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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Loopholes

...may be nothing to worry about.

Last week I didn’t know
that today I’d be sick,
congested and coughing,
a little achy and a lot foggy.

I also didn’t know
I’d be feeling a bit sad
and a lot uncertain
about how to file my taxes.

For fifteen years
I relied on one man,
a very good accountant
and a kind person
who conducted his business
with a personal touch,
never avoiding my questions
whether foolish or difficult.

The new accountancy is larger,
more digital and less personal.
What they lack in sincerity
they certainly possess in efficiency.

Round up or round down,
I suppose it doesn’t matter much
to worry about every penny
in this life full of loopholes.