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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Rock in My Shoe

How the hell did it get there?

Sometimes there comes
a long moment of serenity,
when I can look around,
and upon exhaling notice,
nothing remains undone,
and thus there is absolutely
nothing else for me to do.

The more tightly I cling
to my own understanding,
the less truth it holds
in this world of forms
animated by the formless.

I love those long moments
when my life slips out of focus
and there is no firm context
to distract my understanding.

Everything is essential,
even the rock in my shoe,
though I have no idea
how it got there.