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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I Pour a Drink

What’ll ya have?

I pour a drink
for the easily offended,
and one for myself,
a glutton for the intoxication
which comes overwhelmingly
from taking life straight,
not on the rocks
with water added,
and certainly no chasers,
unless it’s another drink.

I hasten to write quickly,
before the ink runs dry
and I toss my pen aside
to look for something
with which to prick my finger
and draw out one last drop
of blood.

Drink up!
Have another.
We cannot talk sober
until we’ve both accepted
this sober truth –
that we lack not love,
only imagination,
and death visits us all
but does not bring the end.

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