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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When Breaks the First Light

The starkness,
the complete darkness,
the utter stillness
of nighttime
in the Maine Forest
startles me
when I wake
right in the middle of it.

My senses
are not calibrated
for the lack of stimuli,
and my creeping fears
begin to surface
when there is nothing else
to tamp them down;
no light for the blind eye,
no noises to chase them away.

Yet lurking within
the shadowless dark
is a vast calm,
as well as the opportunity
to negotiate a lasting truce
with my demons.

Nonetheless,
imagine the sense of relief I feel
when breaks the first light.

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