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    • A Translation of Martin Luther’s Christmas Hymn Vom Himmel Hoch by James A. Tweedie

      The Society
      December 23, 2022
      Culture, Music, Poetry, Translation
      20 Comments
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    • ‘Last Minute Change’ and Other Short Poems by Frank Rable

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      September 5, 2025
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      September 4, 2025
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      September 4, 2025
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      September 3, 2025
      11
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      September 3, 2025
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      September 2, 2025
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      April 10, 2016
      From the Society, Poetry Contests
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      September 1, 2025
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      August 28, 2025
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      July 26, 2025
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Author The Society

The Society

The Society of Classical Poets was founded in New York in July, 2012.

‘When I Have Penned My Final Thoughts’: A Poem by Shamik Banerjee

The Society
August 2, 2024
Beauty, Poetry
18 Comments
. When I Have Penned My Final Thoughts _When Ihave penned my final thoughts and left to meet_the sky,don't organize my table; let the sheet,the thumbtacks, and the cartridge pen lie there;let them assume I've...

‘Cracks in the Ground’ and Other Poetry by Skye Campbell

The Society
August 1, 2024
Beauty, Poetry, Villanelle
7 Comments
. Cracks in the Ground Today the mourning parish bells have pealed. Men broke the dirt with family gathered round, And sang the songs of Heaven while we kneeled. __Now we make these cracks in the ground. I...

‘Three Small Tabs’ and Other Poetry by Joshua C. Frank

The Society
August 1, 2024
Culture, Poetry
20 Comments
. Three Small Tabs Upon the men’s room wall at church, A flyer’s there for men who search For healing after an abortion Served to them, their awful portion. I glanced and saw in that display That three...

Haiku Competition 2024

The Society
July 31, 2024
Haiku and Senryu, Poetry, Poetry Contests
393 Comments
. The Winner and Runner-ups are listed HERE. 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...

‘Centaury’ and Other Poetry by T.M. Moore

The Society
July 31, 2024
Beauty, Poetry
13 Comments
. Centaury The clear night sky spreads wide a tapestry of beauty in the stars that shimmer all throughout the cosmic exhibition hall. In every age mankind has looked to see and wonder at the might  and...

‘The Psychopath Addresses the Ladies…’: A Poem by Joseph S. Salemi

The Society
July 30, 2024
Culture, Poetry
43 Comments
. The Psychopath Addresses the Ladies Auxiliary of the Mental Ward "When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate."  —C.G. Jung "Physician, heal thyself."  —Luke...

‘Cat Contentment’: A Poem by Phillip Whidden

The Society
July 30, 2024
Beauty, Poetry
16 Comments
. Cat Contentment The cat begins his yawn by curling out His pinkest tongue tip as his lips begin To part.  His faith in comfort is devout. Disturbing his furred sleepiness is sin. At least that seems to be...

‘Evensong’: A Poem by Jeffrey Essmann

The Society
July 29, 2024
Beauty, Poetry
10 Comments
. Evensong “It’s your Church, Lord, I’m going to bed.” ---Evening Prayer of Pope St. John XXIII I know you’re there, so don’t pretend You’re off somewhere, removed, remote, Preoccupied with...

‘If You Want to Get Someone’s Attention’ and Other Poems by Daniel Kemper

The Society
July 29, 2024
Beauty, Poetry
13 Comments
. . If You Want to Get Someone’s Attention If you want to get someone's attention, then whisperor commit a mistake that continues the momentfor a little bit longer---a smudge on the glisteris the proof that...

‘Questions of Legacy’: A Poem by Carey Jobe

The Society
July 28, 2024
Beauty, Poetry
21 Comments
. Questions of Legacy First the things we remember—Grandma’s laugh shaking a tablecloth, fixing blue eyes __on children next to steaming pies, or Grandpa’s smothering hug, his rumbling cough before a...

‘Washington Departs from Mount Vernon’: from the Mock Epic Poem by Andrew Benson Brown

The Society
July 28, 2024
Epic, Humor, Poetry
20 Comments
. Washington Departs from Mount Vernon from Legends of Liberty, Volume 3 “Wouldn’t you rather stay?” Watching her doveOf sixteen summers, Martha’s hazels, tearingAway from patriarchal pupils, doveBelow...

A Heroic Crown of Sonnets in Honor of the Ever Virgin, by Karen Darantière

The Society
July 27, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
14 Comments
. A Heroic Crown of Sonnets in Honor of the Ever Virgin . ---1st Mystery: The Prophecy of Isaiah . The Timeless Song The timeless song of her virginity, Intoned by holy angels, signifies The consecration to...

‘Festal Flourish’: Translation of a Poem by Tibullus, by Margaret Coats

The Society
July 27, 2024
Beauty, Poetry, Translation
24 Comments
. Festal Flourish ---on a country festival, by Roman poet Tibullus (55-19 BC), translated by Margaret Coats All here may help to cleanse these fruits and fields! The rite transmits our wise grandparents’...

‘The “La Vache Qui Rit” Candidate’: A Poem by Joseph S. Salemi

The Society
July 26, 2024
Poetry, Satire
26 Comments
. The “La Vache Qui Rit” Candidate Here she comes smiling a big toothy grin at us Laughing and cackling her candidate talk— Does she make sense? No, she isn’t quite good at that; All she can manage is...

‘Men Sail Out’: A Poem by Michael Charles Maibach

The Society
July 26, 2024
Beauty, Poetry
3 Comments
. Men Sail Out The waves they come--- A timeless thing, The earth their home--- Adventures bring. Men sail out On wooden ships, Embolden hearts, Prayers on their lips. They do it for Their daily bread. They...

‘Summertime’: A Poem and Photo by James A. Tweedie

The Society
July 26, 2024
Beauty, Poetry
21 Comments
. Summertime The summer solstice, when it finally comes, Begins the ebbing of the sunlit hours, Which daily add up to decreasing sums As passing days dim fair Apollo’s powers Yet even so, the season’s...

‘The Maze’: A Poem by Pamela Ruggiero

The Society
July 25, 2024
Culture, Poetry
13 Comments
. The Maze Her little game of make believe has turned into a nightmare maze. Her tears have spilled upon her sleeve while empty eyes have lost their gaze. Her maze is very hard to beat; The mice go round and...

‘Well-Armed Lamb’: A Poem by Warren Bonham

The Society
July 25, 2024
Poetry, Satire
15 Comments
. Well-Armed Lamb “Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!” ---Benjamin Franklin Two wolves and one lone lamb sat down __to...

‘It’s All Her Fault’ and Other Poems by Susan Jarvis Bryant

The Society
July 24, 2024
Beauty, Humor, Poetry
31 Comments
. It’s All Her Fault ---with a nod to Eleanor Brown's "Bitcherel" Why write in meter when penning a poem, __You ask me, so here’s my reply: When I drop the rapturous roll of a rhythm __My muse fades away...

‘What Is Grief?’: A Poem by Roy E. Peterson

The Society
July 24, 2024
Love Poems, Poetry
25 Comments
. What Is Grief?  When we are plagued by grief, We only think of sorrow— The loss of a dear loved one Whom we won't see tomorrow. Tears haunt our swollen faces That burst and bare our souls. Nice words...

‘July’: A Poem by Mary Gardner

The Society
July 23, 2024
Beauty, Poetry
18 Comments
. July The sounds of Nature presage__And brilliantly exudeAn all-compelling message__Of carefree attitude. The raven in the garden__That's cawing aw-aw-awAnd throaty-chirping martin__We’re in July! they...

‘Endurance’: A Poem on Shackleton’s Rediscovered Ship, by Paul A. Freeman

The Society
July 23, 2024
Beauty, Poetry
27 Comments
. Endurance Endurance! A three-masted barquentine has lain a century beneath the ice. In frigid-climed Antarctica she’s been athwart the ocean floor. She paid the price for Man’s relentless struggle to...

‘A Ballade to Becoming’ by D.T. Holt

The Society
July 22, 2024
Culture, Poetry
13 Comments
. A Ballade to Becoming .. I. Conceptio You may have fame, be well to do, And live beneath a constant sun; You may attain all you pursue And be a friend to everyone. But, without fail, a time will come When...

‘The Northern Classical Garden’: A Poem by James H. Smith

The Society
July 22, 2024
Beauty, Poetry
6 Comments
. The Northern Classical Garden ---on the transformation of a vacant lot by students and faculty at Northern Academy of the Arts in Middletown, New York ---after Keats  Our youth whose lives lie in the...

‘The Vision of George Washington’: A Poem by Monika Cooper

The Society
July 21, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
17 Comments
. The Vision of George Washington based on the story by Wesley Bradshaw, published in 1880 . I. Message Disclosed What you have heard of Washington is true. At Valley Forge, in those dark winter days, Our...

Poems on Artistic Collaboration and Gilbert and Sullivan, by Brian Yapko

The Society
July 21, 2024
Beauty, Music, Poetry
27 Comments
. . An Epistle of Sullivan Dear Gilbert---your libretto is delightful! A charming English-Japanese confection. I now concede my words last week were spiteful And truly earned your heated...

‘Cyprus’: A Poem for the 50th Anniversary of Turkey’s Invasion, by Maria Panayi

The Society
July 20, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
19 Comments
. Cyprus  July 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the invasion of part of Cyprus by Turkey Land of my birth you’re blessed with gifts divine Of loveliness and beauty hard to find, Where Aphrodite from...

For the 25th Anniversary of the Persecution of Falun Gong: ‘Candlelight Vigil’ by Shindy Cai

The Society
July 20, 2024
Beauty, Human Rights in China, Poetry
7 Comments
. Candlelight Vigil the persecution of the peaceful meditation practice Falun Gong by the CCP began on July 20, 1999 A single candle burns tonight, a sacred memory, An ember for the price of truth, a noble...

‘My Vacation Trip in Verse’ by James A. Tweedie

The Society
July 19, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Humor, Poetry
13 Comments
. My Vacation Trip in Verse by James A. Tweedie One of the comments in response to the recent “On the Meeting of Poets” post read: “A diary in verse. It’s original and interesting. I’d like to see...

‘Desire’: A Golden Shovel Poem after Langston Hughes’ ‘Dream,’ by Lucia Haase

The Society
July 19, 2024
Beauty, Poetry
17 Comments
. Desire "Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly." ---Langston Hughes, 'Dreams' To have, to HOLD what’s going FAST in longing TO capture my DREAMS, I’m looking...

‘Second Chances’ and Other Poetry by C.B. Anderson

The Society
July 18, 2024
Beauty, Epigrams and Proverbs, Humor, Poetry, Villanelle
14 Comments
. Second Chances Just know that you’ve been staked a second chance At any time the future’s looking muddy. Put on your shoes and socks, and join the dance. Don’t look a gift-horse in the mouth,...

‘Colors’ by Kukai, Translated by Joshua C. Frank

The Society
July 18, 2024
Alliterative, Beauty, Poetry, Translation
24 Comments
. Colors by Kukai (空海) (774-835) translated by Joshua C. Frank Colors, fragrant like the flowers, Fade to ash in final hours, Extinguished, gone, returning never. No earthborn life can last...

‘The Small Commission’: A Poem by Paul Erlandson

The Society
July 17, 2024
Beauty, Humor, Poetry
14 Comments
. The Small Commission When school yearbooks are thrust forth to be signed, We give out life advice. We speak our mind, And charge our classmates to keep some small vow: “Recall our good times!” “Stay as...

‘Freedom of Speech vs. the NBA’: A Poem by Drilon Bajrami

The Society
July 17, 2024
Culture, Human Rights in China, Poetry
8 Comments
. Freedom of Speech vs. the NBA The CCP has raged and seethed, oh joy! Daryl Morey was not playing coy, He spoke the truth, a gun then to his head: “Fawn now! Or else your hoop dreams are all dead!” Even...

‘Brainwashed and Hopeless’ and Other Poems by Russel Winick

The Society
July 16, 2024
Beauty, Poetry, Satire
20 Comments
. Brainwashed and Hopeless My old friend is a doctor---very bright, But he just said to me the GOP, Opposed equality and human rights, Here’s how such nonsense likely came to be. Conservatives must not be...

A Poem on Cancer Drugs, by Phillip Whidden

The Society
July 16, 2024
Culture, Poetry
14 Comments
. Dementing Torture of Benign           Drugs against Malignancy His life came to its End.  Smell of the medicine Departs chillingly.                                    ---Dakotsu The...

‘Fire Lurks’: A Poem by Margaret Coats

The Society
July 15, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
30 Comments
. Fire Lurks I recognize, while watching ghastly nightEncircle statesmanship revoltingly,Bright bursts of a spangled pyrotechnic star.America! No star, a land’s lost light.Companions, look and say if you can...

A Formalist Poet at the Open Mic Part V: ‘Nose Blind,’ by Daniel Kemper

The Society
July 15, 2024
Essays, Poetry, Poetry Forms, Readings
22 Comments
. A Formalist Poet at the Open Mic Part V: Nose Blind by Daniel Kemper After a stressful day, because of issues with which you, dear reader need not concern yourself, I decided to swing by the Capital Gardens...

On the Attempted Assassination of Trump: ‘Trail of Hate’ by Susan Jarvis Bryant

The Society
July 14, 2024
Culture, Poetry
54 Comments
. The Trail of Hate Amid the upbeat crowd a sudden blast Of noise arose like fireworks kissing skies. Fallacious musings struck then swiftly passed When crimson dripped before the saucer eyes Of those who saw...

‘Washington and the Cherry Tree’: Excerpt from the Mock Epic Poem by Andrew Benson Brown

The Society
July 14, 2024
Epic, Humor, Poetry
25 Comments
. Washington and the Cherry Tree from Legends of Liberty, Volume 3 Young George chopped down his father’s cherry tree, Not knowing that a woman lived inside. While playing with his hatchet, too carefree Out...
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