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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Brian Shrugged

…and so would John Galt.

Have you ever seen
an image of the mighty Atlas
bravely shouldering this world?

I always doubted Atlas
because I couldn’t determine
what ground he was standing on,
though clever folks assured me,
“It’s turtles all the way down.”

This world,
on top of Atlas,
on top of a turtle,
on top of a turtle,
on down...

Because I wouldn’t build my life
on such a rickety structure,
I took up the weight of the world,
trying to bear the responsibility
upon my mortal shoulders.

But you know how the story goes.

It turned out to be much more
than I alone could bear,
the needless headaches
and inevitable heartaches.

Now I’m quite content
to leave the weight of this world
to Atlas, the turtles, and God
- just so long as I alone
don’t have to shoulder it.

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