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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Childhood Friend

I wish I could say with certainty
that we are the wise ones now.
We’re decidedly closer to that age
we once regarded forever in the future,
and perhaps even unattainable.

What may be venerable about us these days
is our humility and the earnestness
with which we move through life.
I don’t think our friendship was ever an accident,
rather the happy gambit of a scheming God.

We used to follow the garbage truck down our street
waiting patiently on our bikes to see
the man in coveralls activate the giant hydraulic arm.
How amazing the world is when you have
the open mind and heart of child!

These days we meet on the odd Saturday for breakfast.
We talk about kids, politics, football, work and old injuries.
I kinda think we’ve become a little timid.
Life is much bigger than we had imagined.