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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The New Year Begins Again

The New Year begins again,
into which I bring the new me,
or simply a new understanding,
an amazing grace
that is far from perfect,
and has arrived in parts,
at odd hours,
delivered by strange prophets,
sometimes with bad news,
at others, in coded messages.

There is an irrational order to the calendar
which I could never impose upon myself,
nor anyone else.
In fact, it’s the disorder which matters -
the weird chaos,
the haunting melody,
the sweet tea,
the bitter herb,
the sleepless night,
the afternoon nap,
the fever blister,
the great haircut,
and the kind stranger
with compliments on my choice of color.

These and all the pennies I’ve collected,
both heads and tails,
are the tarnished copper
of a thousand little transactions.

Somewhere,
maybe here,
I find the new me,
or perhaps the real me,
unearthed by poetry.

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