Brian’sPoems

The Collected Writings of Brian J. Mueller

A single poem, met at the right moment, can change a life.

Search and read all 1,834 pieces by Brian J. Mueller — 1,675 poems, 38 prose pieces, and 121 haiku from 12 published volumes. Free to read and share.

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At the Intersection of Feast and Fasting

Don’t you know this by now?
Life is always a feast
and only death comes unexpected,
way out of season,
like tomatoes in January
and hot chocolate in July.

I’m just starting to appreciate
the abundance contained in emptiness,
all while watching this table
being cleared right in front of me.

I may not be finished eating,
but it doesn’t matter.
The end of a meal comes
when you realize you are full,
or learn other ways
to satisfy your hunger.

I have this vague idea
of the Universe as an infinite circle,
with infinite intersections
of mysterious depths
and varying brightness.

There, right at the corner
of Feast and Fasting,
Peace sits patiently,
waiting for the light to change.

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