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      A Poem for the 60th Anniversary of JFK's Assassination, by Joseph S. Salemi

      The Society
      November 22, 2023
      Poetry, Satire
      18 Comments
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    • ‘Periwinkle’: A Poem by Jeffrey Essmann

      The Society
      June 18, 2025
      5
    • ‘A Winter’s Tale’ by Jeff Eardley

      The Society
      June 18, 2025
      10
    • ‘Get Along, Little DOGE-ie’ and Other Social Commentary Poetry by James A. Tweedie

      The Society
      June 17, 2025
      12
    • ‘Salmon Skin’ and Other Poetry by Adam Sedia

      The Society
      June 17, 2025
      8
    • ‘What Is a Man?’: A Poem by Cynthia Erlandson

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      June 16, 2025
      12
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      The Society
      June 16, 2025
      8
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    • Turn a Joke into a Poem---Poetry Challenge

      The Society
      December 8, 2020
      Humor, Poetry, Poetry Challenge, Poetry Contests
      87 Comments
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      The Society
      May 13, 2025
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      March 31, 2025
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      The Society
      February 1, 2025
      28
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      The Society
      February 1, 2025
      2
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      September 29, 2024
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The Society of Classical Poets was founded in New York in July, 2012.

poem/yapko/elagabalus/transgender

A Poem on the Transgender Roman Emperor Elagabalus, by Brian Yapko

The Society
April 4, 2023
Culture, Poetry
32 Comments
. Elagabalus Consults His Soothsayer You must, Soothsayer, probe into Rome’s mind And speak of any hidden threats you find. Your Emperor commands you: show your skill Lest I subject you to my godlike...
poem/stellinga/war

Inspired by the Ukraine War: A Poem by Mark Stellinga

The Society
April 3, 2023
Culture, Poetry
17 Comments
. Oh…I See! While sitting in the park one day, my beagle lying near, a little girl came strolling up---I’d say ‘bout four years old--- And asked me ‘bout a big ol’ tank. She queried, “What is...
poem/arredondo/death

‘The End’ and Other Poems by Anna J. Arredondo

The Society
April 3, 2023
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
11 Comments
. The End Unraveled string may be rewound, __A hidden thing be sighted; A missing object may be found, __A fallen object righted; A candle snuffed can be relit, __And if a glass has spilled, That doesn’t...
poem/vannoy/rain

‘Regret’ and Other Poetry by Serene Vannoy

The Society
April 2, 2023
Beauty, Poetry
10 Comments
. Regret The rivulets, the patterns in the glass, the dots of rain that race down to the sill, the treacle speed of days that somehow pass, she thinks will kill her, but they never will. It wasn't all her...
poem/peterson/poetry

Three Poems for National Poetry Month, by Roy E. Peterson

The Society
April 2, 2023
Beauty, Children's, Culture, Education, Poetry
16 Comments
. The Mystery of Poetry The mystery of poetry __is found between the lines. The poet sends the signals while __the sentence shows the signs. Alliterative artifices __alert the adept minds. The power of each...
poem/bryant/bureaucracy

An April Fools’ Day Poem for ‘Government-Anointed Experts’ by Susan Jarvis Bryant

The Society
April 1, 2023
Culture, Poetry, Satire
26 Comments
. A Screw ‘Em Sermon for Government-Anointed Experts “Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give solidarity to pure wind.” ---George Orwell Dish up...
poem/bryant/covid

A Poem for Those Who Died from Covid Hospital Protocols, by Susan Jarvis Bryant

The Society
March 31, 2023
Covid-19, Culture, Poetry
68 Comments
. Marching with the Mourners In Memory of Richard and Rob inspired by the Halt Hospital Homicide Rally I attended in San Antonio on March 25, 2023, for those who lost their lives to evil...
poem/cooper/revenge

‘La Muerte’ and Other Poetry by Monika Cooper

The Society
March 31, 2023
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
10 Comments
. La Muerte In those days, no king ruled in Ithaca. A pack moved in with communist ideals: An orgy funded by another’s store. Wine flowed like beer, with all the women free. All except one. Plus one too old...

‘Signs of the Times’: Poetry by Joshua C. Frank

The Society
March 30, 2023
Culture, Pantoum, Poetry, Rondeau
27 Comments
. Signs of the Times . I. Hymn 6-6-6 a rondeau Hymn 6-6-6 on high display— The devil’s number where we pray Before the Lord—is that a thing? Is Jesus Christ no longer King? Must Satan now be met...
poem/ross/education

‘Jägermeister’ and Other Poetry by Gregory Ross

The Society
March 29, 2023
Culture, Education, Love Poems, Poetry, Rondeau
6 Comments
f Jägermeister "Like arrows in the hands of a warrior __are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man __whose quiver is full of them." ---Psalm 127 My quiver’s full, as David said, With children...
poem/sedia/mountain

‘Shishaldin’: A Poem on the Active Alaskan Volcano, by Adam Sedia

The Society
March 29, 2023
Beauty, Poetry
7 Comments
. Shishaldin Radiant angel, bathed in light, Gleaming opalescent white _On the smooth, sheer snow Clothing your smooth symmetry-- Smooth cone, sculpted gracefully _Like no peak I know--- Rising from the icy...
poem/pietrack/ballet

‘Ballerina’: A Poem by Michael Pietrack

The Society
March 28, 2023
Beauty, Culture, Performing Arts, Poetry, Readings
51 Comments
. . Ballerina The balanced ballerina on her toe was poised with perfect posture—back and chest. The crowd, in silent awe, enjoyed the show, as she maintained a flawless arabesque. The dancer twirled to...
poem/coats/funeral

‘Song of the Wailing Women’: A Poem by Margaret Coats

The Society
March 27, 2023
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
25 Comments
. Song of the Wailing Women Her spirit has gone forth. Return her to the earth, Released from work and words; In death she is the Lord’s. Did Adam bury Eve? Leave Abraham to grieve The wife no longer...
poem/bonham/wilderness

‘In My Wilderness’ and Other Poetry by Warren Bonham

The Society
March 27, 2023
Beauty, Poetry
7 Comments
. In My Wilderness Once, I thought I saw things clearly. Certainty felt quite sincerely. But, my path was very nearly Overgrown by worldliness. Without charts or maps beside me. With no compass there to guide...
poem/cook/cats

‘The Cat Who Barked’ and Other Poetry by Sally Cook

The Society
March 26, 2023
Beauty, Poetry
28 Comments
. The Cat Who Barked There is a row of trees that crowd the ground, They’re dark and still. My cat lies in that spot. His tiger stripes were equal all around, But now lie wrapped in shrouds and put to...
poem/tryon/sping

‘Promise’: A Spring Poem by William Tryon

The Society
March 26, 2023
Beauty, Poetry
1 Comment
. Promise While winter holds her icy grip __There’s promise in south breezes That make their yearly northward trip--- __Springtime, she comes and teases. The snow and ice as water run forth __As she firmly...
poem/duncan/beauty

‘The Glass Delusion of King Charles VI of France’ by Shaun C. Duncan

The Society
March 25, 2023
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
28 Comments
. The Glass Delusion of King Charles VI of France ‘His malady grew worse every day until his mind was completely gone. Sometimes he thought he was made of glass and would not let himself be touched. He had...
poem/tweedie/knife

Pastoral Calls—Part 3 of 3: Poetry by Retired Pastor James A. Tweedie

The Society
March 25, 2023
Culture, Poetry
11 Comments
. Pastoral Calls—Part 3 of 3 . Midnight Encounter He was tall, well-built, and handsome and as far as I could tell, If it wasn’t for the crystal meth—intelligent as well. He was in and out of jail and...
poetry/mantyk/don quixote

Don Quixote Text with PDF: Adapted for Students

The Society
March 24, 2023
Culture, Education, Humor, Poetry
3 Comments
. The following is an excerpt of Don Quixote by Miguel Cervantes, encompassing most of Chapters 1 through 8, including Don Quixote getting his start, acquiring his squire Sancho Panza, and going on the...
poem/freeman/alphabet

‘The Tragedy of the p and the q’: An Alphabet Poem by Paul Martin Freeman

The Society
March 24, 2023
Children's, Humor, Poetry
17 Comments
. The Tragedy of the p and the q . Lovers in eternity The p and q were two eternal lovers Who faced each other in the alphabet. To all else lost, oblivious of others, The ideal Romeo and Juliet. But though...
poem/anderson/drunk driving

‘Reality Check’ and Other Poetry by C.B. Anderson

The Society
March 23, 2023
Love Poems, Poetry, Satire
12 Comments
. Reality Check __The bars we frequent have been raised too high, Not calibrated to the greatest common factor: __The will to let things slide.  Who can deny This, save for someone who is such a polished...
poem/mantyk/science book

‘Dialogue on a First Grade Science Textbook’: A Poem by Evan Mantyk

The Society
March 23, 2023
Culture, Education, Poetry, Science
10 Comments
. Dialogue on a First Grade Science Textbook Many spiritual traditions throughout history have perceived all things, animate and inanimate, as living. "Usually religions teach people to believe spiritually so...
poem/eardley/online dating

A Poem on Online Dating: ‘Avalon’ by Jeff Eardley

The Society
March 22, 2023
Humor, Love Poems, Poetry
26 Comments
. Avalon This little tale concerns a man, Who in an English village ran A thriving little corner shop, Supplying shakes and soda pop. This fellow did his best to try, His customers to satisfy, As in his shop,...
poem/james/dandelions

‘The Dandelion’: A Poem by Leland James

The Society
March 22, 2023
Beauty, Humor, Poetry
13 Comments
. The Dandelion Suburbia frowns upon her sunlit face: “Out, out thou upstart weed!” Poor Dandelion —like sisters Cinderella, Queen Anne’s lace— a beauty cast aside; no bed to lie in. Medicinal,...
poem/buchheit/poetry reading

A Poem for World Poetry Day: ‘To the Reader of Verse’ by Paul Buchheit

The Society
March 21, 2023
Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Readings
18 Comments
. To the Reader of Verse Ah, lover, critic, arbiter of verse, divulge your passions, fill a lusting soul with praises. Let the balladeer coerce the skeptic. Let the troubadour cajole Antaéus: wrestle not with...
poem/freeman/limericks

World Poetry Day Limerick Poetry Challenge

The Society
March 21, 2023
Culture, Limerick, Poetry, Poetry Challenge, Poetry Contests
42 Comments
. In celebration of World Poetry Day, write a limerick on the theme of World Poetry Day, poetry in general, or poets. Post it in the comments section below. Learn how to write a limerick here. An example is...

‘How to Write Contemporary Poetry’ and ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare’ by Brian Yapko

The Society
March 21, 2023
Culture, Education, Humor, Pantoum, Poetry, Satire, Shakespeare
35 Comments
. How to Write Contemporary Poetry a pantoum in free verse composition keep letters lower case. dump classical tradition then cite the marketplace. keep letters lower case make use of ampersands then cite the...
poem/pain/education

‘Learnin’ Letters’ and Other Poetry by Norma Pain

The Society
March 20, 2023
Education, Humor, Poetry
28 Comments
. Learnin’ Letters I wanna learn me letters Ma, I wanna learn ta read. If I can learn me letters Ma, We’ll ‘ave the things we need. An’ when I grows ta be a man, I’ll be a proper gent, Discussin’...
poem/stellinga/antiques

‘The Antiques Buyer Meets His Match’: A Poem by Mark Stellinga

The Society
March 20, 2023
Humor, Poetry
18 Comments
. The Antiques Buyer Meets His Match "What's the best you'll do?" I asked; __“It's nice, but needs some work... and parts for these, as you may know, __are sometimes hard to find!” “If you don't like...
poem/winick/free speech

‘Ex-Freedom of Speech’ and Other Poetry by Russel Winick

The Society
March 19, 2023
Culture, Poetry, Satire
36 Comments
. Ex-Freedom of Speech In fact, most liberals don't support free speech today, And often see a need for censorship instead. They claim “misinformation” causes broad decay, So free speech ends if they...
poem/anderson/banks

A Poem on Bank and Financial Collapses: ‘Ponzi’ by C.B. Anderson

The Society
March 19, 2023
Culture, Poetry
26 Comments
. Ponzi Your promises mean nothing if they lack fidelity.  It grieves a man to hear such welcome words, then have them taken back without the least regret before a year has passed.  I thought our future was...
poem/essmann/family photo

‘Old Orphan’: A Poem by Jeffrey Essmann

The Society
March 19, 2023
Beauty, Ekphrastic, Poetry
13 Comments
. Old Orphan They’re over on my dresser, simply framed And looking 1940s fresh and young. There’s something to them holy and unnamed, Some song inside them waiting to be sung. And I their youngest, young...
poem/woodruff/transgenderism

A Poem for Josh Alexander: ‘The War on Children’ by Julian Woodruff

The Society
March 18, 2023
Culture, Poetry
21 Comments
. The War on Children “I quoted some Scripture, I said that there are only two genders. And apparently, because there are transgender students in the class, this was considered bullying.” ---Josh...
poem/macgregor/death

‘The Last Night That We Met’: A Poem by Tiree MacGregor

The Society
March 18, 2023
Beauty, Poetry
17 Comments
. The Last Night That We Met in memoriam CQD, Halifax, February, 2001 We gripped hands awkwardly. I’d grasped your shoulder To say goodbye, and, that cold winter night A month before your death, you asked...
poem/corey/saint patricks day

‘The Leprechaun’: A Saint Patrick’s Day Poem by Cheryl Corey

The Society
March 17, 2023
Culture, Humor, Poetry
13 Comments
. The Leprechaun Come mid-March, the leprechaun Glides up and o’er the rainbow, Playful as a unicorn That’s prancing in a meadow. With greedy eyes glimmering, And shim’ry as a peacock, He slides to...
song/eardley/St. Patrick's Day

‘The Lark in the Morning’: A Tune for St Patrick’s Day by Poet Jeff Eardley

The Society
March 17, 2023
Culture, Music, Poetry
15 Comments
. "The Lark in the Morning" is a traditional Irish song performed on classical guitar by poet and professional musician Jeff Eardley: . . Jeff Eardley lives in the heart of England near to the Peak...
poem/brockstein/freedom convoy

‘Freedom Convoy Song’: Lyrics by Lannie David Brockstein

The Society
March 16, 2023
Culture, Poetry, Song Lyrics
6 Comments
. Freedom Convoy Song To bravely speak is to turn on the lights, __To silence darkens all of our debate; Yea, We the People know free speech unites __What foreign censorship did separate. The former, it is our...
poem/frank/st. jerome/christian

‘St. Jerome’s Cicero Obsession’ by Joshua C. Frank

The Society
March 16, 2023
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
10 Comments
. St. Jerome’s Cicero Obsession based on St. Jerome’s letter to his disciple St. Eustochium in Rome, A.D. 384 When I was young and foolish long ago, I traveled to Jerusalem alone To fast and pray away from...
poem/alighieri/beatrice

Beatrice Smiles: Canto XXXI of Purgatory by Dante Alighieri, Translated by Stephen Binns

The Society
March 15, 2023
Beauty, Dante, Epic, Poetry, Translation
7 Comments
. Beatrice Smiles: Canto XXXI of Purgatory by Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) translated by Stephen Binns “You, on the other side of the sacred river,” __Lethe __she called to me, and sharply to the point,...
poem/dickey/thales of miletus

A Poem on Thales of Miletus, by Stephen M. Dickey

The Society
March 15, 2023
Culture, Poetry, Satire
16 Comments
. Θαλῆς 2.0 In days of yore, Thales, the famous sage, Went out on a stargazing walk and fell Straight down an overlooked and vexing well. A passing woman mocked him: “At your age You ought to know...
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