‘Three Poems on Problems’ by Joseph S. Salemi The Society June 4, 2022 Culture, Poetry 26 Comments . Servant of the Servants of God Servus Servorum Dei —a title of the Pope A small informal gathering of clergy From satin cassocks down to the discalced Queue in line before the Petrine Seat. There are some...
‘From Heathrow to Houston’ by Susan Jarvis Bryant The Society June 4, 2022 Beauty, Poetry 30 Comments . From Heathrow to Houston I heard my words would never change a thing From those who had a nose for senseless stuff. They warned me that my odes would never bring Me joy. They cursed my verse as puffs of...
‘Habakkuk’s Prayer’ and ‘The Patriot’s Prayer’ by Jeff Kemper The Society June 3, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 13 Comments . Habakkuk’s Prayer after Habakkuk 3:2, 16-19; excerpts of the prophet’s prayer as he awaited certain destruction of his nation, Judah, by the Babylonian armies (6th century BC). My Yahweh God, I raise my...
‘A Man’s Retreat’ and ‘A Woman’s Domain’ by Cheryl Corey The Society June 2, 2022 Culture, Humor, Poetry 8 Comments . A Man’s Retreat A man’s retreat is his garage—a place To keep his vehicle, yes; but also space To store his manly, miscellaneous hoards: The glues and putties; automotive oils, Waxes, wipes, and...
Poems for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, by Susan Jarvis Bryant The Society June 1, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Humor, Poetry 33 Comments . More than My Queen My Queen has always been a noble force--- A force for good on chilly English days. Her friendly face, her air of grace---my source Of joy in more than crown-and-sceptre ways. I saw her...
‘The Twins’ by Norma Pain The Society June 1, 2022 Children's, Humor, Poetry 14 Comments . The Twins _Said one foot to the other, _“Please don’t nag, you’re not my mother, I am sick to death of listening to your woes. _You lament you’re always tired, _Whereas I am always wired, Quit...
Expansive Poets, Classical Poets, and the Future of Poetry: An Essay by Michael Curtis The Society May 31, 2022 Essays, Poetry 5 Comments . Expansive Poets, Classical Poets, and the Future of Poetry by Michael Curtis Modern poetry is not—it is neither poetry nor modern. Poetry is words lined in measure, of some three seconds length, the...
‘Uvalde’ by Susan Jarvis Bryant The Society May 30, 2022 Culture, Poetry 65 Comments . Uvalde I’m struck with news and views today __As youth and truth lie dead. Words bruise me in a mad melee __Of mind-marauding dread. I’m stunned by words, too many heard __To mull...
‘Memories of Memorial Day’ by Roy E. Peterson The Society May 30, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 13 Comments . Memories of Memorial Day Sad son standing all alone Staring at the marker stone. Father died he never knew--- Died for him and died for you. Widow’s tears upon her cheek. Trembling body feeling...
A Memorial Day Poem: ‘Liberty’ by Susan Jarvis Bryant The Society May 30, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 27 Comments . Liberty If skies were ever-blue each lustrous day, If moons were in bold bloom each raven night, If life was never fouled by disarray And all beneath the Milky Way was right, __Would we require a tempest’s...
‘Race Then and Now’ and Other Poetry by Russel Winick The Society May 29, 2022 Culture, Poetry 12 Comments . Race Then and Now Race did not matter, The way we were taught. It never should influence Judgments or thought. Just look at the person, We’re mostly the same, With stereotypes Cause for nothing but...
‘Simplicity’ by Jeffrey Essmann The Society May 28, 2022 Beauty, Poetry 6 Comments . Simplicity I’m aching for a vague simplicity: Sophistication’s dainties have grown cold And tepid on the plate and suddenly My tastes lean toward a warm sobriety That feels quite new yet somehow very...
The SCP Classical Figures Poetry Reading The Society May 27, 2022 Culture, Poetry, Readings 7 Comments . You are invited to a reading of exquisite poetry and conversations with the poets. . Date & Time Sunday June 26, 2022 2 p.m. (New York time), 7 p.m. (U.K. time) Duration: 1 hour . Location Join...
‘Karl Barth Platz’ and Other Poetry by Adam Wasem The Society May 27, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Humor, Poetry 7 Comments . Karl Barth Platz 1999 Perhaps we walked the same worn cobblestones, Between the same sheer walls, shops clean and trim, Down the same pathways, past the same old homes, And were startled alike by graffiti...
Review of Modern Art: An Exhibition in Criticism, a Book of Poetry by Michael Curtis The Society May 27, 2022 Art, Essays, Poetry, Reviews 11 Comments . Reviewed Book: Modern Art: An Exhibition in Criticism, by Michael Curtis, National Civic Art Society, 2022 by Evan Mantyk On May 12, 2021, a terrible painting somehow sold for $103 million. It depicts a...
‘Press On, Regardless’ and Other Poetry by C.B. Anderson The Society May 26, 2022 Beauty, Humor, Poetry 15 Comments . Press On, Regardless Conduct a full internal audit, Then throw all caution to the wind. Expect a decent measured plaudit No hypercritic can rescind. And if you think you can’t do better It’s time that...
Sibylline Sonnets for Eastertide, by Margaret Coats The Society May 26, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 15 Comments . Sibylline Sonnets for Eastertide See an explanation on what Sibyls are here. The Phrygian Sibyl Speaks portrayed with the resurrection banner or the words “Velum templi scindetur” Jesus, again crying...
‘Where Your Treasure Is’ and Other Poetry by Brian Yapko The Society May 25, 2022 Beauty, Blank Verse, Culture, Epic, Humor, Poetry 20 Comments . Where Your Treasure Is “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where...
Society of Classical Poets Journal X Published The Society May 24, 2022 From the Society, Poetry 9 Comments . The Society of Classical Poets Journal X has been published! It features poetry, translations, and essays selected from those published on the SCP website between February 1, 2021 and January 31, 2022. See...
‘Nil Carborundum Illegitimi’ and Other Poetry by Susan Jarvis Bryant The Society May 24, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Humor, Poetry, Rondeau Redoublé 25 Comments . Nil Carborundum Illegitimi On dismal days enswathe yourself in rays, Then flash your splash of sunrise with panache. Such zesty citrus, saffron spun displays Will smash malaise with sassy solar dash--- A...
‘The Mass Mock-Shock of Monkeypox’: A Villanelle by Susan Jarvis Bryant The Society May 23, 2022 Covid-19, Culture, Poetry, Villanelle 21 Comments . The Mass Mock-Shock of Monkeypox a villanelle Shun the mass mock-shock of monkeypox--- Force-fed fear declaiming death is nigh. Spurn the ceaseless bleat to lock down flocks. Snub the...
‘Free-Fall’ and Other Ponderings by James A. Tweedie The Society May 23, 2022 Beauty, Humor, Poetry 19 Comments . Free-Fall My life has been in free-fall since the day that I was born. __Through clouds and sunshine, I have flown and soared. The trip has been exhilarating since that birth-day morn. __There hasn’t been...
‘Actaeon Transformed’ by Royal Rhodes The Society May 22, 2022 Culture, Poetry 2 Comments . Actaeon Transformed after Titian and Ovid Like his hounds, the hunter Actaeon in Titian's painting, drawn by some sharp scent, saw the goddess lounge with nothing on her body, on whose limbs the light was...
‘May God Excuse Us’ by Mike Bryant The Society May 21, 2022 Beauty, Poetry 22 Comments . May God Excuse Us If life’s a falling knife then catch the handle... Your every move makes enemies and friends. If life’s a fading flare, a dimming candle, Then slice it up and light up all the...
‘Formal Poetry Against Free Verse’ and Other Poetry by Phillip Whidden The Society May 21, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 3 Comments . Formal Poetry Against Free Verse "Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem Plato in “inventing some extraordinarily powerful images of his...
‘Now Once Again’ by Leland James The Society May 20, 2022 Beauty, Blank Verse, Poetry 5 Comments . Now Once Again How many years ago, I’ve lost the count, we lay beneath these trees at summer’s end; the orchard left to tend itself for then the children came and seasons tumbled all together, mad...
‘Shanghai’s Robo Dogs’ by Maura H. Harrison The Society May 19, 2022 Culture, Human Rights in China, Poetry, Readings 7 Comments . . Shanghai's Robo Dogs With quick unnatural steps, and side to side Focusing glances, robo dogs preside And prowl the streets. They wear their growls in little Speakers around their necks, their barking...
‘Culloden, April 16, 1746’ by Jeff Eardley The Society May 19, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 18 Comments . Culloden, April 16, 1746 In the Winter of 1745, the Jacobite army of Bonnie Prince Charlie passed through my town of Leek on the way to Derby. This was as far as they got before retreating back to the...
‘Shear Wickedness’ and Other Cat Poetry by Julian Woodruff The Society May 18, 2022 Humor, Poetry 15 Comments . Shear Wickedness He was black from his nose to the tip of his tail __But for irises of a rich yellow. In his earlier days he was handsome and hale— __Yes, indeed, a magnificent fellow. But the calendar...
University Program to Remove Sonnets as Part of ‘Decolonising the Curriculum’ The Society May 17, 2022 Education, Poetry, Shakespeare 25 Comments . According to The Telegraph, the University of Salford is planning to remove sonnets from its Creative Writing program. The reason? They are "products of white western culture" and the University of Salford...
‘All Are Numbered’ and Other Poems by Sally Cook The Society May 17, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Humor, Poetry 28 Comments . All Are Numbered Moving along the narrow grassy rows Under a sherbet sky, time seems to be The only place where nothing ever grows Or dies, and grass remains, eternally Quite clipped and orderly. It truly...
‘The Devoted Angler’ by David Watt The Society May 16, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 19 Comments . The Devoted Angler The river follows on its winding way, And in the angler’s camp above the bank Lilt murmurings arise to greet the day, Appearing now between the rushes rank As rays backlighting flower...
‘Satan’s Limericks on the Seven Deadly Sins’ by Joseph S. Salemi The Society May 15, 2022 Culture, Humor, Limerick, Poetry 19 Comments . Satan’s Limericks on the Seven Deadly Sins Sepulchrum patens est guttur eorum; linguis suis dolose agebant: venenum aspidum sub labiis eorum. Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they...
‘The Obsession of Emily Rose’ (A Cautionary Tale) by Norma Pain The Society May 15, 2022 Children's, Humor, Poetry 28 Comments . The Obsession of Emily Rose (A Cautionary Tale) Emily-May Matilda Rose, from the age of three, Acquired the habit of picking her nose wherever she might be. Though otherwise a child of whom her parents...
‘Ozymandias’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley: A Reading by S.A. Todd The Society May 14, 2022 Beauty, Poetry, Readings, Video 6 Comments . https://youtu.be/6gDs63kyLhc . CREDITS Poetry: Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) Voice-Over: S.A. Todd Photos/Footage: Photo of Pharaoh by ArchaiOptix, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share...
‘Some Days in the Life of a Bride of Christ’ by Jack DesBois The Society May 14, 2022 Beauty, Poetry 26 Comments . Some Days in the Life of a Bride of Christ “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” —Paul, 1 Corinthians 6:17 Some days my Lord and I rejoice __Like honeymooners gay; Some days our joy is...
Winners of the 2022 Friends of Falun Gong Poetry Contest Announced The Society May 13, 2022 Human Rights in China, Poetry, Poetry Contests, Readings 12 Comments . FIRST PLACE https://youtu.be/F3aTnHiJ4yU . Amends to the Innocent by Brian Yapko Dear Falun Gong, I owe you my amends. I heard but would not listen to the sighs Of battered souls I should have known as...
‘Resist Arrest Instead of Arresting Resistance’ and Other Poetry by C.B. Anderson The Society May 12, 2022 Beauty, Culture, Humor, Poetry, Villanelle 14 Comments . Resist Arrest Instead of Arresting Resistance In Denmark, something now is very rotten, As fetid as the food-scraps in the trash That we have, somehow, carelessly forgotten To take outside. Our mood...
A Poem on Michelangelo’s Dusk and Dawn, Night and Day, by Margaret Coats The Society May 12, 2022 Beauty, Ekphrastic, Poetry 30 Comments . Moments in Marble from Michelangelo’s sculptures; above from left are depicted Dusk, Dawn, Night, and Day Day hustles up, impelled to humanize His world of work by wary energy, To make hours grow,...
On the Jan. 6 D.C. Protest: ‘Patriotic’ by Mike Bryant The Society May 11, 2022 Culture, Poetry 28 Comments . Patriotic It’s really clever, isn’t it, The words they use to smear us with? They call the righteous hypocrite; It’s just a ruse, veneer, a myth. They’ve tried to make vile racist stick, Then...