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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Don't Be Discouraged

This moment says no.
It’s not possible.
Don’t even think about it.
But haven’t we all heard this before?

Remembering is in our DNA,
and therefore we’ll never forget
the struggles depicted in black and white,
the spilled blood which looks like oil,
the even more distant memories
of our cruel beginnings
when might equaled right
and everything was merely a meal
for the wicked and greedy.

Don’t be discouraged.
Rocks know the true length of time
it takes to first climb
then descend a mountain.

Everything seems further away,
and maybe even impossible,
until that one breath,
perhaps a last breath,
which carries a yes.