two ways out

two ways out of every box
fall out of the bottom
or climb out of the top

get out of the box
experience new things
time to take stock

if you feel trapped
when it all closes in
don’t just adapt

kick and fight
don’t accept status quo
battle your plight

if you can't find strength
pray for what you need
or else you will sink

the rewards will come
when the dust settles
after the fight’s begun

two ways out of every box
fall out of the bottom
or climb out of the top

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

Grey Goose Haiku

with a broken toe
I boot up and go dancing
Grey Goose healed my toe

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

where I am

I can take you there
that place your soul searches for
that is where I am

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

I love

I love morning coffee
and my chats with you
I love lazy evenings
with nothing much to do

I love reading books
about a mystery or prose
I love being by the sea
and secrets others don't know

I love driving a 5 speed
and the old MG
car
most of all I love you
no matter where you are

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

high tides and green grass

as I wander on this beach
alone with my thoughts
that are so deep
thinking about a path to take
contemplating all that’s left
putting mistakes in the past
lessons learned and filed away
to be recalled when needed
an accordion file of those I’ve hurt
a rolodex of pain received
I face the future
not with a clean slate
I reflect on what will be
an obscure crystal ball
dictated from the power above
the high tides and green grass

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

designer cowboy

hey, what are you doin there mister
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 cowboys?
to see how the other half lives?

your boots are probably Lucchese
they look like they cost you alot
look around here buddy
that’s something we ain’t got

standin there against the bar
a long neck in your hand
lookin at all our cowgirls
listenin to our cowboy band

your hand made shirt is perfect
those jeans are probably Gucci
we’re lookin at you in our Wranglers
thinkin you are quit the fool

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

before startin somethin you can’t finish
I think that you should guzzle that beer
drink it down, stop lookin around
and mosey on out of here


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

making do

my heart was sequestered
before the virus spread
no room for any other
here inside my head
and I don't mind not leaving
or to venture out to stores
we'll just stay here cloistered
make the most of staying indoors

every thing I've needed
I already own
staying away from others
for how long is not known
making the most of not sharing
any of my time with you
I could stay here forever
while others just make do

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

past the point

it's way past the point
to say you're getting to me
it's way past the point
a heart that's bound not free
it's way past the point
I know that you got to me

I was looking for something
didn't know what I would find
I had this list made up
and hidden in my mind
didn't know when I met you
that it could be sublime

it's way past the point
to say you're getting to me
it's way past the point
you've already got to me

when I review the list
that I had in my head
all the things bout you
I've settled on instead
not one of them a match
this list I'm gonna shred

so take me down this trail
I'll follow you happily
take me through this life
I'll stay with it gladly
hold my hand with love
cause baby I love you madly

you already got to me
you already got to me

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

wonderin

wonderin why I’m drawn to you
like a moth unto the flame

wonderin why when I leave you
you don’t feel the pain

wonderin why I got caught up
in this crazy game

wonderin why I told you
my feelings I proclaimed

wonderin why my heart hurts
a feeling that’s inane

wonderin how I got here
and if you are to blame

wonderin why my thoughts
can not be reclaimed

wonderin why I love you
when you’ll never feel the same

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

Linger

Linger just a little while
Before you have to go
I don't know where the time went
But it did not go slow

Linger just a little while
Make our loving long
It seems each time you’re leaving
A longer time you’re gone

Linger on the nape of my neck
And the places you know best
Caring, sensitive, ardent
Until our love does crest

Linger just a little while
Set my world on fire
So I can lock it in my soul
The fervor you inspire

Linger just a little while
One long passionate kiss
Make it a really good one
One I’ll really miss!

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

Lessons Learned

It’s the things we take away with us
All the lessons that we learn
Expressions filed in memory
The times that we got burned

The times the heart gets broken
The darkness and despair
Hopeless situations
No mending, no repairs

Memory like a rolodex
Or an accordion pleated file
Heartbreak, loneliness, disparities
The list goes on for miles

Always adding to the inventory
Keeping the lessons close
Drawing on the things you've learned
The things that hurt the most

The lessons keep you on the path
Protection from future pain
So you’ll find what you're looking for
Using knowledge that you've gained

You won’t make the same mistakes
If you keep to what you know
The next time will be better
Because of how you’ve grown

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

Silver Thread

the days of winter are long past
spring is over, summer coming fast
the days are longer, light late into the eve
as each day does finally, gently unweave

a treasure left over from early in the year
the wealth of a friendship that I hold dear
now stretches forward in the hot months ahead
woven with a viscous, unbreakable silver thread

as I move forward with a summer that’s new
and a history that grows from my winter with you
the year will go quickly, that’s the way it always seems
but the friendship will stay, secure and esteemed

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

when I am blue

it is only when I am blue
melancholy will seep through
a love that was never to start
no longing for me in your heart

it is only when I am blue
I remember how you pursued
warm kisses in a winter night
passion that was contrived

it is only when I am blue
I think of love untrue
shattered, futile dreams
heartbreaking fantasy

today, I am blue
and again, I'm thinking of you
anger blends with grief
your love not offered to me

today, I am blue
and I'm thinking of you

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

the blatant lie

my mind tells my heart
my heart believing the ruse
trusting what it feels

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

Home Fire

Today when you were packing
And getting ready to leave
You said you didn’t know how long
You said please wait and see

Chasing after another lost cause
A war which you believe
Chasing after the enemy
Freedom to achieve

I am always waiting
For an end to all the blight
As I watch you turn your back
And head into the night

Another period of lonely days
A week, a month, a year?
I’m tired of all this waiting
But try to hide my fears

I will support you always
And pray for your return
Until you come back safely
The home fire will always burn

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

Aftermath

For the fraction of a second
That I let down my guard
You took over

Like a computer with a virus
No software to remove it
Every file infected and compromised

You were watching and waiting
For that one moment
When I was not protected

With my world spinning out of control
You depart as quickly as you came
Never looking back

Leaving the aftermath
Bleeding heart, tattered soul
Destruction from your path

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

a gentle wind

blows in from the east
disturbing my thoughts and heart
concluding of life

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

My Knight

You hold me when I’m tired
You hold me when I’m scared
You hold me when we’re loving
Your hold shows me you care

Always very tightly
Always very tender
Always with compassion
Always my defender

You are my knight in shining armor
You are my mon ami
You are all that matters
You are everything to me!

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

southwest moon

peeking through the clouds
dark night without lunar glow
stars hidden away

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

Omen

I found it!
Where was it for so long?
What message were you sending?

You are in a better place?
I need to move on?
It was a game you were playing!

That part that meant so much
Closure had come
Finally, after all this time

But now I have questions
What are you telling me
from the place you moved on to?

I take it as an omen
An omen of good will
That all is well, with you and for me

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

This Time

Now, the stars are out
Not so many when you were here
Now, the evenings are warm and breezy
It was cooler when you were near

This time, no agendas
No preordained problems
Unless you count the game
A challenge yes, but easy for you

Last time the challenge was hard
A dilemma that plagued you
It took up too much time
Before it went away

Let’s relax this time
Talk into the evening
Laugh and unwind, kick back
Nothing serious or critical

Let’s pretend we are kids
No problems or cares
No burdens or woes
Let’s eat pizza and dance

This time, read to me
This time, dance with me
This time, laugh with me
This time, be a kid with me

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

all I feel

if I could write something
just for you, how could I express it
say all I feel

how could I tell it all
in rhyming verses or not
all that I think

what could I blog
that would make you see
what it means

the words don’t come
forever in thought
but not on paper

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

The Current

The current here runs very quick
The river wide and deep
Careful as you're crossing
The bank is very steep

There are sharp and treacherous rocks
Hidden in the flow
They can cause a mishap
Which ever bend you go

It all looks so peaceful
The trees that shade the way
Hiding what’s in store for you
The black water won’t convey

Just be on the outlook
Take care with what you do
Safely you shall make the float
Triumphant you made it through

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

Surrender

If time really heals all pain
Why do I still ache?
How much time must go past
To make it go away

You are all I think about
And all the things we shared
Evidently meaning more to me
Although you said you cared

Each day worse than the one before
My heart still very tender
Unable to move forward
No will to surrender

Come and heal my weary heart
Make the hurting cease
Only then will my heart heal
And will my mind find peace

Building Bridges

times get hard, frustrations will come
tensions and stressors that can do us in
testing relationships, testing resolve
causing some to give up, to turn and to walk

but I’m not a quitter, can’t walk away
not without fighting for what I believe
I don’t give up, can’t throw in the towel
won’t try to fake it when the going gets tough

I would rather build bridges
fight the current when I must
mend the things that need fixing
make the effort, knock down walls

the challenge has it’s merit
so the battles I will fight
the return is immeasurable
the rewards, worth my time

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