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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False Affirmation

It feels so nice
when everything is
as everything is supposed to be.

Somewhere,
someone smart thought it all out,
wrote a screenplay and made a movie.
Now we know precisely
who we are meant to be,
and exactly how to get there.

So enjoy this moment of your arriving.
Savor the satisfaction
of following the manual
to the low point of your fulfillment.
Soon you will notice the cracks,
first in other people,
later in the mirror.
Then as the nights grow longer
and the days dimmer,
you will feel the temptation
to grab that manual
and begin again.

Just remember this:
Your resistance will be your redemption
and the uncharted pathways to your heart
will provide you the serenity
you have always been seeking.