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.
The Touch of Death
The touch of death
is often too distant
for a young man to realize
his life will forever
be hanging by a thread.
Even if he’s encountered death before,
he’s no need for an extra blanket
to ward-off its dreadful chill.
Awareness of his mortality
will advance upon him slowly,
like forgotten memories
from sunny afternoons.
As that inevitable chasm,
between his life and death,
draws ever closer,
he’ll either hold the coil tightly,
or cut it himself
while praying to meet God
in the abyss.