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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The Satchel

What is it you carry?

A long life is a heavy life,
but before you can grow old
you must encounter
someone dragging a satchel
containing the light and the shadow
of their lived experience.

When you do
be sure to ask them,
What is it you carry?

If they won’t answer,
ask them again gently.
Maybe they will tell you
they carry everything
that ever happened to them:
the good,
the bad,
the forgotten,
and the transformed.

Those you encounter
carrying the lightest of loads
know it’s what you do
with everything in that bag
that makes all the difference.

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