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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Browse the Twelve Volumes
Brian’s collected pieces, volume by volume.
The Way of Council
The man next to me
is edgy and raw.
His years,
his failed marriages,
his burning anger,
have all had a blunting effect
on the once razor-sharp blade
of his being.
I too have this edge,
mine also made ragged by failure.
And so the sparks begin to fly
as we sit down together.
Our energy is hot and thick,
and archetypal warrior.
We needn’t say a word
to start a silent battle.
There’s something in our being
which has often lead to war.
So we sit in an uneasy silence.
Other men now join the circle.
Together we hold this tension
and create a sacred space.
The heart stone passes between us
as words unravel our twisted tongues.
We listen without judgment.
When the day is finally over,
a fraternal bond has developed
and we embrace.