Something and Nothing by acclaimed poet John Brehm

In “Something and Nothing,” acclaimed poet John Brehm delves into the depths of human experience, drawing inspiration from his collection.

Through themes of aging, compassion, and emptiness, Brehm’s verses offer a poignant yet humorous reflection on life’s profound truths, bridging the personal with the universal.

Something and Nothing

There’s something to be said for having nothing to say,

though I don’t know what that is, or isn’t, just as

there’s something to be known about not-knowing,

which I would tell you if I could. There must be

something to be gained by losing, a seed of victory

buried in every failure, else I would not be here.

Clearly, there’s something to be desired about being

beyond desire, as the sages never tire of telling us,

and nothing more fulfilling than emptying yourself out—

no ground beneath your feet, nothing to hold onto, no handrail,

no belief, only this bright self- sustaining air, and a falling

that feels like floating.

John Brehm