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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Browse the Twelve Volumes
Brian’s collected pieces, volume by volume.
Hurt
I keep my hurt contained and packaged neatly.
It’s greasy and it stains.
And it stinks to high heaven,
reeking of ammonia.
I name my hurt.
I call it bloody, hot, overwhelming, hideous, debilitating, angry, desperate.
Then I put it back in its box,
tell everyone I’m above it,
that it’s not important.
This is my recipe for forgiveness,
because a part of me thinks I must.
And I tell myself it takes a big heart to survive.
On my shelf is a shiny box heavy
within the proverbial polished turd.
Now is the time
to root around in it,
show it to myself and to another,
allow it to wash over me like a waterfall
until the box is empty.