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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Witness Me Bargaining

...with [insert noun here].

Whenever I close my eyes
I become a meditating monk,
tranquil in my heavy robes even though
something is gnawing at my toe.

Am I okay?
I must ask this question
countless times each day,
and more often than not
must accept a dubious reply.
Maybe it’s always fear,
which first visits the mind.

Now that I can see,
what is it I’m seeing?
Witness me bargaining
with my human suffering,
wanting to know absolutely
before slowly coming to peace
with [insert noun here].