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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Life Misunderstood

A poem about waking up and moving on...

The terror of my ego
is that I am useless
and have too little
to offer this world
in terms of measurable
economic value.

I was branded
by the ages-old fallacy
that a man is
as good as he does
and worth only
what he can earn.
So here I am
smack in the middle
of something called,
“My Life Misunderstood.”

Today I know
I paid too great a price
for my literal acceptance
of an old deceit.
And tomorrow I fear
paying a greater cost
for stepping off
the well-worn path
and following my soul
into a poverty called,
“The Wilderness.”

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