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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Big Catch

A poem for Anthony Bourdain ...good chef, better man.

This poem is for Anthony Bourdain,
and for all those who liked him,
and for all those who loved him,
and for all those who loathed him,
and for all those indifferent,
and for all those wondering
who the hell is Anthony Bourdain?

Every so often
we cast our nets
out into the universe,
and what we catch
is so much bigger
than we ever imagined.

So what do we do
with our big catch?
Who can we tell about it
when we lack the precise words?
How can we show others
what is too great to be seen?

We cannot.
So the best thing to do
is to share our big catch
through the living of our lives,
and giving the precious gift
that is our own being.

And for those days
when we feel frustrated,
knowing the world is too small
to appreciate our big catch
yet still too large for us to fix,
let us learn how to share a meal
and let others take the helm.

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