Brian’sPoems

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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Grow Softer

I don’t want to become hardened
as I grow older.
And I don’t want to become hollow,
empty and moldy,
like an old loaf of bread.

“How wonderful,”
we might all say,
“if I could only capture this moment,
and stay here forever.”

And so we try
to build a wall
around our present.
We mark the spot
then start a war
to prevent our wall
from being moved,
even one inch.

Oh how easy it is
for me to slip
into my beautiful memories
from only months ago!
They’re so tangible
I want to hold onto them forever.
But now they’re truly gone,
warm impressions,
best saved for those cold days
when I must go out alone
and find fuel for my fire.

My oldest friends
have become trusty mirrors.
And I know if I can make peace with them,
I will never become too brittle
for the softness my age demands.

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