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      Culture, Music, Poetry
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      November 28, 2023
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      November 27, 2023
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      November 26, 2023
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      From the Society, Poetry, Poetry Contests
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      54
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      A Poem on ‘Nothing’ Poetry Challenge

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      The 2023 Society of Classical Poets International Poetry Competition

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      September 1, 2023
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    • Review: In Hubble's Shadow by Carol Smallwood, Shanti Arts Publishing, 2017

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    • On Michael R. Burch, Poet and Editor of The HyperTexts: A Poem and Note by Joseph S. Salemi

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      October 23, 2023
      35
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      October 14, 2023
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      ‘Limericks on Good English Prose’ by Joseph S. Salemi (with Note on Fictive Mimesis)

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      September 17, 2023
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      Appreciating Shakespeare Video & Intro to Hollow Crown’s Richard II Production

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      Can Long Poems Still Work? A Discussion Topic from Julian Woodruff

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      The Cultured Hedonist: An Essay by Joseph S. Salemi

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Monthly Archives October 31, 2023

poem/hayes/culture

‘The Legend of Ole Stingy Jack’: A Poem by Kevin Matthew Hayes

The Society
October 31, 2023
Culture, Poetry
1 Comment
. The Legend of Ole Stingy Jack Do you recall Ole Stingy Jack?Whose tricks cost him a great set back?They say he tricked the Devil twice,But when he died he paid the price. At first denied the pearly...
poem/bryant/culture

‘Word Witch’ and Other Halloween Poetry by Susan Jarvis Bryant

The Society
October 31, 2023
Culture, Humor, Poetry, Villanelle
19 Comments
. Word Witch She’ll tease and tempt with mystic words, __This foxy sorceress. Her syntax soars like sun-bound birds--- __This wizard poetess Casts slick linguistic spells that sing __Of Cupid’s carnal...

‘The Great Sonnet’: A Poem by Prison Inmate Bob H. Cook

The Society
October 30, 2023
Humor, Love Poems, Poetry
18 Comments
. The Great Sonnet I set myself to write a sonnet. I labored hard and long upon it. Sweet verse some maid might shed a tear at, More ere's than one could shake a spear at. I spoke of luv, both hers and...
poem/yapko/humor

‘Mrs. Cyclops’ and Other Odyssey Inspired Poetry by Brian Yapko

The Society
October 30, 2023
Homer, Humor, Love Poems, Poetry
34 Comments
. Mrs. Cyclops Ain’t really gonna leave. I’ll just pretend, Brontesa. Cy and I are bound. I simply Can’t bear to turn a blind eye to my mate--- Not even if our love-life’s off of late; Not even if his...

‘The Democratic Party Dressed for Halloween’: A Poem by Roy E. Peterson

The Society
October 29, 2023
Poetry, Satire
34 Comments
. The Democratic Party Dressed for Halloween The Democratic Costume Party is held on Halloween With Hillary as Jezebel, the dangerous sleazy Queen. Joe Biden comes as Dracula, the vampire looking flushed, Who...

‘Plato’s Pumpkins’ and Other Halloween Poetry by Leland James

The Society
October 29, 2023
Culture, Poetry
11 Comments
. . Plato’s Pumpkins  A patchwork quilt of pumpkins sown with gourds, odd fellows green and yellow ‘twixt-and-‘tween October’s orbs of orange the overlords of cowboy, tramp, and witch come...

Extract from DoorWay Canto 3: Constellation of the Virgin, by James Sale

The Society
October 28, 2023
Beauty, Epic, Poetry
24 Comments
. Extract from DoorWay Canto 3: Constellation of the Virgin DoorWay is the Poet’s journey through Heaven. Having left the constellation of Libra in Canto 2, he now enters the Constellation of Virgo where he...
poem/arredondo/death

‘Apocalypse Women’: A Poem by Monika Cooper

The Society
October 28, 2023
Culture, Poetry
18 Comments
. Apocalypse Women The Christians gather at the baby’s grave. There are no tall stones in the children’s field. Red scarves veil women’s heads among the crowd And one, eyes streaming with a grief...

‘Autumn’ by Rilke and ‘The Art of Poetry’ by Verlaine, Translated by Bruce Phenix

The Society
October 27, 2023
Beauty, Poetry, Translation
23 Comments
. Autumn by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926), translated by Bruce Phenix The falling leaves seem fallen from afar, as though in heaven distant gardens faded; they fall with gestures that deny, negate. And,...

Book Review: Selected Verse of Émile Nelligan: Québec’s Great Lyric Poet, by Ian Allaby

The Society
October 26, 2023
Poetry, Reviews, Translation
8 Comments
. Reviewed Book: Selected Verse of Émile Nelligan: Québec's Great Lyric Poet, translated with commentary by Ian Allaby, Petra Books, 2023 by Gabriella Bedetti His masts touched the sky, he sailed on seas...
poetry/benson brown/readings

Classical Poets Live: An Interview with C.B. Anderson, Readings of Paterson and Wilbur

The Society
October 25, 2023
Classical Poets Live, Interviews, Poetry, Readings
12 Comments
. Classical Poets Live with Andrew Benson Brown Episode 7 Part 2: C.B. Anderson, Poetical Gardener If you enjoy this video, please like and subscribe on YouTube to support the...

‘A Vision of Hell’: A Bus Poem by Paul Martin Freeman

The Society
October 25, 2023
Culture, Poetry
17 Comments
. The Number 192: Inside the Floor in which we encounter a vision of Hell ’Twas on the 192 at Tottenham Hale, It happened not so many years ago, A certain Mr. George Arbuthnot Dale Experienced a bout of...

‘The Reincarnations of Donald J. Trump’: A Poem by Evan Mantyk

The Society
October 24, 2023
Beauty, Culture, Epic, Poetry
26 Comments
. The Reincarnations of Donald J. Trump after Andrew Benson Brown’s Legends of Liberty  . I. 218 B.C. Above the mellow grass, cliff faces soar Like walls to house a huge primeval god. The pass into the...

‘After Brain Death’ and Other Poetry by Joshua C. Frank

The Society
October 24, 2023
Culture, Poetry
15 Comments
. After Brain Death Based on the article “May We Donate Our Organs?” by Drs. Jay Boyd and Paul A. Byrne:  Warm and pink, his heart still beating, Cells dividing, still digesting, Still his blood is...

On Michael R. Burch, Poet and Editor of The HyperTexts: A Poem and Note by Joseph S. Salemi

The Society
October 23, 2023
Culture, Essays, Poetry, Satire
35 Comments
. Mike Burch Still Around? Good Lord, No… with apologies to J.C. Squire’s Ballade de l’Évolution Créatrice Strange beasts have gone to their reward— The snaky Gorgon and the Sphinx, The centaurs and...

‘Excusing Evil’: A Poem on Hamas Attacks on Israel by Warren Bonham

The Society
October 23, 2023
Culture, Poetry, Satire
21 Comments
. Excusing Evil A peaceful protest just took place, and some unlucky people died. Hamas just wanted more air space where at-risk kids could paraglide. As their kids soared, they saw a crowd, and they were...

‘The Word’: A Poem by Jeffrey Essmann

The Society
October 23, 2023
Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Terza Rima
8 Comments
. The Word “Let there be light,” He said and light there was. The seething chaos split to day and night And space and time were brightly set abuzz. From atom unto Adam, highest heights To deepest depths...
poetry/benson brown/readings

Classical Poets Live: The Problem with Arts Grants

The Society
October 22, 2023
Classical Poets Live, Poetry, Video
13 Comments
. Classical Poets Live with Andrew Benson Brown Episode 7 Part 1: The Problem with Arts Grants If you enjoy this video, please like and subscribe on YouTube to support the...
poem/duncan/satire

‘The Life of the Party’: A Poem by Shaun C. Duncan

The Society
October 22, 2023
Poetry, Satire
19 Comments
. The Life of the Party The commissar, in his most common clothes, Patrols the margins of their conversations, And tries to feign that cheer which he so loathes, But is too cluttered with recriminations To...

A Poem on Cystolitholapaxy, by Jeff Eardley

The Society
October 21, 2023
Culture, Humor, Poetry
36 Comments
. Cystolitholapaxy Cystolitholapaxy (si-stow-luh-THAA-luh-pak-see): a procedure to break up bladder stones into smaller pieces and remove them “It’s Cystolitholapaxy for you, For guys of your age, it’s...
poem/woodruff/satire

‘Be Careful What You Ask For’ and Other Poetry by Julian Woodruff

The Society
October 21, 2023
Poetry, Satire
21 Comments
. Be Careful What You Ask For “Genie, please make me a banana split.” Poof! “You are a banana split! Just feel yourself sliced down the middle. Doesn’t it feel cool, dear Tony? I’ve thrown out...

‘The Truth about Fall Colors’ and Other Autumn Poetry by C.B. Anderson

The Society
October 20, 2023
Alexandroid, Beauty, Humor, Satire
22 Comments
. The Truth about Fall Colors  I am October’s most submissive bitch, And just when I believed I’d struck it rich, The gold that hovered overhead was blown Away before I’d claimed it for my own. And now...
poem/hook/translation

‘Quiet Night Thoughts’ by Li Bai, Translated by Talbot Hook, and Other Poetry

The Society
October 20, 2023
Beauty, Poetry
11 Comments
. Quiet Night Thoughts by Li Bai (701-762), translated by Talbot Hook My bed looks over bright moonlight. I muse: could it in fact be frost? I lift my head and watch the moon; I bow my head and think of...

‘Unveiled, They Appear’: A Poem by David Hollywood

The Society
October 19, 2023
Beauty, Poetry
18 Comments
. Unveiled, They Appear Reminiscence, and longings, and echoes unseal, from the depths in the ground which has covered, concealed, recollections of those who you meant to reveal. What your senses revere, neath...
poem/coats/culture

‘Salome’s Soliloquy’: A Poem by Margaret Coats

The Society
October 19, 2023
Culture, Poetry
38 Comments
. Salome's Soliloquy John the Baptist rebuked Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee, for an incestuous and adulterous union with his brother’s wife, Herodias. Herodias therefore wished to kill John, and found an...

‘Avoidance’ and Other Poetry by Russel Winick

The Society
October 18, 2023
Culture, Poetry, Satire
15 Comments
. Avoidance I don’t sign up for group Zoom calls __With folks I know are boorish. I don’t go visit galleries __Where art is amateurish. I don’t make plans which likely will __Cause me to have to...
poem/benson brown/epic

The Battle of Bunker Hill in Epic Poetry, by Andrew Benson Brown

The Society
October 18, 2023
Culture, Epic, Humor, Poetry
18 Comments
. Bunker Hill an excerpt from the forthcoming Legends of Liberty, Vol. 2 . The Eve of Battle The midnight moon. The month of June. A neck Of land. A hill of sand. A group of shadows With...

‘Words of Wisdom’: A Poem by Susan Jarvis Bryant

The Society
October 17, 2023
Poetry, Satire
22 Comments
. Words of Wisdom  “The only true wisdom is knowing  you know nothing.” ---Socrates She knows the what. She knows the why. __She knows the when and where. Her tireless tongue will testify __She knows...

‘A Petless State’ and Other Poetry by Mary Jane Myers

The Society
October 17, 2023
Culture, Poetry, Satire
14 Comments
. A Petless State after Katherine Philips' A Married State, 1664 A house with pets affords but little grace. The best of dogs or cats destroy the place. Note when you visit friends you can detect foul odors,...

SCP Poet Paul A. Freeman Wins Queen’s English Society Poetry Competition

The Society
October 16, 2023
Chaucer, Poetry
23 Comments
. Congratulations to Society of Classical Poets Member Paul A. Freeman who won the Queen's English Society Poetry Competition. His winning poem was "An Apple for Geoffrey Chaucer." Read the official...
poem/yapko/culture

‘My Brother in Galilee’: A Poem by Brian Yapko

The Society
October 16, 2023
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
38 Comments
. My Brother in Galilee I had a fearsome dream---I saw my friend -- My teacher-brother---nailed onto a cross. I wept with sorrow at my brother’s feet. He said his mother henceforth would be mine. Unearthly...

‘A Leftist Rebukes Hamas’: A Satirical Poem by Joshua C. Frank

The Society
October 15, 2023
Poetry, Satire
30 Comments
. A Leftist Rebukes Hamas Hey, Hamas, you silly dolts, You need to mow down more adults. Keep fighting for your patch of sand, Since Jews do not deserve the land, But chopping off their babies’ heads And...
poem/peterson/beauty

‘Autumn Winds have Come Again’: A Poem by Roy E. Peterson

The Society
October 15, 2023
Beauty, Poetry
33 Comments
. Autumn Winds have Come Again Autumn winds have come again, Whistling wafts are dithering, Trees are shedding leaves like rain, Garden vines are withering. Looking from my window sill Out into the snowy...

Three Epiphanic Poems (and a Short Note) by Joseph S. Salemi

The Society
October 14, 2023
Beauty, Education, Essays, Poetry
23 Comments
. Epiphany It stays in your memory like a pealing bell, A smallish thing, an unimportant fact— The mute suggestion of a random act. What do I speak of? Listen, I shall tell: A kindness from someone you...
poem/cooper/haiku and senryu

Two Trump Haiku, by Monika Cooper

The Society
October 14, 2023
Haiku and Senryu, Poetry
10 Comments
. Trump in Asia the carp glows in dark waters, remembering the time that Trump fed him . . White House Advent Melania walks in her orchard of glass fruits her Christmas forest . . Monika Cooper is an...

‘Autumn in Pennsylvania in 2023’: A Poem by Jeff Kemper

The Society
October 13, 2023
Poetry, Satire
12 Comments
. Autumn in Pennsylvania in 2023 In response to Susan Jarvis Bryant’s poem on "Autumn in Texas" If Autumn is a bummer down in Texas, Up north it casts forth some contrasting hexes. Fall has befallen us in...

‘Two Bugologues’ and Other Poetry by Donald Mace Williams

The Society
October 13, 2023
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
10 Comments
. Two Bugologues . Moth Onto a wall in chilly gloom I fold myself, all silk and dust, and then, from half across the room, the candle flickers: Come. You must. I am well past my crawling days when, wingless,...

‘Homage to the Cultural Contributions of Native Americans’ by Joseph S. Salemi

The Society
October 12, 2023
Poetry, Satire
38 Comments
. Homage to the Cultural Contributions of Native Americans Columbus bumped into this wondrous land— Out of his ships came a little band To offer up thanks on the golden sand. Chris found three things that...
poem/bonham/satire

‘Uninvited Guest’: A Poem on Immigration, by Warren Bonham

The Society
October 12, 2023
Poetry, Satire
33 Comments
. Uninvited Guest A man came by my house one day. I smiled and said he couldn’t stay. He smiled right back and said “OK,” but then he didn’t go away. Instead, he walked right through my door and put...
poem/freeman/culture

‘The Number 235: The Fall’: A Bus Poem by Paul Martin Freeman

The Society
October 11, 2023
Poetry, Satire
11 Comments
. The Number 235: The Fall Sludge in extremis  ‘Twas on the 235 at Feltham Station, It happened in the very recent past, That Sludge began to think about salvation And how he really ought to find it...
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  1. Roy Eugene Peterson on Death in Life, Life in Death: Canto XXXIII of Inferno, Translated by Stephen BinnsNovember 29, 2023

    Besides the super translation into English rhyme, I was greatly assisted by the side notes that were a wonderful aid…

  2. Brian A. Yapko on ‘A Leftist Rebukes Hamas’: A Satirical Poem by Joshua C. FrankNovember 29, 2023

    Thanks, Josh. Yes, we are in complete agreement on those last points. That's, at least, why it's important to write…

  3. Roy Eugene Peterson on ‘What Sort of Freedom?’ and Other Poetry by Adam SediaNovember 29, 2023

    Adam, you are so right to question "What Sort is Freedom," regarding out present degraded social climate and the purveyors…

  4. Joshua C. Frank on ‘A Leftist Rebukes Hamas’: A Satirical Poem by Joshua C. FrankNovember 29, 2023

    That’s a good point. I was thinking mostly of the fact that Hamas shows its evils out in the open…

  5. Roy Eugene Peterson on ‘You Might Be a Leftist Liberal Democratic Clone’ by Roy E. PetersonNovember 29, 2023

    Margaret, you went straight to the heart of the matter as I did in my thought process. The real message…

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