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      'On Turning Seventy' by James A. Tweedie

      The Society
      May 23, 2021
      Culture, Humor, Poetry
      37 Comments
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      June 18, 2025
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    • ‘What Is a Man?’: A Poem by Cynthia Erlandson

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      June 16, 2025
      10
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      September 1, 2019
      High School Submissions, Poetry, Poetry Contests
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      February 1, 2025
      28
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      2
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      September 29, 2024
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Author The Society

The Society

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

‘Free Press’: A Poem on the Media, by Warren Bonham

The Society
November 9, 2023
Poetry, Satire
13 Comments
. Free Press Our founding fathers fought the fight __to conquer tyranny. Once won, the Congress met to write __new laws to keep us free. They knew that governments all gained __voracious appetites. To keep...

‘Israel: A Leftist’s Guide’ by David Whippman

The Society
November 9, 2023
Poetry, Satire
21 Comments
. Israel: A Leftist's Guide Hamas atrocities? Don't say a word,To point them out would be an act of treason.A level playing field? Don't be absurd.Make sure your slogans take the place of reason. Remember:...

‘The Moon Hung Low…’: A Poem by Cynthia Erlandson

The Society
November 8, 2023
Culture, Poetry
30 Comments
. . “The moon hung low in the sky like a yellow skull.” ---Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray . The moon hung low in the sky like a yellow skull, A glowing goblin with a garish grin And pathos in its...

‘Alfie’s Answer’: A Poem by Peter Duff

The Society
November 8, 2023
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
12 Comments
. Alfie’s Answer “What’s it all about, Alfie?” ---Hal David Not selfish pleasure, as I thought, but love For isolated pleasures quickly sour. Love feeds a hunger nothing else avails The power of love...

‘The Stream of Love’: A Sonnet by Daniel Howard

The Society
November 7, 2023
Love Poems, Poetry
12 Comments
. The Stream of Love Like swollen streams in Spring, young love will roarThrough every obstacle that checks its flow,Though not so fast that winter cannot slowIts great vitality, ‘til frozen o’er;But...

‘Treasure in Heaven’: A Poem by Warren Bonham

The Society
November 7, 2023
Poetry, Satire
13 Comments
. Treasure in Heaven "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths...

‘Ecstasy and Me’: A Poem by Jeffrey Essmann

The Society
November 6, 2023
Beauty, Poetry
10 Comments
. Ecstasy and Me I’ve not, I fear, the spiritual thrust To quite propel myself to mystic heights; To taste the inconceivable delights That saints have savored, hallowed and nonplussed By drawing near to...

‘The Miasma Enshrouding Disneyland’ and Other Disney Poetry by Brian Yapko

The Society
November 6, 2023
Beauty, Culture, Human Rights in China, Poetry
35 Comments
. The Miasma Enshrouding Disneyland I came here as a fairytale-struck child; The tickets cost less than a week of pay And we would spend a carefree, joy-filled day. The park was clean; the rides were fun...

‘Ode to Old Tom’: A Poem on the British Ale, by Jeff Eardley

The Society
November 5, 2023
Humor, Poetry
33 Comments
. Ode to Old Tom Old Tom he stalks the English Dales, The Patron Saint of potent ales. He makes you wobble when you walk, He makes you gobble when you talk. He warps the function of your brain, The...

Traitors on Ice: Canto XXXII of Inferno, Translated by Stephen Binns

The Society
November 5, 2023
Dante, Poetry, Translation
5 Comments
. . Traitors on Ice: Canto XXXII of Inferno by Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) translated by Stephen Binns . If I could summon up such raucous rasp __in rhymes as could apply to that sad sluice____Ninth Circle of...

‘Beyond the Shadows’ and Other Poetry by C.B. Anderson

The Society
November 4, 2023
Alexandroid, Beauty, Poetry
14 Comments
. Beyond the Shadows  The light from above may be blinding And cause us to shelter our eyes, But promises God makes are binding, For laggards as well as the wise. At last we get used to the...

A Poem Inspired by Music from Aandhi, 1975: ‘Paths’ by Paddy Raghunathan

The Society
November 4, 2023
Love Poems, Music, Poetry, Villanelle
12 Comments
. Paths —Inspired by “Is Mod Se Jaate Hain” (see below) by Gulzar from the film: Aandhi, 1975 Sheer multitudes of paths diverge from here— Some are jet setters, some meander slowly— Which one among...

On Paintings by Hunt and Millais: Two Ekphrastic Poems by James A. Tweedie

The Society
November 3, 2023
Art, Ekphrastic, Poetry, Shakespeare
17 Comments
. Two Ekphrastic Poems . The Light of the World, Holman Hunt As predawn darkness shrouds the land, With warm-lit lantern in his hand The risen Jesus stands before A rusted, weed-choked, shuttered door And...

‘Icarus Sings’ and Other Poetry by Paris Michael

The Society
November 3, 2023
Culture, Love Poems, Poetry
6 Comments
. Icarus Sings I’ve tempted fate, And sought the sun, I’m Icarus, I’ve come undone. My wings have failed, For what it’s worth, My long descent, Shall end on earth. I tempted fate, I, fate did...

‘Jack and Jill’ Style Nursery Rhymes Challenge

The Society
November 2, 2023
Children's, Humor, Poetry Challenge, Poetry Contests
55 Comments
. Poet Paul A. Freeman challenges you to write a nursery rhyme in the style of the Mother Goose classic "Jack and Jill." Below is his model example. Post yours in the comments below. . Nigel Neath Nigel...

‘Child’s Laughter’: A Poem by Jane Schulert

The Society
November 2, 2023
Beauty, High School Submissions, Poetry
13 Comments
. Child's Laughter It bubbles forth from deep inside his soul; Joy twinkles brightly through his youthful eyes, For any pain he knows, his laugh defies: This shattered world has briefly been made whole. It...

Two Poems for Dia de los Muertos, by Brian Yapko

The Society
November 1, 2023
Poetry
31 Comments
. To Dance with Death I caught the fierce gaze of the trickster, Death. He charred bleak Aztec ruins with his breath And shadowed me through pueblo, plaza, palace, With knife in hand---a Mexican Macbeth. The...
poem/coats/beauty

‘All Saints Day’ and Other Spiritual Sonnets by Coignard, Translated by Margaret Coats

The Society
November 1, 2023
Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Translation
19 Comments
. All Saints' Day by Gabrielle de Coignard (c.1550–1586), translated by Margaret Coats O Saints, you have your heritage in hand Because you battled Satan’s sanctimony! Though burned or tortured, you gave...
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
16 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...
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