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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Quiet Mind

Silence precedes a quiet mind.

I need to be reminded
there are obvious limits
to my precious knowing.
Buried deep inside of me
is a transcendent wisdom,
obscured by all my words
and my irresistible need
to always be in control.

Every kid realizes
the limits of his knowing,
before education and success
too easily bestows upon him
a god-like certainty.
Then suddenly this world
becomes a pearl for the taking,
if only it can be pried
from the oyster’s mouth.

Oh how often
I repeat myself
to influence others,
and to convince myself
I know exactly
what I’m talking about!

Take away my audience
and I’ve nobody to persuade.
All that remains is my wont
to shout into the darkness,
until I may eventually learn
to say almost nothing,
and say it well.

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