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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A True Lover

Letting someone know they are loved
is not always what you’d think.
A kiss, a hug or a handshake mean so little,
unless they bring your naked heart
into contact with another.

A true lover
must learn to love himself
and to love her imperfect love.
So long as love remains
sanctified by the myth of perfection,
it goes nowhere—
like a bird unable to fly.

There’s a crash course
for those who do not know
how to love themselves.
It begins with each and every new life,
and graduation is as inevitable
as your death.

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