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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Ripe Fruit

The truly ripe fruit
falls easily to the ground.

This axiom is so important
it bears repeating:
the ripest fruit—
it falls easily to the ground.

The apple in the tree
may be perfect to the eye,
but the one on the ground
is much easier to reach
and will make the sweetest cider.

The apple in the tree fears the fall,
but the one on the ground
barely remembers what happened.

The apple in the tree says, “Tomorrow.”
The one on the ground says, “Right now.”

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