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.
If You Must
...but it’s not necessary.
Resist
if you must.
Time
or something else
will take care
of whatever you
cannot face,
cannot manage,
cannot acknowledge,
cannot bring yourself to do,
before the ultimate letting go
frees your immortal soul
to travel between the stars
like a streak of light,
igniting the night sky
to show all of us watching
what might happen
if we can become a yes,
even as our head
says no.