linger

sweet kisses linger 

on my mind and on my soul

prophecies to come

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

Temptation

Looking for a soul to steal 

You thought you might have mine 

But it won’t be that easy 

I’m afraid I’ll have to decline 

You are right behind me 

As I climb up every rung 

I won’t be overtaken 

I will not be undone 

Tempting me with promise 

Of riches and of glory 

Things I haven’t worked for

I’ve heard that same old story 

Offering up damnation 

Is all I’m reading in you

I won’t forfeit salvation 

I’m not close to being through 

An angel on my shoulder 

My intuition is strong 

Your temptation will not sway me 

I know what’s right and wrong 

This scalp you won’t be adding 

To those there on your belt 

Get thee behind me Satan

In me you will not dwell

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

peace

in chaos I found abandonment

in abandonment, I found peace

I looked too hard for compassion

and for my pain to ease

in quite solitude--what I looked to for

and what I prayed to find

was locked up in a chamber

but hid there this whole time

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

PHD

got a PHD

from the university of hard knocks 

the sheep skin framed 

hanging on my wall 

reminding me of my ineptitudes  

graduating with honors 

top of my class 

no one could touch me 

studied hard for that 

as I move the tassel from the left to right 

shaking hands with those that taught me 

on graduation night

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

knave of hearts

my heart now missing a souvenir 

that you took

displayed on your shelf 

quickly forgotten 

hidden behind the others 

you, the knave of hearts 

a true master of the game 

no deviations from the plan devised 

me, blindsided by moonlight

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

book

I read you like a book 

the cover fading 

the binding cracked 

pages dog-eared and yellowing 

a book I have read many times 

and still reread 

contentment in your story 

comfort in your words 

an old friend I cherish 

a happily ever after 

 never changing 

but still I read 

page by page 

chapter by chapter 

a book I love

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

mask

your mask slips 

reality spills all over me 

drenching me in silent lucidity 

before you can catch it 

before you can retract it 

before you can cover it

but the truth does not set me free 

instead it blurs my vision 

making it harder 

to see my way

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

unwritten

I feel the lyrics 

the chords, not yet written 

compose with your heart

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

flowing script

my love bled across the page 

as a fountain pen's ink 

bleeds into fibers of linen paper 

my heart spilling its love for you 

in crimson flowing script

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

same old

Are you telling yourself 

It’s all you’ll ever need 

All you ever wanted 

The stuff of your dreams 

Are you lying to yourself 

trying to get through the night 

Then the day comes 

And things just aren’t right 

Are you thinking to yourself 

Where did I go wrong 

It's the same old ending 

To the same old song 

Are you saying to yourself 

I’m tired of this charade 

There’s nothing that  I’ve got 

And a large price I’ve paid 

Are you asking yourself 

How do I get back 

How did I ever 

Get so far off track

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

Quid Pro Quo

Will you ever reach the summit 

With all stretched below 

When after all you’ve faced 

Has become a flickering glow 

After all the difficult tries 

And the whispering echoes 

The dilemmas and the fears 

From things you didn’t know 

When it all tumbles down 

Like a whiteout blizzard's snow 

When there’s no turns left 

Where you didn’t already go 

You thought the end was near 

After the hurricane’s blow 

But your angel didn’t come 

With a clearer path shown 

When you didn’t stay in hell 

But were there to say hello 

And you bartered with Satan 

Another quid pro quo 

You tried to speed real fast 

But could only move in slow 

What is there that’s left? 

More dues that you now owe 

For the life that you have lived 

And the wild oats you sowed 

It's the levy that you pay 

For the final quid pro quo

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

blowing on the dice

luck for the next roll 

your fortune on the table 

life is a craps shoot

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

bittersweet

so close to the dream
the taste of reality
left it bittersweet

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

fit

there's a place in your arms
that I just might fit
let me fill that space

there's a place in your mind
with dreams you can share
let me fill that space

there's a place in your heart
that is not being used
let me fill that space

there's a place in your soul
that longs for the truth
let me fill that space

there's a trail untraveled
a path to your love
let me explore it with you

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

soft and simple

a line in a song I heard sung
music soft and simple
seems like yesterday

yesterday, a moment in time
feet firmly on the ground
a night sky abundant with stars

stars, reflecting eyes and thought
blocking what I didn't see
whispers underneath the moon

moon, now full with frosty glow
music in silence echoes
as I lay alone

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

out of breath

running till I'm out of breath

knowing there is nothing left 

hitting hard foreboding walls

nothing my way ever falls 

love is hanging on this ledge 

didn't have the leading edge 

never did if I recall

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

monsoon

in the desert night 

streaks of electricity 

all hype, no rain falls

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

love me

that you can love me

a half that you have made whole

takes my breath away

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

hike

we hike the canyon 

a strong hand if I need it 

watching out for me

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

hurdles

jumping the hurdles

running as fast as I can 

always one faster

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

scrawled

that's right, I'm packing

I'm strong, not lacking

but our love's cracking 

although I'm small 

big dreams befall 

fantasies are squalled 

it bounces like a ball 

against a wall 

where love was scrawled

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

cowboy up

wow, you look terrific 

I made reservations for eight

it's this quiet little bistro

and the food is really great

you open my door and buckle me in 

making sure the door shuts tight

do you know you have the greenest eyes? 

that's the first thing I surmised 

here, put on my jacket 

are you sure you're warm enough?

I discovered at the start of the evening 

this cowboy can cowboy up!

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

candles in the rain

I lay down candles in the rain 

knowing they won't light 

someday the sun will shine again 

and all the wicks will dry 

then I'll light them one by one 

make a tarmac in the dark 

so you can find your way to me 

on this runway to my heart

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

stardust

blanket spread under evening stars 

enjoying the constellations 

the big dipper pours its luminosity 

drenching with anticipation 

up on Pegasus' back you climb 

handing me up behind you 

together we travel across the sky 

for a most memorable ride 

Gemini watches with jealousy 

Leo gives a mighty roar 

Cassiopeia watches in disbelief 

as we continue our star tour 

Sagittarius shoots his arrow 

missing Aquila's wing 

Lyra strums a song for us 

as we travel on this evening 

heated from extraordinary dreams

passion ends with slumber

a fantasy trip, always like this

filled with lightning and thunder

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

love

love comes around 

every once in a while 

unlocks the door 

with its winning smile 

it takes my breath 

and wounds with its scars 

whispers to my soul 

as it plays with my heart 

the lessons I learn, 

questions still remain 

 each new beginning 

as I try it again

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