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.
Browse the Twelve Volumes
Brian’s collected pieces, volume by volume.
Inevitable Death
The war can be ended unilaterally.
Just call the whole thing off.
Immediately the struggle will be over,
life and death brought back together,
a soul in union with the Universe.
It feels strange
at odd hours of the night or day
to contemplate my recent death
knowing its inevitability,
the necessary step
in my own resurrection,
the revelation of my naked humanity.
Oh, how I fought it!
Along the way resenting those
from whom grace flows so easily.
I thought my love was special,
ambrosia of the gods,
my unique gift to bestow
in the tiny world where I held dominion.
Fortunately it was I
my poison killed,
and the true me
it returned to this world.