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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Wanting to Escape

...but with nowhere to go.

My left ear keeps popping,
so I tear a piece of cotton
and put it deep inside.

Immediately my world goes
from stereo to mono
and I feel a little distanced
from all of my senses.

It’s allergy season,
but not one like any other.
This is the year of Covid-19,
when any cough or congestion
is confronted with caution
and a raised eyebrow.

I want to get away,
to be far from all of this,
to find a place without allergens,
removed from the restless anxiety
of people sheltering in place.