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.

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.

← All poems

A Beginner's Prayer

Hold on to me God,
as I often have trouble holding on to my life.

I now know why others let go:
the pain and tragedy too much to bear -
the darkness ever becoming darker -
the daylight incapable of forgetting.

I don’t want to die to this life
until I am ready for the next.
I need help from you God.
I need help from others.
I need the ground to meet my feet.

Most of all I need to be needed,
to be asked to give of my gifts,
without expectation,
without obligation.

How can I give and not be taken?
How can I become hurt and not be broken?

Published in