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 Make it Worse

Write this down.

Don’t make it worse Brian,
says my superego.
I know you have the words
that can turn the knife inside him
making it sting all the more.

Say nothing and be silent.
Better yet, turn the other cheek.
Allow the fire to inflame your insides
burning out all of your anger.

Hasn’t life taught you
victory is a lonely feeling
and falls like an acid rain,
destroying all the blooms
on our relationships?

In a world convinced of absolutes
perfection seems within your reach,
but please trust me when I tell you
life is already so much better
when you don’t make it worse.