what's stopping you

what's stopping you
from grabbing tight your dream
leave the rest at the roadside
as the mile markers pass

who's stopping you
as you file the past away
turn the key, snap the lock
don't remember back

why's stopping you
don't need another mistake
it all weighs too heavy
if it even exists


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

white noise (c-4)

when I woke up
there was no disturbing noise
no click of a.c. fan
no wind-shaken branch that creaks
no car alarm rudely set
no creatures stirring
no bathroom feeling
no intruder creeping
only a thought that did not pass
when I woke up

what was it that was there
what woke me from sleep
keeping me awake
disturbing mind’s realm
feelings of despair
hover heavy in the air
burning like a flare
angst that doesn’t leave
when I woke up

your scent, gone
your pillow wrinkled from my clutch
a cold reminder
that you have stolen yourself away
love fragmented, pictured incomplete
as I get out of bed
in my heart, dread
remembering what I said
unforgivable, slipped-out words
when I woke up


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

my sun

many nights were cold
before you became my sun
now my life is warm
my dreams are of you


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

thank you

this gift you inspired
brought forth in the form of prose
did I say thank you


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

moonless night (collaboration)

Creeping shadowed moonless night
across my heart has drawn
Curtained memories of the sight
these evenings once had known

How softly would the whispers get
when you steal into these dreams
Fantasies that plague me yet
encroaching my heart’s engram

Leaves stiffly torn from the trees
from gale of bitt'rest wind
So the marks that you leave
to silently heal or rot within

The faceless heavens open wide
words torn from lover's lips
A ravaged heart with cure denied
voiceless echoing in an abyss

The tears of the cleansing rains
wash like a healing balm
And soak the crusted, acrid pain
to make the frenzied heart calm


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

no more perks

you've lost your high
and you're hitting new lows
coast isn't fast enough
since they called your bluff

the gears are stripped
and the clutch is burned
the brake doesn't work
and there's no more perks

the signs aren't English
the lights just flash
the arrows aren't clear
as to how you get here

no satellite for GPS
thought you knew the way
so you didn't take a map
not enough gas for one more lap

running out of options
once the tables turned
doesn't matter now
the why's or how's


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

war

once someone's loved one
he has died a soldier's death
scared youth, a brave man


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

my friend

you're the kind of friend
I'd buy though not on sale
the best that I can find
the one I put through hell
I hope you'll stick around
but only time will tell

you're the kind of friend
I run to when all goes wrong
you put me back together
with comfort that is strong
dry the tears I cry
when I am overwrought

you're the kind of friend
that needs to wear your boots
when I get way too deep
like a pc that needs reboot
a few of the things I love
about a friend like you


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

not so much

you say you've got some tickets
for the football game
do you want to go with me?
I say not so much

you say let's go to dinner
to that new sushi place
I say dinner is fine
sushi, not so much

you say let's go to the movies
"Saw VI" has been released
do you want to see it honey?
I think not so much

you say "I need to hold you more"
"am I kissing you just right"
"I don't tell you enough"
I say "it's never too much"


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

what do I do?

getting dressed for work
another stressful day
makin those decisions
that come easily to me
never thinking twice
bout what I need to do
what do I do about you?

can put it out of my mind
for eight hours at a time
that's just getting by
not as hard as you might think
but the minute I start the drive
as long as that will take
what do I do about you?

turning up the radio
trying to stop the thoughts
passing on the right
the left lane is too slow
shoving it in fifth
cause I'm driving way too fast
what do I do about you?

I've turned away from you
a thousand times in my head
I've pulled the feelings back
another unsuccessful coup
I've sworn I've slammed that door
but I know I'm not that strong
what do I do about you?


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

don't

don't wait
it's not to late
don't stop
I'm spinnin like a top
don't tarry
your arms can carry
please linger
I'm wrapped around your finger


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

I'm

a convenience
you always get what you need
with no thoughts of mine


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

serenity

the dolphins appear
jumping, playing in the surf
carefree, like my days here
the sun, beach and sea
a part of my soul
as I packup for
the long drive back
I know that what I leave behind
is the most important thing
the thing I came for
the serenity and peace that
makes me love this place
so much and for which I
keep returning
again and again


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

circle back

there's a lightning flash
as you turn your back
walking away from me
cause I'm not on your path
I knew it would be like this
from the initial electrical crack

you never promised me
that you were here to stay
no obligations from you
from the very first day
said you'd stay awhile
till you have to go away

always trying my best
to give what you need
a competitive spirit
that could not succeed
all that's remaing now
is a soul that's depleted

I hope you get it all
all you're searching for
you may be circling back
and returning for more
I may not be able to
reopen that closed door


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

this place

I step out into the
cool air
a million stars
on a clear night
the moon reflecting
on the sea
the tide neeps
a soothing sound
I want to show this
to you
I want to feel this
with you
this place I love
Mexico


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

the sea

I drive to the beach house
sunroof open, cd playing
a warm fall day
the sea beacons
one week in paradise


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

lattes

lattes at Starbucks
on Sunday mornings with you
as we plan our week


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

unscathed

your hands touch me
my skin warm
from your touch
my heart
not left
unscathed


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

intertwined

I wake in your arms
your love intertwined with mine
as the morning dawns


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

friend

what can I bring you
what is it that you need most
I give all I have


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

karmann ghia

the top down
you pick me up
in your karmann ghia
the wind in my hair
as we drive the desert
looking for adventure
not a futile escapade
what we find
is a lot more
than we searched for


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

yoyo

you toyed with my heart
like a yoyo on a string
a frayed string that broke


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

sabbatical

taking a one week sabbatical
going to rest my soul and mind
going to put it all behind me
going to get away from the grind

Mexico is waiting
the peace and quite I need
that resurrects my spirit
that reinforces me

no cell phone connection
no landline to be reached
disconnect from everything
while I lay on the beach

I’ll come back reinvented
a soul that’s been restored
lucky if it lasts one day
a very short reward


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

be my love

come stay with me by the ocean
sit with me on the terrace where
we will share our lives
as the day fades and night looms
our histories shared

come walk with me on the beach
a gentle breeze blowing my hair
the sun warming our skin
bare feet leaving traces
imprints of love left in the sand

come lay with me by the sea
on the cool sand while the tide
rises and flows
the moon bathing us in light
stars shining above

come and be my love


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

brushfire

your words a brushfire
desire sweeping over me
my passion ignites


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