Poet as a muse

On the last Wednesday of the month at 3pm a dedicated group of Plush Mills residents meet to discuss and read poetry out loud.  Last month they chose Emily Dickinson as the featured poet.  Jerry Murphy was so inspired he wrote a poem about her.

Emily

Why haven't I found you before today?

I've avoided contact with the poetic way

Instead, my literary path led me to interstellar frays.

Today your words on masculine remarks 

Rang true as I recalled the women's March

In Washington - when I described in harsh terms

"A protest on women's foot ware"

Where did that come from?  An insensitive burst

At my masculine worst

Like "Powder exists in charcoal 

Before it exists in fire."

Emily, you may have had something there when you wrote,

"...A remark...a quiet thing that may furnish the fuse unto a spark

In dormant nature lay."

Regrets, I've had a few, but then again too few to mention.

This was one for which I had no intention.

Emily, I'll look for you again,

When next I pick up my pen.

Jerry Murphy