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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Nostalgia

...isn’t for me.

I’ve no need for nostalgia.
I see how it whitewashes the past
and creates resentment,
tightening the screws in my jaw
and contorting my fingers into fists.

Not that I don’t have fond memories,
wonderful moments I still recall
through the softening filters
and ink-faded colors of time,
which also remove troublesome details
while leaving only positive feelings.

So what are these memories
I’m trying to unearth and preserve
as I dig into the catacombs of my life?

Time is a rock tumbler
and our blood the abrasive,
polishing all of our memories
into the smooth agates
we keep in our pockets
and save for a rainy day.

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