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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Divine Train Wreck

The very last time
we each looked at the other
we both knew it:
I had married a child
and she had married a father.

The dynamic was so simple
but more potent than poison,
and quickly devoured whatever love
once sparked to flame between us.

That was many years ago.
Then the other day my friend Geno says,
“We’re all divine train wrecks,”
just before giving me all the gold
he’s found by running off the tracks.

I’m only beginning to see
time is circular.
We spiral through it
while spinning ourselves.
Over and over again
we see the same scenes,
but with an ever new perspective
and through wizened eyes.

Each time I look back at my train wreck
it looks a little bit different.
Sometimes I chuckle and think,
I may yet get it back on the tracks.