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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Surprising

...how the heart changes.

If you live long enough,
again you will be surprised.
I repeat, again and again,
just like way back when
you were a child.

After all these years,
it won’t be the thing itself
that elicits your smile
or a tiny eruption of laughter,
but rather your reaction
to the surprise itself.

First comes the time
we expect the unexpected.
Then comes the time
we accept the unexpected,
as our heads and hearts
no longer fear surprise
or need to understand it.

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