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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The Pint Glass

The pint glass
had better be strong
for the fist that grabs it,
and the longneck stronger still
for the suffocating clench
of five fingers clutching at anything
to escape the present moment.
There’s a lot more sand needed
for shot glasses and beer bottles,
than for stained glass
tasked with keeping out God’s rain.
Housman dreamed it best when he wrote,
And malt does more than Milton can
To justify God’s ways to man.*
Of course he must’ve found these words
after a long night of drinking.
*A.E. Housman -Terence, this is stupid stuff (lines 21-22) from A Shropshire Lad (1896)

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