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.


Love Is

...who I am.

My father taught me
love is an angry, quiet man,
suffering in a deep silence
but steady as the day is long.

My mother taught me
love is what you do for others
by always saying yes
and sacrificing yourself.

My first wife taught me
love is a gaping hole
into which anyone can pour
the need to be needed.

This world taught me
love is a shiny mirror,
and the way to get love is
by earning enough to buy it.

Then darkness came,
bringing death along for a visit,
and through their sly counsel
I realized love is who I am.

Published in