soldier

It is on this day
We honor the fallen that served
Heroes one and all

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

the hunt

even in camo, you are a gentleman
holding barbed wire down
for my crossing,
helping me up steep, slippery hills
ever watchful for my safety

we hunt, empty wash
grassy hills and
thickly, prickly peared terrain
catching glimpses of our game
ever illusive they are

my browning scoped rifle
8 pounds, my camelback
5 pounds full
warm clothing, heavy
we walk

I do not complain
together we go
searching, seeking
hunting for deer
knapsacks still empty

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

Catalina night

lightning flashes across the sky
causing fires in the Catalina night
smoldering, burning all in sight
the peaks ablaze, too many to fight

thunder crashes, shaking the room
I start counting--getting to two
where's the rain, I smell its fumes
outside flowers loose their blooms

the wind ripping limbs from trees
bringing nature to its knees
howling, swirling, leaves set free
worse than weathermen did foresee

in the morning, nice and fresh
all the washes running yet
ashes are the remnants left
rain removing the fire's threat

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

depart

when the time does come
I will happily depart
like the times before

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

no means no

one little word was all I heard
a shake of the head to emphasize
the nod wasn't vertical
but horizontal
no means no, that's all he wrote

I said "baby, don't you realize,
what stands here before your eyes?'
the nod vertical, the answer the same
no means no,


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

xxoo

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

I’ve noticed

silence on the wall
eyes that  wept and ears can’t hear
chimes of those now past

breakfast in bed

you bring me breakfast in bed
singing a little song: wake up sleepyhead
you climb in to share coffee with me
before we know--it is well after three

never enough time to spend here with you
five days of work and off only two
we fill the hours easily enough
too much of you? not so much


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

twenty paces

words at twenty paces
angry voices heard at dawn
truth the only victor


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

like a good friend would

I found you lost, wandering the desert floor
hatless and shoeless, confused by lack of water
I gave you drink and soothed all I could
put your feet back on the path, pointing
you North like any good friend would

there was a time in our long ago past
things were different; I hoped more than I should
lost for awhile without exemption
a 'DNR' on a non-existent relationship
things work out or else they don't
ties that bind somehow come unwound

good things come in small little packages
everyday like Christmas when you were around
take what I give, the friendship I offer
store it like a treasure inside your heart's coffer
I gave you drink and sustenance for your soul
pointing you North like any good friend would


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

trying to get to you

I've got stuff spread 'tween here and there
I'm way over the speed limit
what the state posts on the sign
is too moderate, I am thinking

as I downshift into low
I'm not going fast enough
traffic is much too heavy
smoke is coming from the clutch

now, I think it's way too late
the officer is thinking so too
as he writes me out a ticket
on the side of this busy road

can't he see I'm in a hurry
to get me back to you
as soon as he is finished
off again I will go

he won't slow me down
and I'm not going to brake
I'll take all the tickets
'til they take my license away

if you see my little gray car
best move way out of my path
nothing will keep me from getting to you
the sirens just impede progress


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

a long day

baby, I'm home and it's been a long day
ah, my favorite drink fixed just the right way
I'm too tired to eat
and too wired to sleep
but being here with you
is all I want to do

you put on music and sit by my side
the world may explode into pieces outside
right here I feel safe
in this special place
in the warmth of your arms
I can come to no harm

tomorrow, another day with more of the same
sales are down, two girls quit, who is to blame?
I know I can get through
all because of you
with this love in my heart
that's how each day starts


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

I don't need to worry

I don't have to worry 'bout the change in the weather
I don't need to wonder if I need another quilt
I don't need to worry about flannel pj's either
'cause when it's dark we'll be kicking the covers off

I don't need to worry about setting the alarm
you have one built in, it's part of your charm
the smell of the coffee brewing is all that we need
for these cold winter days that are settling in


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

text

just a little text
letting me know I don't place
in any of your space


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

spa night

evening in the hot tub beneath a full moon
the MP3 on speaker playing our tune
the stress of the work day now over and done
the pleasures of this night have just begun

jets tickle and tease the kinks from my body
you pour white wine from the uncorked bottle
the stars wink at all the things they can see
as slowly you show 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

wolf

you said you were coming back
but you didn't change direction
I've waited long enough
you cried wolf once too much

no response to multi media
as I slowly attenuate
if you finally respond
I forgot the question

it was probably just a ploy
another sleight of hand
the ante is much to rich
anyway, what could it matter

I couldn't change your heart
I couldn't change your mind
love makes many a fool
and I was one for you

you said you were coming back
no response to multimedia
it was probably just a ploy
I couldn't change your heart


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

ride

you saw me standing on the corner of the street
you took another look--pulled up on your Victory
said "hey, cutie, let me take you for a ride"
you handed me a helmet saying "hold on tight"
I climbed on without a second thought

we took off quickly, kicking up some dust
wrapped my arms around you holding on for dear life
from where I was sitting, I felt quite a rush
you said "this is the beginning, baby
it's all just getting starting"

with the cool breeze in my warm face
holding you close, around your waist
my whole valley never looked this green
I'm loving the noise and the backseat
that's what being on your bike can do

everyday now has been just as fine
off into the sunset, away we ride
all because once, I took a chance
when you saw me on that corner
put it all back into order
and took me for a ride


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

it's like

it's like driving around the barricade
lights flashing and the arms are down
the train is bearing down on me
its whistle screeching high-pitched alarm

it's like swimming in the ocean
a sign says "infested with sharks"
floating out further anyway
unafraid cause it's not yet dark

it's like flying a kite during monsoon
a key tied on to the tail
conducting a little electricity
just to see how far she'll sail

it's like singing and dancing in rain
it makes me happy and feels so good
it's like the first time that I kissed you
and love feels as it should


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

so am I

you're in love and so am I
it's just not with each other
when I was in love with you
you backed off cause you felt smothered

all I ever felt for you
remains here in my heart
I fought it hard
right from the start
but still it spilled on you

now it's as you wanted it be
we're the closest of friends
until you hide in silence again
and make the closeness end


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

road trip

we listened to Alan and Gretchen
your music for our road trip
time went fast like the weekend
the hours tended to slip away quick
I told you I wasn't country
but I'm likin' your big red truck
and I know the words to some of your songs
I'm likin' this country part of you

you slip in a few from Aerosmith
some old ones from the Eagles
Don Henly has always been a favorite
this is quite a musical mix
I find I really like Emmylou
her songs stir something inside
no one sings the blues like a country girl
I think you may have found it in me

I told you I wasn't country
but I'm likin'your big red truck
and I know the words to some of your songs
I'm likin' this country part of you


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

interpretation

all things left to interpretation
I'm never using the word always
words that sound too permanent
or is it just the way our mind plays

never doesn't ever mean never
and always doesn't always mean always
we sometimes get caught in the middle of these two
as we travel, here and now, down life's highway

nothing is not ever going to be indelible
it shouldn't ever be written in ink
and always just doesn't happen
except between you and I, I think


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

go ahead

go ahead and say you were calling my bluff
tell me you were just pulling my leg
go ahead and say that nothing meant anything
I think it runs much deeper than that

go ahead and say in your oblique way
say it with rhyme without reason
go ahead and say that I always read it wrong
and you were just running interference with my thoughts
go ahead and say it's time I moved away
I don't want to believe you seriously mean it

go ahead and say I don't hold a part
nothing for me anywhere in your heart
go ahead turn your back and take another path
I think I'll save your place here anyway
in case you change your mind and want to stay


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

pen

you want to carve a fountain pen
with your hands in your wood shop
for me to write my poetry
in beautiful flowing script
you ask that with this pen I write
my poems and sonnets just for you
I'm not ready for that kind of promise
let's see what the future foretells


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

charge

I've charged up my MP3 for music while I'm here
made sure that my camera has batteries for all new memories
cell phone has a full charge, not much good did that do
but there is nothing like the energy....
my soul gets from Mexico


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

flower

a true manly man in every sense of the word
shooting, fly fishing, Harley riding guy
but the poetry side does emerge
when you send me a text of a flower
saying it reminded you of me


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