozen ground
and what I've known for oh, so long
thaws and drips with morning sun

the wide open space now closes in
fenced and barbed like old Berlin
my mind skates quick on ice that's thin
what once was won't come again

in the mountains where wild things prowl
packs of coyotes with their low growl
for miles I can see the here and now
and our love there that now goes south

pictures painted in darkest hues
times we spent, just me and you
monsoons came and drenched sky's blue
leaving just one when it was through

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

9/11

for those that were lost
a day for remembering
haunting history

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

9/11/01

your final destination
solitary footsteps etched in sand
wandering once, your trail now ends
Heaven reaches out its hand



it never should have happened
certainly, not like this
your heart fills with its blessings
your mind with those you'll miss

it all ends with a quickness
no one could've foreseen
and life for those still living
will never be the same
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

it was you

my hair tumbles down, falling across your face
that look in your eye, the warm embrace
a honey sweet kiss, passion such as this
silhouettes from the candles that burn
cool air from the fan blades that turn

it wasn't just the stars, that glowed that night
or the moon that was hung, for us in the sky
it wasn't just the music, that only we heard
it was all of this and much, much more
that was the night I fell in love
it was all of this and more,

it was you

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

zoom

sometimes all the day to day

stuff that you can't put away

never ending, no fung shui

no time for even a coffee break

Monday's like this aren't any fun

time for zoom, you gotta run

please no questions, not even one 

wrap it up, so I get done

the drive home is not too bad

not the worst day that you've had

all ideas from your launch pad

made the bosses pretty glad

home at last, now where's my wine?

time to free the working mind

spinning wheels that once did grind

bounced off you as I unwind

you smile, you nod, you fill my glass

as I am running out of gas

he says "honey, that is past

enjoy the evening, let it pass"

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

fung shui

I opened up some boxes
in this vast, echoing chamber
had a little white elephant sale
ridding some of the old treasures
rearranged the pieces left
redecorated all fung shui
and discovered there's plenty of room
for what will come my way

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

home

a beautiful day, when we touch down

rent a car to get around

I remember the roads, but not the way

the GPS will this display

a 40 minute drive, that doesn't change

too much traffic is in the way

we arrive just after dark

and there it is, the lasting spark

they look different, but so do I

family and friends, my old allies

we hug real tight and kiss the air

and I am happy, I am here

my Midwest haunts, from years ago

bring happiness from times I've known

a short little visit that revives my soul

lasting forever after I get home

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

all done

on a three legged stool I sit real still
perched and silent on a very high hill
the sun starts to rise above the peaks
making no promise of what is to be

antelope and doe roam around all day
the bucks stay hidden not too far away
knowing that they are not free to roam

if they want to stay in this forest loam

my naked eye can spot doe a plenty
all the wrong sex, I ain't gettin any
my browning scope tells tales of none
looks like all of the bucks have run

in my dreams, I am waiting still
for any size rack to crest the hills
but still there isn't, not one single one
even though today, the hunt is all done
Poetry by M.J.B. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

eclipsed

so this is where you are 

and this is where we meet 

between unsure and unknown 

streets paved with unrealized dreams 

did I hear you say that it's wrong 

or was it something's not quite right 

where could we have gone 

but where we did that night 

you stopped far short of love

the words never crossed your lips

your sun blocks out my moon 

and hope is totally eclipsed 

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

on track

the stories that you told your head

to keep your heart on track

the bridges that you lit on fire

to keep from going back

a relationship you thought you knew

overlooking deep, deep cracks

drawing the cord much tighter and tighter

to take up all the slack

when I was sure of nothing

or certain of anything else

things were very crazy

I was unsure of myself

I knew it wasn't worth it

those feelings I would shelf

I decided to play those cards

the ones I had been dealt

even while I was running

no place that I could hide

what little you did offer

was at best misguided

the times that you ignored me

all the while I let it slide

when I saw the real you

I put my love aside

the ruins that you left behind

the lyrics without sounds

all the leaves, on Midwest trees

that turned from green to brown

putting away the caricature

of all I thought I found

sending one last message

saying please don't come around

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

midwest

flying home to my roots 

back to the Midwest 

where I spent my childhood 

reconnecting with family 

with friends old and new 

reinforcing my core 

lifting my spirits my very essence 

during the day I drive past corn fields 

knee high with thick, straight rows 

I smell the fresh mown grass 

the lawns green and fresh 

a memory from long ago

 

in the evenings 

I see lightening bugs 

nonexistant in the southwest 

and when I leave 

I lock these treasures in my heart 

the memories in my soul

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

silent stars

silent stars shoot across dark sky
a comet's death, lonely they die
like hopes that fade, all
beliefs that wane, quickly
in the blink of an eye

I once believed in fairy tales
of a savior prince, the wall he scales
rhymes once written long ago
they're not true, this I now know
fantasy in gory detail

the moon rises high in velvety night
twinkling stars enhance my plight
do I look for happily ever after?
braving disaster after disaster
trying to rid this stage fright

silent stars shoot across dark sky

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

anonymous darkness

we make love
in anonymous darkness
we touch and feel our way
a pioneered path

a trail blazed long ago
a path we both know
a love we both feel

no light needed
except the one ignited
as our love burns

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

a summer made of dreams

all those things that now are dreams
walks in the rain and jumping streams
laying on the beach under star-lit nights
that summer made of love's highlights
now the leaves drop from the trees

upon us winter begins its creep
dropping hands, tides that neap
laying there, not able to sleep
the years fly and time passes by

all of the golden plans we made
a future strong, that wouldn't fade
that blurs as it grows tired and cold
extinguished like the candles glow
where did all of those hopes go?
that summer made of sweetest dreams
the leaves drop, again, from many trees
and winter, again, begins its creep
the years fly quick and love passes by

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

July

you brought warmth
that melted ice and snow
a long winter shortened
with a different kind of glow

learning the nuisance,

all there was of me

taking my hand, showing what could be
that July

you stayed through the spring
summer and autumn too
a heartfelt poem
not a quick haiku
winter comes again
no longer winter blues
because of that July
when I met you

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

undone

and while they sleep, it slips away

the dreams and prayers of yesterday

not a sigh or whisper comes

at what continues to be undone

children that shall not be born

no baby cries that will be mourned

kids in schools that should be safe

indoctrination takes that space

boys will be girls and girls to boys

listen closely to the white noise

don't listen to parents, listen to me

they think they know what's best for thee

as they scrub the web and scrub your mind

leaving all of our past behind 

a rainbow promise that once God gave

now significant to the depraved

those that think and those that know

can't see a shining afterglow

refusing to break, refusing to bend

to coming destruction at the end

our twilight that no longer gleams

fits nicely in their scheme of things

intruders given more than some

what is their quest; their last end run?

as a free world that will cease to be

beyond the pale of darkest seas

the chain is broken, link by link

by those that push them to the brink

and while they sleep, it slips away

the dreams and prayers of yesterday

not a sigh or whisper comes

at what continues to be undone

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

tiles

my life is Scrabble
random words with not much sense
redraw, start from scratch

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

embedded

I ran a scan for infestations 

looking to rid all complications

viruses through my heart still course 

the heartaches there and much remorse

the scan says all herein is clean 

I think it's wrong...

that's what I believe 

or it's embedded way too deep 

I know it's there 

I feel it seep

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

headstrong

maybe, I'm impulsive
a little too headstrong
I do what my gut tells me
it's never proved me wrong
heading blindly onward
a path with twists and turns
sometimes I get lucky
sometimes crash and burn

my mother once did tell me
"you always land on your feet"
like a cat with many lives
persevering without retreat
this isn't always easy
my brain has many tabs
and all of them are open
as each idea it grabs

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

dead letter

somewhere, close to the very end
to protect, a lover pretends
faking what is now long gone
cutting losses and moving on
taking what we get from the stress
stamp it, mail it, to the wrong address
ending up in the dead-letter office

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