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.
Browse the Twelve Volumes
Brian’s collected pieces, volume by volume.
Something Else to Wear
You inevitably become
who you think you are,
even in the delusion
of youth,
of excitement,
of romance,
of work.
I became the image of a man
which I was handed
while growing up.
It fit
or it seemed to fit
until it no longer fit.
When the time came
to take off the illusion
(as it inevitably comes),
I didn’t feel bitter
or even much resentment.
I felt naked and tired,
and waited for awhile for something else to wear.
There are so many options,
yet it turns out the best is to remain naked -
asking questions,
of the sun, the moon, the stars, and the other animals.
Unconcerned as they are with pretense,
you can trust their answers.