The Poser

Scott Whitby, 2024

Writing a poem might take a day

Thinking I used time well

I'm not Walt or Bob or Emily

I'm just a poser, you can tell      

How hard was it for Walt?

Was there any effort when he said,

"Where on the deck my Captain lies,

Fallen cold and dead"?

And these brief words about hope

From the hermit girl Emily

"Yet never in Extremity,

It asked a crumb of me".

I should listen just to Robert

"Scatter (my) poems on the floor;"

Do just what he says to do and

"Turn the poet out of door".