canoe (JPB)

we put the canoe in
the river, like glass
sun high and hot
a perfect Midwest day

push off, catching our rhythm
harmonizing the oars
smooth teamwork
not our first time

we laugh and talk
just kicking back
reconnecting, remembering
it’s been a long time

we know what’s ahead
white water and rocks
and our favorite part,
the drop from the falls

we work as a team
maneuvering together
expert synchronicity
through the treacherous water

this perfect day
the thrill of the danger
this time we share
a new memory

back at the shore
we load the canoe
you look at me and smile
an amazing afternoon

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

the end

I push past the ache, some of the pain
remember the words, not the refrain
cadence lost with most of the care
remembrance buried cause you weren't there

deep in a heart, no longer longing
packed with the things that were so wrong
listening for songs to be sung on the wind
not for beginnings--signaling the end

you probably think this is all about you
a nightingale song from out of the blue
dispirited words that surprised you to know
long after denial, and after the glow

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

Release

Like a loaded weapon
The trigger, ready for release
Waiting for a target
Tension to decrease

All my love and passion
Feelings in my heart
Searching for one person
That can hit the mark

Searching, never finding
Mind and soul waits in unrest
I will find you somehow
To this I can attest

I am waiting for you
Look harder you will find
Everything you’re looking for
Before me you were blind

Come and find your future
Unlock this closed up door
Liberate this aching heart
My essence to restore

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

hanging by a thread

give me something to hang on to
don’t leave me hanging by a thread
something to wrap my arms around
I’ve followed where you lead

mark the path with posted signs
not leaves that can be blown
how can I find my way back
if a clear trail is not shown

I wander down this broken dream
you’re always just ahead
a pool of tears beneath me
a heart that’s filled with dread

onward in my journey
things I don’t understand
a thousand questions haunt me
a million grains of sand

the sun beats down upon me
but the sun won’t light my way
no ease in my forgiveness
all the memories are decayed

retracing fading footsteps
embedded in my mind
tracks that once led to your heart
now more difficult to find

give me something to hang on to
don’t leave me hanging by a thread
something to wrap my arms around
I’ve followed where you lead

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

erasing memories

I thought my mind could bury you deep
and my heart would never know
but like a cancer you’re still there
embedded, continuing to grow

I will forget the times we shared
the passion that was you
block out the way you held me close
and the fire that would imbue

I will erase the memories
remove what traces left
eradicate all remaining thoughts
and put my love to rest

if I practice hard enough
I can pretend it wasn’t real
a dream that lasted way too long
a dream that I still feel

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

aftermath

like a lightning flash
I release my wrath
a storm is about to come
what I can't get back
after that first lash
is going to leave me numb
you were in my path
and the fatal aftermath
will cause us to succumb

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

toughen up

he's a big man
who shows that he's weak
everytime his words
cut her to her knees

he hits her hard
with words that hurt
cracked her mind
broke her heart

nothing she can do
is ever good enough
she tries to turn her back
but can't toughen up

she never ever smiles
she always feels low
not proud of herself
her self esteem blown

she looks in the mirror
her image she can't see
the once lively girl
who was full of belief

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

silent tear

drifting in and out of dreams
as elusive as this all seems
moving in and out of time
with only fantasy to remind

touching a face that isn't real
a broken heart that doesn't heal
memories quickly fade away
leaving thoughts of yesterday

afloat on a thundercloud
a voice that screams out loud
and yet no one can hear
as I cry these silent tears

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

collecting dust

you read a couple of chapters
and toss the book aside
meaning to get back to it
on a cold and snowy night

the weather has been sunny
the book collecting dust
in an obscure corner
forgotten with other stuff

you pick it up and put it down
eventually losing your place
the bookmark lost, the page unmarked
the chapters not retraced

you should have finished reading
the story would warm your heart
the ending was a happy one
laid out for your soul's hearth

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

you rock

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

home

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

reasons

a thousand reasons to stay
a million more to go
the writing is on the wall
don't think it doesn't show

I weighed the pros and cons
and tried to turn and run
always coming back
it won't stay undone

I've tried to work it out
rationalize in my head
the list goes on for miles
filling me with dread

I might as well just toss it
for all the good it's done
baby I'm here for keeps
I just can't leave this undone

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

poker

I shuffle the cards
a five card deal
I parlay true love
you ante sex appeal

my poker hand good
a queen high straight
I win your heart
a twist of fate

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

love song

the walls I built
have fallen down
without a struggle
without a sound

you lit the shadows
an eternal flame
kindled passion
staking claim

engulfing me
in warmth and love
all I needed
you thought of

take me now
to that special place
always started
with your embrace

loving tender
loving strong
loving promises
for which I long

passion started
a voice that’s strong
singing to me
a new love song

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

Don't Know

Don’t know what you’re thinking
I can’t read your mind
I can read your actions
After all this time

Don’t know why you say things
Or do the things you do
Always pushing the envelope
When it comes to me and you

Don’t know how we got here
It’s not how we started out
It’s not like the beginning
When there were no doubts

Don’t know what to do now
With the feelings that remain
The feelings in my heart
That are causing too much pain

Don’t know where to go now
Do I move forward without you?
Can we turn the clock back?
After all that we been through

Don’t know where your mind's at
Or if you’re going to leave
Just tell me when it’s over
Or give me reasons to believe

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

Deleted

The day was almost perfect
Till that last message from you
Deleted means a lot of things

Deleted as in it’s over
Deleted as in you are wrong
Deleted left unanswered

I read what you write
I take some to heart
This is one of them

Many questions left
As I end this day
Deleted, depleted, defeated!

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

Circles

The forest is so dense here
No light can get through
Been wandering in circles
I’m lost and I’m confused

Can’t see the way that brought me in
Can’t see a way to get back
The eeriness is frightening
I’m way off the beaten path

Don’t know if it is day or night
Can’t see a sun or moon
Don’t know if it is midnight
Or if it is high noon

Got to keep on going
Won’t quit until I drop
I’m not staying in here
There’s no way I will stop

My legs are scratched and bleeding
From the bramble and the briars
Feels like I’ve been here for weeks
Instead of several hours

Surely they will search for me
Surely someone cares
Surely someone will miss me
And realize I’m not there

Up ahead I see a flash
My name I hear him call
Someone came to rescue me
Someone cares after all

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

The Price

I asked “At what price my love for you?”
He responded “What ever the market will bear.”
I think my stock just crashed!

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

gone

it’s come to this
the time is near
the time of bliss
has disappeared

can’t recover
can’t go on
what we had
is finally gone

take the steps
that will divide
swallowing all
that’s left of pride

feeling sad
about how it went
about how it ended
and the time we spent

bitter memories
replace the good
moving on
is understood

resentment still
is on both sides
no way to fix
don't want to try

I wish that I could
wish you well
maybe someday
now is hell

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

dust

when the dust settled
after the long dry spell
it was way too early to tell

clouds formed in a blue sky
lightning strikes a barren tree
leaving ashen, gray debris

and here we stand
wondering if this is an omen
will we part broken?

but alas, fortune looms
taking my hand, squeezing
subtracting all we are needing

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

Hands

Hands that touch me gently
Hands that hold me close
Hands that lead to ecstasy
Hands that know me so

A hand that reaches out to me
A hand that I can hold
A hand of infinite wisdom
A future to unfold

I feel the strength and insight
Empowered by your reach
I give myself completely
To all that you can teach

Lead me to nirvana
I give myself to you
A trust I give completely
Elation tried and true

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

Off Track

This candle is burning at both ends
Pulled in too many directions
My spirit is waning

So tired I want to rest
Can’t sleep when I do
finally laying down

Too many questions
racing through my head
Decisions to be made

Praying for guidance
A sentinel to keep watch
Protection from errors

The path has too many bends
Too many boulders in the road
No bridge to cross the river

Did I make the wrong turn?
How did I get off track?
No answers come!

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

Poetry In Motion

I filed away the hurt and tears
I filed away the pain
I filed away the destruction left
There was nothing left to gain

I wanted to believe in you
And all the promises made
Things that you’re not capable of
A heart that wasn't displayed

Maybe I'm the one to blame
For giving you more chances
Past history showed a pattern
Should have studied, not have glanced

Knowing you is not a loss
Sweet memories remain
You were poetry in motion
And that’s what I retain

Back to where I started
But smarter going forth
Separate the mind from heart
For all that this is worth

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

designer cowgirl

hey, what are you doin there missy
yeah you, standin in that space
leanin there in your stetson
lookin about this place

do ya think that you fit in here
why did you even stop in
to hang out with real cowgirls
to see how the other half lives

your boots are probably Manolo
must have cost you alot
look around here sweety
that’s something we ain’t got

you’re standin there against the bar
an umbrella drink in your hand
lookin at all our cowboys
listenin to our cowboy band

your hand made shirt is perfect
those jeans, are probably Prada
we’re lookin at you in our Wranglers
knowin we ain’t got nada

no one will approach you
don’t ya feel kind of strange
you ain’t got no friends here
it’s like you dropped from outer space

sure the cowboys are lookin at ya
never seen one quite like you
but they know you’ll only use em
and toss em when you’re through

do you think this is “Urban Cowboy”
and John Travolta is here
I don’t think so sweetheart
you better get on out of here

if you’re lookin for a skirt fight
I think I can help you with that
me and my friends are willin
to put you on your ass

your hair won’t look so pretty
your Dior makeup will be a mess
is that what you’re lookin for princess
yeah, I can help you with that

you’ll probably break a nail or two
before the fight is through
you’ll be lucky to crawl of here
when we are done with you

go on home to daddy
get in your porshe and drive away
I’ll forget you were even in here
just don’t come back this way


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

Heart vs Mind

My heart says move slowly
Don’t rush into it
Think it through

My mind says go
Engage, connect, conquer
Do what it takes

My heart is pure and uncomplicated
Willing to love and be loved
But not to be broken

My mind enjoys the quest
The innuendo and the excitement
The heightening passion

Which do I listen to?
A heart that has never steered me wrong
Or a mind that moves to fast, overlooking consequences

I am going into this with my eyes wide open
My heart will need to endure
The havoc and aftermath that my mind creates

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