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.
Search tips
Search by title, first line, poem text, book, or type — results appear as you type. Look inside the poems for any word or line, or wrap a phrase in "quotes" to find it exactly. Use the chips and the book menu to narrow things down.
Browse the Twelve Volumes
Brian’s collected pieces, volume by volume.
Flags
The things that don’t need a flag
don’t have one.
The things that do need a flag
flaunt it.
Flags are everywhere,
and flags are on everything.
Tattoos become flags of flesh—
flesh forfeited for a flag.
Flags flown high,
flags at half mast,
flags stand in the place
of difficult and necessary
conversation.
Flags come and go,
flags for all seasons,
flags with great meaning,
even more flags with no reason.