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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In Exile

...we come to know our home.

So here I am,
back at home,
the very place
I always wanted to be,
the very place
I was afraid to remain,
because it was too small,
too traditional,
too cold and too hot,
too not the place to be
to change this world.

There’s much truth
in everything I’ve said
about my hometown,
but I can only say it myself
because I packed my bags
and went where opportunity
paved an easy road.

Along my journey
I’ve come to understand
an even greater truth:

The most important change
I can most easily achieve
is within myself.