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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Drink

Bottoms up!

Little boy,
little girl,
wean yourselves
from your mother’s milk.

This world holds ever more
for you to drink in.
What once nourished you
when you were new
now makes you passive and dull.

So drink from a thousand springs.
Drink the mountains and valleys.
Drink the birds and the bees.
Drink the forests and each tree.
Drink the sun and drink the moon.
Drink something cold in December.
Drink something hot in June.
Drink in the gaze of your lover
and drink the faces of strangers.
Drink in reassuring familiarity
and drink in wild danger.

Drink to your fill,
then drink a little more.
Drink ‘til your own milk
is the kind God would pour.

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