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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Essential Truth #4

You are not in control.

Tell me how
and tell me when
you first realized
you are not in control.

Was it that awful day
you had something treasured
stolen away from you?

Or was it the day
you asked a question
and received no answer?

Maybe it was the time
you learned what is meant
by the word inevitability.

For some it comes wondrously,
that moment of absolute awe
after putting an eye to a telescope
and seeing our solar system
for the very first time.

For me it came with a bellyache
and was blown in on a dusty wind.

As I wiped the mud from my eyes
I began to feel a little better,
at last liberated from the yoke
of divine responsibility,
but still uneasy and learning to live
in my new found humility.