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.
Our Grip Weakens
When getting a physical,
the doctor may test
the strength of our grip
to measure aging and health.
Yet whether we are young or old,
fit or beginning to fail,
there’s something good happening
when we slowly release
all the fear and uncertainty
we’ve been desperately clutching
and clinging to for survival.
As our ability to break rocks
and hurl stones diminishes,
we may begin to feel something new,
something softer emerging
in the palms of our hands.
We grip and grind our way through life
until grace arrives asking us
to let go.