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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Hesitating Beauty

I saw my heart break in two.

What have you learned
that keeps you alive?

Let’s get out of the way,
the clichés and easy answers,
like your love for family,
doing some good for others,
and especially that ardent desire
to make the world a better place.

Authenticity requires honesty,
the kind that rips through flesh
like the blade of a serrated knife
and exposes the unconscious.

Go outdoors at night.
Sit in a room full of strangers.
Visit the grave where you buried
those memories and experiences,
or even that nameless person
too painful to carry with you.

So here’s my answer:

I must remind myself often,
it’s okay to be broken.

My scars are the currency
I use to negotiate my way
with all sorts of beings,
along the silk road of life.

More than anything
I wanted to win.
But more importantly,
I hesitated to lose.

I can be serious,
and I can be tender.
I can be funny,
and I can be loving.

At last, I can also be alive
without holding on to shame,
and without turning my life
into some kind of game.