Poetry

  Realistic Reflections Mirror, mirror, tell me truly: Do I still have charm to tempt? Are these locks downright unruly, Or, maybe, “pleasantly unkempt”? Are these eyes that one may drown in, Or just heavy-lidded puddles? Will these wrinkle lines from frownin’ Hinder me from winning cuddles? Can I arch...

  China Made She sits before her grey machine, _knits, cottons, or brocade; with sweating she begins to sew _to create China made. Her stitches— even, fine, and tight _without due accolade; her nimble fingers graft and grind, _in sewing China made. I see her in my mental eye, _I’m...

  The Savage Moon The clouds... Tonight they hide her, but she’s there: A savage, ghostly horse without a rider. The elders claim, “A feral, vengeful mare Who menaces and circles ever wider To blight the night!” I quake! This is no myth Of frightened men, no cloak of words...

  Reviewed Poetry Book: Love Found, Yearned For, and Lost by James A. Tweedie by Theresa Werba I have had the pleasure of knowing James Tweedie and his poetry since 2017 when his first poem appeared at the Society of Classical Poets. I have always found an authenticity and truthfulness...

  When Opportunity Knocks “Opportunities are like flies. We kill most of them.” ---Roy E. Peterson We all have heard the phrase, “Opportunity knocks at our door.” Yet sometimes stubborn, it must knock us to the floor. Perhaps we’re in pajamas and will not let it in. Because we’re not...

  Legend of the Griffin Akin to giants of Greek fame _Who ruled the ancient world, He held the minds of mortal men— _A marvel to behold: An eagle’s beak, a piercing eye, _A freedom-loving wing, A lion’s frame, a fearless heart, _The valor of a king. The ancients loved...

  Government Issue Found in a junkshop, nestled in between Dark bottles and some ill-assorted scraps: A battered thing, its cover (olive green) Showed verdigris along the old brass snaps. The maker’s stamp read 1942. U.S. was stenciled on the canvas case, And in the thick aluminum, ARZEW Then SICILY...

  Chaucer Announces His Desire to Retire Whan that passing years and Father Time’s made difficulty in my finding sounds… rhymes! that to the ear are similar; and ere a line’s complete I place an eye-rhyme here to mark its termination, but end up—oft seems— with six iambic feet, not...

  Advantages of Restaurants Food quality has dropped, Price rises have not stopped, Selections are decreased, Most portions aren’t a feast. Yet still I have to say I didn’t cook today.     The Most Educational Dinner If I could welcome any five folks from world history, To dinner, where...

  Bone China My dear ones soon to marry, if you’re able Do plan good dishes for your dining-table: Selecting china for your registry Requires that you do not choose foolishly. Bone china’s beauty and utility Embody strength, and not fragility. As Noritake’s teacup, eggshell-thin Appears too delicate to hold...

  On the Death of One Too Young to Die It’s been some years now but the month is still _Entire given to her memory: In August born and August died, she will _No writ of clemency Bestow on those of us who loved her well And still too deeply...

  This Too Shall Pass "Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord." ---The Bible (KJV) Go tell the glist’ning rocks upon the shore, The moon shall call her waters back again. This too shall pass, for it has passed...

  Humdrum and Harum-Scarum A Lecture on Free Verse by Robert Bridges,  November 1922 When I was invited last term to discuss some poetical subject before a literary society in my old college in Oxford, it seemed to me that the question of Free Verse would suit the occasion; and...

  Unrest On the Floodplain The rain commenced in darkness, flung upon These acres as the heavens thumped and crashed. I scarcely slept and got up to no sun. In gray light I went out; my footsteps splashed. The creek close to the house, not far below, Raced by me...

  Latitude and Loss One spring morning they announced themselves at last: a faintly murmured intercourse emerging surely from the shoring waves like ancient spells incanted in Old Norse. And there they came, low-beating over crests intently on beneath the broken cloud, a skein of purpose following the coast, straining...

  Act III The signs suggested that my time was short, To which I gave a disbelieving snort. My future debts were paid in full, they say, Before I was required to join the play. The time has come for me to act my age And to rehearse my exit...

  God’s Funeral "When George Eliot complimented Spencer on the lack of wrinkles on his forehead, he replied that nothing had ever really puzzled him" ---God’s Funeral, A.N. Wilson "The riddles of God are more satisfying than the solutions of man" ---G. K. Chesterton How smooth the forehead, sharp the...

  Star Festival The legend of the love of a heavenly weaver girl and an earthly cowherd was recorded in the Eastern Han dynasty 2000 years ago. Stars of the Summer Triangle are Vega (weaver girl), Altair (cowherd), and Deneb (bridge). The emperor of heaven allowed the lovers to meet...

  Song of the Frog Princess —a fairytale love song Whisk me away to an old fashioned dance where old folks jump high as if they’re entranced, where frogs turn to princes when given the chance. Whisk me away to an old fashioned dance. Bounce me on over a tumbleweed...

  The Odyssey: Nolan and Solot Compared by Michael Curtis Michael Solot’s Odyssey translation is true to Homer, and because true, honorable.  Nolan’s Odyssey movie betrays Homer because it is true to the Progressive rather than to the Classive, the tradition initiated by the Iliad and Odyssey.  Nolan’s work is...

  Solitude Bright Venus, crescent moon, faint pearl-gray sky obscurely light the scene. A giant dolmen prostrate, astride huge boulders: megalith collapsed, rock flotsam strewn across the fen. Thin corkscrew trees extrude brown elfin leaves. The time is evenfall, the hour when quietude reigns: no sounds of creatures stirring, of...

  The River Not Taken ---after Robert Frost The sloop’s main sail was hoisted tight But in the fog I now was lost; I reached where half the stream veered right The other left. Encroaching night Meant I must choose; but at what cost? I had no time and so...

  Totentanz ---verse inspired by the 17th century death-cycle paintings preserved on the Spreuerbrüch Bridge in Lucerne, Switzerland. Death falls upon us like a rain from hell; Its smirking lurking shadow sparing none. For neither cleric, king nor serf can tell If life shall last or end ere day is...

  "In God Is Our Trust" ---The Star-Spangled Banner Where were those words, those hallowed words, “In God We Trust” once born? Francis Scott Key once composed them on a misty harbor morn. Held on a British boat he could not fight the enemy, So fought with words, while our...

  Confession It’s not so much the telling of my sins (The inner battle stations I’ve assigned To flesh and spirit and the latter’s sad Retreats) that makes the air go thin- Then-thick, the box feel so confined. It’s not so simple as just feeling bad. It’s more, I think,...

  Religious Poetry, and Religionist Poetry by Joseph S. Salemi When a literary critic touches on matters of religion or religious subjects in poetry, he must walk a very hazardous tightrope. Poetry, by its very nature, can deal with whatever subject the poet finds congenial or suitable; and no critic...

  The Zingers of Adam Sedia A Review Sedia's New Work The Opening of the Mouth and Other Books by Theresa Werba I have had the pleasure of reading the poetry of Adam Sedia for many years, and additionally had the pleasure of a face-to-face meeting at the SCP Symposium...

  A Paradox They're all too sharp and bright. Sedulous kids. Rich parents raised them. Teachers, old and wise, preserve their greatness. Even fate forbids ill luck from harming them. Wealth in their eyes. Their days are filled with butter, nights with cream, and afternoons with friend groups having cars...

  A Prayer of Aristotle "Anyone who wonders whether we ought to honour the gods needs a whipping." ―Aristotle Our twelve great gods I serve with veneration, Pay tribute as accustomed rites suggest, And sing glad paeans pleasing in effect. But reverent reason finds unification Of countless godly spirits coalesced...

  The Sparrow It started in the dark and early hours. Kyiv—asleep, enjoying blissful dreams. Then missiles streaked. Explosions. Debris showers. Smashing walls and windows. Sirens. Screams. Ivan recalled this, walking Podil’s streets. No patrons enjoying coffee and cigarettes. Abandoned stores were still. Some rubble heaps. He wept to see...

  Chemo Refusal Doctor’s gown off. He looks again. Goes tough, speaks plain: "It’s back. Aggressive. Don’t deny. Without the chemo you will die." The patient’s striking. Coal-black hair. A mouth on fire. Some adults stare. Married. Two kids dressed with flair. Teaches math. Her children stare. "When first discovered,...

  Deliverance Upon the bank, this waters wave, _And beckon you, "Come wade." You step into the chilly stream _And sip spiked lemonade. The current flows around your waist. _You think, "Why be afraid?" You feel sand shift below your feet. _The torrent’s swift and strong. You turn to face...

  Rain I felt like walking in the rain, _Can’t say exactly why. I make great efforts in the main _To stay completely dry. But once you’re wet it feels just fine _So you can stroll or chat, No more a worry than sunshine. _Most fears are much like that....

  The Story of a Plague I sorrow at the darkness of the news Of mortal pestilence and storms of shame. I watch scoundrels fighting to hide from blame Or blur their definitions to confuse The madness that has led to deaths, not mine, Not yet (that’s still impending), but...

  Javert Derailed —In Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, the police inspector Javert faces a moral crisis when the fugitive he chased for so long saves his life The outlines are fierce by the great river Seine, And are sketched out in moonbeams with chalky clear white, Where Javert stands above...

  People Forget "Being unable to cure death, misery and ignorance, men have decided, in order to be happy, not to think about such things."  ---Blaise Pascal, Pensées People forget: that empires end, That after singing, silence starts; That after every party's joy We part, and blight destroys our heart....

  Good and Evil The professor was so proud Of his knowledge and his theories. He loved to prod his students With his question and his queries. “If God is only good. Then how can evil exist? God must then be evil, And that’s why evil persists. “If God created...

  The Royal Arse Hortillery Behold the English army as it marches off to war, Where the musket balls do whistle, and the mighty cannon roar. But there you’ll find them at the back, a motley bunch I fear, The Royal Arse Hortillery are bringing up the rear. They’ve been...

  Who Hears a Robot's Prayer?   I. He said the stones themselves would start to sing But no one could have guessed where this might lead--- Now prayers are offered by a crafted thing, A soulless creature---not of Adam’s seed. A supplicant which cannot weep or bleed. We see...

. WHO Anyone in the world, of any age or background, may participate (SCP Membership not required). Among members of the Society of Classical Poets, everyone including Advisory Board members may participate, if not involved in judging the contest. The winner, if not a U.S. resident, must have a PayPal...