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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Labor Day

I’m feeling congested this morning.
It’s not the weather or any predictable culprit,
rather I slept with the fan blowing on me.
Now I’ve awoken congested
with puffy eyes and a scalp that fits too tightly.
This must be how boxers feel the day after a fight.

It’s the Friday before Labor Day,
the last hurrah for the Summer.
There will assuredly be a few more cookouts
and a sincere effort to use up July’s remaining fireworks.

My plan is to work this holiday,
or at least to invent some work.
I believe we’d call it marketing,
so that I may indeed find real work.
I plan to order new business cards
and if lucky, to also update my website.
Maybe then I can justify having a beer
and watching some college football.

First I’ve got to do something about this headache.
Nothing slows me down like not feeling well,
nor makes me frantic like fear of falling behind.
Even in the dream which woke me this morning,
I simply could not keep up.