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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Second Communion

I made my second communion.
It wasn’t so formal as the first.
There were no greeting cards.
I didn’t wear anything special.
And there wasn't any cake
or congratulatory gifts.

The second communion
can be as confusing
as it is at times onerous.
It enters stage left
when you’re looking stage right,
and it doesn’t exit
until the show’s over.

The second communion
takes place in the space
between our eyes meeting,
and between the sounds
of our words speaking.
With time it becomes more pungent
like dried cinnamon and ginger,
and I can see even further
when looking through it
as I would a telescope.

Second communion is coming home
but it’s not staying home.
It’s the rediscovery
of my beloved self,
so that I may go out
and love some more.