‘Optimism’: A Poem for the Graduating Class of 2025, by Benjamin Daniel Lukey The Society July 5, 2025 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 2 Comments . Optimism ---to the Class of 2025 The world is cold and hard and dark enough; We need not cloud it with our own despair. And it is furnished, too,...
‘Never Time to Spare’ and Other Poetry by Gigi Ryan The Society July 5, 2025 Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Villanelle 9 Comments . Never Time to Spare ---a villanelle My daughter, I am watching you with love for I’ve been there, When dishes overflow the sink and books are...
A Poem on the Ghost Town Bodie, by James A. Tweedie The Society July 4, 2025 Culture, Poetry 12 Comments . Bodie The whistled whispers of a desert wind Drift through the dusty streets and haunted halls Where faded lives of those who loved and sinned Now...
‘Independence Day, 2025’: A Poem by Susan Jarvis Bryant The Society July 4, 2025 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 15 Comments . Independence Day, 2025 It’s so much more than red and white and blue And stars that spangle banners flying high. It’s something strong and...
A Poem After Chesterton’s ‘A Ballad of Theatricals’, by M.D. Skeen The Society July 3, 2025 Culture, Poetry 3 Comments . IRL —after G.K. Chesterton’s "A Ballad of Theatricals" (reprinted below) Though all the emails I receive—surprisingly politely...
‘The Playland’: A Poem by Shamik Banerjee The Society July 3, 2025 Beauty, Poetry 9 Comments . The Playland Once in a playland caked with fresh-born mud, I saw a league of book-freed children smile collectively like petals of a bud in varied...
SCP Symposium In-Person in September in Naperville, Illinois The Society July 2, 2025 From the Society, Poetry, Readings, Symposium . Request for Expression of Interest SCP Poet Russel Winick has graciously agreed to host an in-person SCP Symposium at his large residence in...
‘Summer Family Cookout’: A Poem by Doug Stoiber The Society July 2, 2025 Beauty, Poetry 7 Comments . Summer Family Cookout Criss-cross, hamburger toss, _Flip that sizzlin’ patty! Pretty please, and top with cheese! _You’re the Great Grill...
‘Bayesian Hubris v. Mercy Seat 11A’: A Poem by James Sale The Society July 1, 2025 Beauty, Poetry 19 Comments . Bayesian Hubris v. Mercy Seat 11A “Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, who miraculously walked away from the Ahmedabad disaster, in which more than 240...
‘Gorge’: A Poem on Fishing by Stephen M. Dickey The Society July 1, 2025 Poetry, Satire 7 Comments . Gorge Millennia before the Bass Pro tours, Sonar fish finders and electric reels, Some unsung pioneer dreamed baits and lures, Felt in his blood...
‘On the Existence of Two Genders’: A Poem by Brian Yapko The Society June 30, 2025 Culture, Poetry 33 Comments . On the Existence of Two Genders Note: This poem is written in response to the trans-driven push to promulgate the idea that gender is either...
‘Therapy’: A Poem by Mary Jane Myers The Society June 30, 2025 Culture, Humor, Poetry 22 Comments . Therapy ---After "Help! I Can’t Stop Speaking in Iambic!" by Cynthia Erlandson Help! I can’t stop writing psychobabble!No matter what I pen, it...
‘Every Square Inch’: A Poem by Frank Rable The Society June 29, 2025 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 10 Comments . Every Square Inch Her every square inch, her breath, and her voice, In all this and more my soul can rejoice. The beat from her heart, the wink...
Two Poems on Cardinals, by T.M. Moore The Society June 29, 2025 Beauty, Love Poems, Poetry 12 Comments . Cardinals The cardinal is my favorite bird.They mate for life, or so I’ve heard.You hear them sing antiphonally—it’s like a game they play,...
Report on Results of the SCP Survey of Poets The Society June 28, 2025 From the Society, Poetry 13 Comments . Report on Results of the SCP Survey of Poets by Roy E. Peterson and Evan Mantyk The survey had 60 respondents, about 1/3rd of them were SCP...
SCP Poetry Competition Winners’ Symposium—You’re Invited! (Updated with Link) The Society June 28, 2025 From the Society, Poetry, Readings, Symposium 3 Comments . The SCP Poetry Competition Winners’ Symposium Join the Symposium...
‘Rolling the Dice’: A Poem by Warren Bonham The Society June 28, 2025 Culture, Poetry 16 Comments . Rolling the Dice “Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the Universe exists, why we exist.”...
‘A Whale Is a Whale’: A Poem After Ogden Nash, by Jonathan Bear The Society June 27, 2025 Culture, Poetry 3 Comments . A Whale is a Whale ---after Ogden Nash While laughing aloud at Ogden's smart rhymes, I was struck by a way to interpret his lines. Though Nash's...
‘Hope’ and Other Poems by Russel Winick The Society June 27, 2025 Culture, Poetry 13 Comments . Hope ---in homage to Langston Hughes Hold steadfastly to hopeFor if hope should subsideLife’s a slippery slopeWhere dreams only...
‘Dad and I’ and Other Poems by C.B. Anderson The Society June 26, 2025 Culture, Humor, Poetry 13 Comments . Dad and I Our sessions last an hour or two at most, for we get through them just as fast as can be managed, trying not to stir the ghost of hurts...
‘Rodrigo’s Lament’: A Poem by Damon Rose The Society June 26, 2025 Culture, Poetry 5 Comments . Rodrigo’s Lament The legendary knight El Cid duels with his fiancé’s father. His rasping knavish voice profanes my good name. It grates my...
‘New York, New York’: A Poem on the NYC Mayor Race, by Brian Yapko The Society June 25, 2025 Culture, Poetry 18 Comments . New York, New York “Give up Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island too…” (with apologies to Rodgers & Hart) How many songs about New York...
‘A Sonnet for My One True Love’ and Other Poetry by Aaron Nydegger The Society June 25, 2025 Humor, Poetry 10 Comments . A Sonnet for My One True Love Forever let the night go on and on, My body to your softness gently pressed, Nor let the touch of shameful, blushing...
‘Gruesome’: A Poem on the LA Riots of 2025, by Adam Wasem The Society June 24, 2025 Poetry, Satire 17 Comments . Gruesome Grinning Gavin smooths his tie, Makes sure he’s framed against blue sky. He pats his hair—one’s out of place; He frowns to note...
A Poem on John Duns Scotus, by Mary Jane Myers The Society June 24, 2025 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 6 Comments . Doctor Subtilis ---Blessed John Duns Scotus (1265--1308) A proud and canny Scot from Duns am I, an infant when Franciscans reached our coast. These...
‘Another Species’ and Other Poems by Sally Cook The Society June 23, 2025 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 5 Comments . Another Species Each time you felt some shame you could confess The sins you had committed, but instead You whispered a revision, something less In...
‘Six’: A Poem by Patricia Rogers Crozier The Society June 23, 2025 Culture, Love Poems, Poetry 10 Comments . Six Bitter were the crimson seeds, Beautiful they were to me, Sparkling like ruby beads, In his palm of ivory. Dark they were to look upon, Rivers...
‘Archaic Torso of Apollo’ by Rilke and ‘Reconciliation’ by Goethe, Translated by Josh Olson The Society June 22, 2025 Ekphrastic, Music, Poetry, Translation 10 Comments . Archaic Torso of Apollo by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) translated from German by Josh Olson We cannot know that enigmatic head in which his eyes...
‘The Prayer Blanket’: A Poem Based on the Real Experience of Tim Cassar The Society June 22, 2025 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 12 Comments . The Prayer Blanket ---as related to me by my friend Tim Cassar, who recently survived a brain cancer operation by Brian Yapko The paramedics came....
The Society of Classical Poets 2025 Haiku Competition The Society June 21, 2025 Haiku and Senryu, Poetry, Poetry Contests 124 Comments . WHO Anyone in the world, of any age or background, may participate (SCP Membership not required). Among members of the Society of Classical Poets,...
‘Together’: A Poem by Margaret Coats The Society June 21, 2025 Beauty, Poetry 25 Comments . Together The windows of our dawning day_Let light in through the dew,But outdoors ambling in cool air,_I knew that I’d find you. Close comfort,...
‘I Would Say Yes’ and Other Poetry by Gigi Ryan The Society June 20, 2025 Humor, Love Poems, Pantoum, Poetry, Villanelle 15 Comments . I Would Say Yes ---a villanelle for Larry on our 36th Anniversary We were young and rather stupid then, But still I see that we were meant to be. I...
‘The Comings and Goings of Heaven and Earth’: A Poem by David L. Williams The Society June 20, 2025 Beauty, Poetry 9 Comments . The Comings and Goings of Heaven and Earth Clouds’ movement in the sky, the sight of birds, phenomena that draw an upward glance, may sometimes...
‘Tilted Tales’: Three Poems by Susan Jarvis Bryant The Society June 19, 2025 Culture, Poetry, Triolet, Villanelle 21 Comments . Clueless ---a villanelle How can I tell what is and isn’t true In daffy days that stupefy the wise? I’m sifting through the chaos for a...
‘Enigma’: A Poem by Steve Cooper The Society June 19, 2025 Love Poems, Poetry, Shape Poems 5 Comments . . . Steve Cooper is a retired professional career counselor. He lives near Salem, Oregon. He has one traditionally published picture book on...
‘Periwinkle’: A Poem by Jeffrey Essmann The Society June 18, 2025 Beauty, Poetry 11 Comments . Periwinkle Don't know that I was on the spectrum, no, But I was weird. I read too much and played Pretend too much. My mind too often strayed To...
‘A Winter’s Tale’ by Jeff Eardley The Society June 18, 2025 Children's, Humor, Poetry 18 Comments . A Winter's Tale There’re many strange and spooky tales, That come from England’s hills and dales. When Winter tightens up its grip, As feet and...
‘Get Along, Little DOGE-ie’ and Other Social Commentary Poetry by James A. Tweedie The Society June 17, 2025 Poetry, Satire 19 Comments . Get Along, Little DOGE-ie Should come a day my fortunes be increased, It’s guaranteed such bounty will be fleeced. For government, like vacuum...
‘Salmon Skin’ and Other Poetry by Adam Sedia The Society June 17, 2025 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 19 Comments . Salmon Skin _Laid temptingly Upon a china dish, _Poached perfectly, A long, pink flank of fish. _Its scents amaze. Fork poised to dig right in, _I...
‘What Is a Man?’: A Poem by Cynthia Erlandson The Society June 16, 2025 Culture, Poetry 15 Comments . What Is a Man? “Ask now, and see, whether a man is ever in labor with child?” ---Jeremiah 30: 6 The prophet’s statement clearly is...
