Society of Classical Poets logo
  • About Us
  • Join
  • Donate
  • Poetry
    Random
    • 'On Reading Ginsburg’s “Howl”' and Other Poetry by Gregory Spicer

      The Society
      January 20, 2018
      Beauty, Culture, Humor, Poetry
      13 Comments
    Recent
    • In Memoriam: Poet Leo Zoutewelle (1935-2021)

      The Society
      April 19, 2021
      4
    • ‘Pilates’ by Jeff Eardley

      The Society
      April 19, 2021
      8
    • ‘Crocuses’ by Adam Sedia

      The Society
      April 18, 2021
      11
    • ‘Lumbar-Fusion Post-Op Blues’ by Jeff Kemper

      The Society
      April 18, 2021
      15
    • Four Petrarchan Sonnets by Peter Austin

      The Society
      April 17, 2021
      8
    • ‘Right on Cue’ by David Whippman

      The Society
      April 17, 2021
      23
  • Submit
  • Contests
    Random
    • Funny Food Poetry Contest Winners Announced

      The Society
      June 12, 2017
      From the Society, Humor, News of Note, Poetry, Poetry Contests
      1 Comment
    Recent
    • National Poetry Month Challenge: What Is Poetry?

      The Society
      April 16, 2021
      52
    • Poetry Challenge: Write a Sonnet in Iambic Monometer

      The Society
      March 2, 2021
      100
    • The Best Poems of 2020

      The Society
      February 1, 2021
      26
    • Winners of 2021 High School Poetry Competition Announced

      The Society
      February 1, 2021
      5
    • Winners of 2021 Poetry Translation Competition Announced

      The Society
      February 1, 2021
      4
    • Turn a Joke into a Poem—Poetry Challenge

      The Society
      December 8, 2020
      77
  • Journal
  • Essays
    Random
    • Why Realist Art Matters

      The Society
      September 28, 2012
      Art, Essays, News of Note
      1 Comment
    Recent
    • Two More Poems with ‘Conceits’ by Joseph S. Salemi

      The Society
      March 27, 2021
      10
    • A Beacon in the Darkness: The Poetics and Poetry of Robert Frost

      The Society
      March 26, 2021
      8
    • ‘Pain, Product, and Poetry’ by Joseph S. Salemi

      The Society
      March 22, 2021
      24
    • An Essay on the Canceling of Dr. Seuss: ‘If I Ran the Circus’ by Michael Curtis

      The Society
      March 9, 2021
      5
    • ‘The White Man’s Burden’ by Rudyard Kipling: Poem, Background, and Analysis

      The Society
      March 4, 2021
      51
    • A Review of James A. Tweedie’s Mostly Sonnets: Formal Poetry in an Informal World

      The Society
      March 3, 2021
      13
  • Members
  • Poetry Contests
  • Donate
  • About Us
  • Submit

Poetry Contests

Home
Poetry Contests

National Poetry Month Challenge: What Is Poetry?

The Society
April 16, 2021
Culture, Poetry, Poetry Contests
52 Comments
April is National Poetry Month. On this occasion, take words about poetry from a famous poet, or anyone else you deem fitting, and turn them into a quatrain (four-line poem). Below are four examples from poet...

Poetry Challenge: Write a Sonnet in Iambic Monometer

The Society
March 2, 2021
Poetry, Poetry Contests, Poetry Forms
100 Comments
. This challenge was conceived by Paul A. Freeman after reading a sonnet in iambic monometer by James A. Tweedie, "Allergies." Mr. Freeman's example is below. Make your own and post it in the comments...

The Best Poems of 2020

The Society
February 1, 2021
From the Society, Poetry, Poetry Contests
26 Comments
The Best Poems of 2020: Winners of the 9th Annual International SCP Poetry Competition JudgesJoseph S. SalemiJames SaleEvan Mantyk Past First Place Winners Joseph Charles MacKenzie (2019) Adam Sedia (2018)...

Winners of 2021 High School Poetry Competition Announced

The Society
February 1, 2021
From the Society, Poetry, Poetry Contests
5 Comments
The talent this year has been astounding. Thank you to every high school student who participated. You are the future of literature and are leading the way in rebuilding our civilization on the foundation of...

Winners of 2021 Poetry Translation Competition Announced

The Society
February 1, 2021
From the Society, Poetry, Poetry Contests, Translation
4 Comments
. Judges Margaret Coats Evan Mantyk . First Place ($100) Francesca Leader, Virginia "The Iroha Poem" by Kūkai (空海) (774–835) . Second Place Steven Monte, New York “Di pensier in pensier, di monte in...

Turn a Joke into a Poem—Poetry Challenge

The Society
December 8, 2020
Humor, Poetry, Poetry Contests
77 Comments
Poet Susan Jarvis Bryant challenges her fellow poets to adapt a favorite joke into a poem with meter and rhyme. Enjoy her examples and then post your own joke-turned-poem into the comments section...

Winners of the ‘Napa Valley Winery’ Ekphrastic Poetry Contest

The Society
November 15, 2020
Beauty, Ekphrastic, Poetry, Poetry Contests
13 Comments
Thank you to everyone who participated! This was a great effort for a meaningful purpose: the recent burning down of the Chateau Boswell winery in Napa Valley. Congratulations to the winners. Bravo!  ---Evan...

Ekphrastic Contest: Write a Poem on This Photograph

The Society
October 8, 2020
Culture, Ekphrastic, Poetry Contests, The Environment
148 Comments
See the winners here. Above is a recent photograph of Chateau Boswell, a winery, vineyard, and tasting room located in California. It has suffered terribly because of the recent “Glass Fire” in Napa...

The Society of Classical Poets 2021 Poetry Competition

The Society
September 1, 2020
From the Society, Poetry, Poetry Contests
10 Comments
Winners Have Been Announced Here. "Poetry ... is a more philosophical and a higher thing than history: for poetry tends to express the universal, history the particular." —Aristotle (384-322 BC),...

2021 High School Poetry Competition

The Society
September 1, 2020
From the Society, High School Submissions, Poetry, Poetry Contests
  "Poetry ... is a more philosophical and a higher thing than history: for poetry tends to express the universal, history the particular." —Aristotle (384-322 BC), Poetics First Prize: $100....

2021 Poetry Translation Competition

The Society
September 1, 2020
From the Society, Poetry, Poetry Contests, Translation
2 Comments
"Poetry ... is a more philosophical and a higher thing than history: for poetry tends to express the universal, history the particular." —Aristotle (384-322 BC), Poetics First Prize: $100. Publication on...

The 17 Best Haiku of 2020

The Society
August 15, 2020
Beauty, Culture, From the Society, Haiku and Senryu, Poetry, Poetry Contests
8 Comments
Winner and Runners-up of The Society of Classical Poets 2020 Haiku Competition Judged by Mike Bryant and Susan Jarvis Bryant See all entrants here.   Thunder-bellied clouds Move slow over heathered...

Haiku Competition 2020

The Society
July 2, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Haiku and Senryu, Poetry, Poetry Contests
401 Comments
The winning haiku can be found here Write a haiku on any topic and post it in the comments section below. The haiku must adhere to the traditional parameters of a haiku to qualify (and may be deleted if...

Poetry Challenge: ‘My country used to be… ‘

The Society
May 14, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Deconstructing Communism, Poetry, Poetry Contests
51 Comments
  New York poet Joe Tessitore challenges poets to begin a poem with these words:   My country used to be...   Post your poem in the comments section below. (Poems should be...

Friends of Falun Gong 2020 Poetry Contest Winners Announced

The Society
May 13, 2020
Culture, Deconstructing Communism, Human Rights in China, Poetry, Poetry Contests, Readings, Video
2 Comments
FIRST PLACE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F96xN0VV7JU The Virus and the Cure by Rob Crisell One hundred years of tyranny, One hundred years of pain and lies. If communists of China win, The...

‘Briefs’: A New Poetry Form

The Society
March 23, 2020
Culture, Essays, Humor, Poetry, Poetry Contests, Poetry Forms
21 Comments
by James A. Tweedie The form of the “brief” ordinarily consists of a couplet of anapestic tetrameter with the first soft beat of each line clipped off (x / xx / xx / xx /). The anapest, which functions...

Recommended Poetry Contests of 2020

The Society
February 8, 2020
For Educators, From the Society, Poetry Contests
5 Comments
  Better Than Starbucks Sonnet Contest Accepting Submissions Beginning: October 1, 2020 Deadline: December 1, 2020 Top Prize: $100 Submission Fee: None Better Than Starbucks has confirmed that its...

The Best Poems of 2019

The Society
February 1, 2020
From the Society, Poetry, Poetry Contests
11 Comments
The Best Poems of 2019: Winners of 8th Annual International SCP Poetry Competition Thank you to everyone who participated! It was an epic year with an incredible number of exceptional poets contributing their...

Winners of 2020 High School Poetry Competition Announced

The Society
February 1, 2020
High School Submissions, Poetry, Poetry Contests
2 Comments
Thank you to every one who participated! The quality of the high school poems submitted this year was stunning.    First Place ($100 Prize): Luke Hahn, twelfth grade, homeschooled in Waupun,...

Winners of 2020 Poetry Translation Competition Announced

The Society
February 1, 2020
Poetry, Poetry Contests, Translation
1 Comment
Thank you to everyone who participated! The quality of submitted translations continues to rise.   First Place ($100 Prize): Margaret Coats, California Three Translations of the Poetry of Jean...

Write a Poem on One of These Images

The Society
January 19, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Ekphrastic, Poetry, Poetry Contests
38 Comments
The above photographs were taken and submitted by New York City poet Joe Tessitore. We invite readers to pick one of the images (or both) and write a poem. Post your poem in the comments section...

FoFG 2020 Poetry Contest: Adult, College, and High School Awards

The Society
January 15, 2020
Deconstructing Communism, Human Rights in China, Poetry, Poetry Contests
1 Comment
Fight for Freedom. Write for Freedom. A Great Cause, Plus Over $1,200 in Prizes and No Submission Fee. Today, the communist government of China, the world's largest nation, is attacking the basic freedom...

Write a Poem on One of These Photographs

The Society
November 1, 2019
Beauty, Culture, Ekphrastic, Humor, Poetry, Poetry Contests
39 Comments
The above photographs were taken and submitted by New York City poet Joe Tessitore. We invite readers to pick one of the images (or both) and write a poem. Post your poem in the comments section...

Homophonic Poetry Challenge

The Society
September 16, 2019
Culture, Humor, Poetry, Poetry Contests
86 Comments
by Joe Tessitore and James A. Tweedie We are issuing a challenge to all poets to create poems that incorporate word homophones. Call it what you like, but we are calling it a Homophonic Poetry Challenge....

The Society of Classical Poets 2020 Poetry Competition

The Society
September 1, 2019
High School Submissions, Poetry, Poetry Contests
9 Comments
Winners of the competition can be found here. "But with the true poet every thing is terse, touching, or brilliant. He gives the choicest thoughts in the choicest language. He illustrates them by...

2020 Poetry Translation Competition

The Society
September 1, 2019
From the Society, Poetry, Poetry Contests, Translation
3 Comments
"But with the true poet every thing is terse, touching, or brilliant. He gives the choicest thoughts in the choicest language. He illustrates them by everything that he sees most striking in nature and art."...

2020 High School Poetry Competition

The Society
September 1, 2019
From the Society, High School Submissions, Poetry, Poetry Contests
5 Comments
  Note: Winners of this contest can be found here. We have begun a new high school poetry contest here. "But with the true poet every thing is terse, touching, or brilliant. He gives the choicest...

Ten Best Rhyming Riddles of 2019

The Society
August 20, 2019
Poetry, Poetry Contests, Riddles
13 Comments
Thank you to everyone who participated! Judges: Joseph S. Salemi, Adam Sedia, Manfred Dietrich   First ($100 Prize) A spike is there, but it’s not gold, Some forests have them, so I’m told. They...

Rhyming Riddle Contest 2019

The Society
July 10, 2019
Humor, Poetry, Poetry Contests, Riddles
271 Comments
Winners of the contest can be found here. From the riddle posed by King Solomon to the Philistines to the philosophy of riddles put forth by Aristotle to the riddles posed by Gollum to Bilbo Baggins in...

Winners Announced: A Line of Shakespeare Poetry Contest

The Society
July 1, 2019
Beauty, Culture, From the Society, Humor, News of Note, Poetry, Poetry Contests
2 Comments
Judges: Michael Curtis, Amy Foreman, Reid McGrath, Adam Sedia A few words from Judge Michael Curtis: In apology: If you, fair writer, did not win, take heart, This juror read for craft more than for...

Friends of Falun Gong Poetry Contest Winners Announced

The Society
May 13, 2019
Culture, Human Rights in China, Poetry, Poetry Contests
2 Comments
Congratulations to contest winners David Whippman (First Place), Randal Burd (Second Place), Theresa Rodriguez (Third Place), and Dusty Thorne (Fourth Place). Mr. Whippman's winning poem is below. Other poems...

A Line of Shakespeare Poetry Contest

The Society
May 8, 2019
Culture, For Educators, From the Society, Humor, Poetry, Poetry Contests
148 Comments
Winners announced here! Write a short poem that begins with one line from any Shakespeare play or poem. The poem should be two to four lines in length. Post it in the comments section below under your...

Announcing the 2019 Poetry Competition Winners

The Society
February 1, 2019
For Educators, From the Society, News of Note, Poetry, Poetry Contests
13 Comments
Thank you to everyone who participated! We have had more quality submissions this year than in any past year and it has been a privilege to read and judge them. Congratulations to the winners!   First...

The Society of Classical Poets 2019 Poetry Competition

The Society
September 1, 2018
For Educators, From the Society, High School Submissions, Poetry, Poetry Contests
3 Comments
  “Let glorious acts more glorious acts inspire, And catch from breast to breast the noble fire!" —The Iliad, Homer, Book V, Pope translation First Prize: $1,000   Submission...

Ten Best Riddles of 2018: Contest Winners Announced

The Society
August 13, 2018
Humor, News of Note, Poetry, Poetry Contests, Riddles
8 Comments
Thank you to everyone who participated and made this a great year for rhyming riddles! —Evan Mantyk, Judge First Place ($100): Monty Phillips, France I’ve never been exactly sure How long I’ve been...

Rhyming Riddle Contest

The Society
June 27, 2018
Culture, Humor, Poetry, Poetry Contests, Riddles
177 Comments
Winners announced here. Scroll down and read the comments section to enjoy all of the submissions. What has no subject one can tell, Yet tries to make it ring a bell? What makes you scratch your head...

Shortest Poem Contest Winners Announced

The Society
June 18, 2018
Humor, Poetry, Poetry Contests
16 Comments
Congratulations to the following winners! Thank you to judges Joseph S. Salemi, James Sale, and Damian Robin.   First Place $100 Prize: Ben Foreman, Cascabel, Arizona Cheesemaking Find a...

Shortest Poem Poetry Contest

The Society
May 9, 2018
Poetry, Poetry Contests, Popular Poetry Archives
192 Comments
Update: Winners announced: https://classicalpoets.org/shortest-poem-contest-winners-announced/\ Scroll down and read the comments section to enjoy all of the submissions. Write the shortest possible...

ABC Poems: A Poetry Puzzle Challenge

The Society
March 20, 2018
Poetry, Poetry Contests, Popular Poetry Archives
113 Comments
By Amy Foreman A cold and rainy afternoon recently gave rise to this little idea of a poem-puzzle.  I challenged myself to write a poem where each word started with a different letter of the alphabet, in...

2018 Poetry Competition Winners Announced

The Society
February 1, 2018
News of Note, Poetry, Poetry Contests
8 Comments
First Place ($500 Prize): C.B. Anderson, Massachusetts “Stonewalls Sometimes a Prison Make” “Praise for the Mother of Summer” “Meritocracy” "Verification" Second Place: Adam Sedia,...
  1. 1
  2. 2




Trending Poems

  • ‘A Mother’s Eyes’ by Susan Jarvis Bryant 45 comments
  • ‘CDC: New Guidance’ by Mike Bryant 36 comments
  • A Poem on Prince Philip (1921-2021): ‘As an Actor in Macbeth’ by Phillip Whidden 36 comments
  • National Poetry Month Challenge: What Is Poetry? 52 comments
  • ‘Gun Control Is Mind Control’ by Roy E. Peterson 48 comments
  • ‘If He Came Now…’: An Easter Rondeau by Susan Jarvis Bryant 20 comments
  • Short Pandemic Poems by Joe Tessitore 27 comments
  • ‘The Librarian and the Bonfire’ by Brian Yapko 31 comments
  • ‘The House That Fauci Built’ and Other Poetry by Bruce Dale Wise 5 comments
  • ‘Ode to Hidden Splendor’ and Other Poetry by Susan Jarvis Bryant 41 comments
  • ‘Pain, Product, and Poetry’ by Joseph S. Salemi 24 comments
  • ‘The Parting of the Sea’ and Other Poetry by Brian Yapko 19 comments
  • ‘Cherry Blossom Viewing’ by Margaret Coats 34 comments
  • A Poem on Dictionaries: ‘Panlexia’ by C.B. Anderson 39 comments
  • ‘How to Write a Formal Poem (That Doesn’t Seem Like One)’ and Other Poetry by C.B. Anderson 23 comments

Poetry Challenges

       1. What Is Poetry?

       2. Sonnet in Iambic Monometer

       3. Turn a Joke Into a Poem

       4. Write a Square Poem

       5. Homophonic Poetry      

    

Resources

       1. How to Write a Sonnet

       2. How to Write a Haiku

       3. Poetry Lesson Plan

       4. Poetry and Writing Contests

       5. The Best Poems of 2020      

    

Daily Poetry

Receive daily posts directly to your email inbox. The SCP website acts as an online daily Journal.

Join 1,442 other subscribers

  • Poetry Resources
  • High School Poetry
  • Translation
  • Poetry Contests
  • Poetry Forms
  • From the Society
  • Poetry Archive
  • For Educators
  • Humor
  • News of Note
  • Reviews
  • About Us
  • Symposium
  • The Raven
  • Riddles
  • Journal
  • Members
  • Terms of Use
  • The Society of Classical Poets © 2021