‘Ballad: Our Crew of Two’ and Other Poetry by Amy Foreman The Society January 26, 2017 Beauty, Humor, Poetry, Short Stories 14 Comments Ballad: Our Crew of Two When we set forth, the breeze blew fair, The sun shone balmy, warm. Our sheets were fixed; sail filled with air, No warning of the storm. Our crew of two, so cheerfully, With...
‘Song of Ulysses’ and Other Poetry by Clinton Van Inman The Society January 25, 2017 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 5 Comments Song of Ulysses For greatness and glory’s sake For all things rich and noble In proud ships tall let us make Again where only men are able Tired we’ve grown of glitter and gold Of the clamor of...
‘Old School’ and Other Poetry by Allan Heller The Society January 24, 2017 Beauty, Human Rights in China, Poetry, Terrorism 3 Comments Old School I saw two women at a table in a small café Not making eye contact or talking, but in their own way Communicating, and I found myself a bit perplexed. Then realized that they had...
‘Walked the Mountain’ and Other Poetry by Uche Ogbuji The Society January 19, 2017 Beauty, Poetry 3 Comments Walked the Mountain What shape is that, the mountain's brow? A glacier field, a glacier field! I walked to read the mountains mood; Of what I read my lips are sealed. What threads make up the...
‘Lotus’ by Catherine Huang The Society January 18, 2017 Beauty, High School Submissions, Human Rights in China 4 Comments Rising above the silt and murky mud, Clean and pure is the small pink bud, Supported by a supple stem of jade, Adorned with gleaming dew drops, crystal made. Elegant yet sweet this gentle...
‘Shin-Rin-Yoku: Forest Bathing’ and Other Poetry by Betsy Hughes The Society January 17, 2017 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 3 Comments Shin-Rin-Yoku Forest Bathing You stand beneath this canopy of trees, surrender will, hold still. You close your eyes and listen as the rustling of the leaves and lapping breeze-blown waters...
‘Departure’ and Other Poetry by James McKee The Society January 13, 2017 Beauty, Culture, Poetry, The Environment 4 Comments Departure Like escaping through a siege, growing older Hampers itself with hopes of return; So if, over your bare shoulder, Upwind palaces start to...
‘The Terrorists’ and Other Poetry by Gleb Zavlanov The Society January 10, 2017 Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Terrorism 6 Comments The Terrorists Tears feed the sweeping sands beneath their feet, And blood runs deep into the living ground. The sun throbs down with agonizing heat. The captives kneel, blindfolded, with no...
‘Water Music’ and Other Poetry by C.B. Anderson The Society January 4, 2017 Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Terrorism 6 Comments Water Music Just as white as a blanket of new-fallen snow Is the noise of a waterfall cresting a brim And ebulliently thrashing the basin below. But the sound of a freshet resembles a hymn, Its discrete...
‘The Speaker Unaccustomed to Such Oratory Feats’ and Other Poetry by Wendy Bourke The Society January 3, 2017 Beauty, Humor, Poetry, Villanelle 7 Comments The Speaker Unaccustomed to Such Oratory Feats The speaker - unaccustomed to such oratory feats - cleared his throat, a bit too loudly, while he fumbled through his sheets. The crowd sensed, early...
‘New Year’s Hopes, 2017’ by Daniel Magdalen The Society December 31, 2016 Acrostic, Beauty, Culture, Poetry 5 Comments Color streams burst brightly in a flourish of elation, Each to soar and cover night's condoning, lofty, canvas – Livening this moment, man-made shooting stars' vibration Emanate our gladness to...
‘How Can You Feel Blue?’ and Other Poetry by Edmund Jonah The Society December 28, 2016 Beauty, Poetry, Terrorism 4 Comments How Can You Feel Blue? How can you feel blue When you look toward the sky And see the darkling silhouette Of birds, as gracefully they fly In strict formation 'cross The iris of your eye? How...
‘To Michael Dana Gioia’ and Other Poetry by Bruce Dale Wise The Society December 23, 2016 Beauty, Poetry 5 Comments To Michael Dana Gioia* By Cal Wes Ubideer The Word within the World that articulates itself does not exist in sunlight or in leaves upon a shelf, upon computer monitors, or on stones on a path; the Word...
‘In the Forest’ by Margaret O’Driscoll The Society December 22, 2016 Beauty, Poetry 12 Comments Unspoilt, unique, a soulful place Ancient oaks all around Scattered acorns sprouting shoots New life emerging from the ground I touch the parchment bark of birch It's leaves shimmering in the...
‘On the Winter Solstice’ and Other Poetry by Neal Dachstadter The Society December 21, 2016 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 5 Comments On the Winter Solstice Winter Winter cold and crass Winter Winter old the grass Fast we go across the field Massed the snow and frost to wield Night of rest abed when tired Light and fest and sled and...
‘Christmas Eve’ by Christina Rossetti: Poetry Analysis The Society December 19, 2016 Beauty, Culture, Education, Essays, Poetry 2 Comments By Jane Blanchard On December 5, 1830, Christina Rossetti was born in London to an Italian-English mother married to an Italian poet in exile. The youngest of four children, all of whom grew up to be...
On Miss World Canada Anastasia Lin’s Being Banned in China The Society December 16, 2016 Beauty, Poetry 2 Comments Beauty in a Butcher’s Shop By Damian Robin There can be beauty in a butcher’s shop Even when that butcher’s shop’s unclean; And we can make that dirty butchery stop By listening to the...
‘Obi-Wan Bin Laden RIP’ and Other Poetry by James Sale The Society December 10, 2016 Beauty, Culture, Humor, Poetry, Terrorism 1 Comment Obi-Wan Bin Laden RIP Let’s remember what God wants: Killing people’s never right, So Obi-Wan Bin Laden then Cannot be a Jedi knight. To make folks free you face them straight...
A Shen Yun Review: ‘I Love the Dance’ The Society December 8, 2016 Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Rondeau 8 Comments A rondeau on Shen Yun Performing Arts By Evan Mantyk I love the dance that can exalt The human form without a fault, Demeanor grand, inspiring pose; They’re swift yet seem in sweet repose And all my...
‘In an Unfinished Honeycomb: An Old Story’ and Other Poetry by Barbara Bates The Society December 7, 2016 Beauty, Human Rights in China, Poetry 2 Comments In an Unfinished Honeycomb: An Old Story As lichen on a rock expands, so you grow in love on the lap of your mother until --- smothering her presence you burst aglow into green adolescence....
‘Unforeseen Good Fortune’s Heirs Are We’ and Other Poetry by Pat Brisson The Society December 6, 2016 Beauty, Culture, Poetry, The Environment 2 Comments Unforeseen Good Fortune’s Heirs Are We There’s little of the Plague that we can find to celebrate except for this small gem – when those who died left property behind it often changed their...
‘Wood Nymph’ and Other Poetry by Carolyn Clark The Society December 4, 2016 Beauty, Poetry 13 Comments Wood Nymph A wood nymph knocked on my door last night her hair was flaxen gold the ivy trailing through my...
‘Autumn’s Dare’ by Cynthia Thornton Herrera The Society December 3, 2016 Beauty, Poetry 3 Comments Exhale swift, what crimson breeze; Amber crisp and fuchsia Colors adorn leaves on the trees Their coats of misty rouge. And clap, applaud with festive show Aware not of the scent; The musky...
‘December Romance’ by Rod Kleber The Society December 1, 2016 Beauty, Poetry 2 Comments December—not April cruelest, nor June In moon—must be the most romantic month, Why else make men of snow, or gods of men, Or turn the world virgin-white, life in death? At dusk, a chickadee,...
‘Christmastime’ and Other Poetry by Jennifer Bravo The Society November 25, 2016 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 2 Comments Christmastime Lush green tree, wet pine scent fills the air. Strings of tiny gems, that plump tree, strangle, Children’s handmade trimmings everywhere, Red and green and bells that...
‘Kindness and Stars’ and Other Poetry by Michael Dashiell The Society November 21, 2016 Beauty, Poetry 1 Comment Kindness and Stars The gentle touch and splendid gift Intended to restore and heal Is rich enough to move and lift Our souls beyond the grief we feel. Though stars a twinkle only show, Their powerful...
‘So Far, So Good’ and Other Poetry by Robert Cooperman The Society November 11, 2016 Beauty, Humor, Poetry 1 Comment So Far, So Good One friend fears his father’s Alzheimer fate, another prepares herself for the end while her husband tries not to cry or state she can’t leave, but for her sake he...
‘Pygmalion at Twilight’ and Other Poetry by Keith Allan Jones The Society November 6, 2016 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 1 Comment Pygmalion at Twilight Like a fiery dawn came we forth unto Our place on pedestals above the dunes Of disappointment – longing dared to paint A fairer portrait, distorted by the wait; A gilded...
‘Culloden Moor’ and Other Poetry by Alessio Zanelli The Society November 4, 2016 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 6 Comments Culloden Moor At last they met. No sound. Arrays deployed. It was the perfect day—no haze, no shine. Long minutes lapsed before the bagpipes trilled. By noon it all ran smooth. Forlorn and...
‘Said the Painter’ and Other Poetry by Neal Dachstadter The Society October 31, 2016 Art, Beauty, Ekphrastic, Poetry 8 Comments Said the Painter Upon the mossy stones I dwelt, I did, and was, and painting felt An arch and angel bend to speak, Their sainted tones my brush to seek. And why such was, I could not say, But...
Solace from Terror, a Set of Poems about Living in the West by Damian Robin The Society October 29, 2016 Beauty, Culture, Human Rights in China, Poetry, Terrorism 1 Comment Persistent Danger Where is this going when state and foe mow down civilians and non-combatants in market stalls? They shock and flame like an erratic clown whose grisly creativity...
‘Aleppo’ and Other Poetry by Bruce Dale Wise The Society October 23, 2016 Beauty, Culture, Human Rights in China, Humor, Poetry, Terrorism 2 Comments Aleppo By Cid Wa'eeb El Sur We will drain it dry as hay. Peace shall neither night nor day hang upon its pent-house lid; it shall be a place forbid. Weary seven months times nine, shall it...
‘Intimations of a Dream’ and Other Poetry by Brett Forester The Society October 21, 2016 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 1 Comment Intimations of a Dream When the wind rustles through the open pine, And the leaves murmur and shudder off dew; When the sun, like an undeciphered sign, Through the imperial vault of swimming...
‘For Elizabeth’ and Other Poetry by Joseph Charles MacKenzie The Society October 17, 2016 Beauty, Poetry, Terrorism 20 Comments For Elizabeth If charm were a country, then you would be Its capital of many domes and spires Gilded and gleaming off a crystal sea, And graced with every art that love inspires. If beauty a...
‘A Bear in My Living Room’ and Other Poetry by Michael Harmon The Society October 15, 2016 Beauty, Humor, Poetry, The Environment 2 Comments A Bear in My Living Room While playing some computer games One day, I heard a noise out in The living room. I frowned, but paused And went to see. To my chagrin A bear was squatting on the...
‘The Not-Lily Flower’ By Hibah Shabkhez The Society October 11, 2016 Beauty, Poetry In the grey-streaked dawn I can barely glean A deck of petals expertly dealt out in a ring A clingy little flower, prest into the railing Of the dew-drugged garden already the queen O rose with your...
‘The Price’ and Other Poetry by Dusty Grein The Society October 7, 2016 Beauty, Culture, Pantoum, Poetry, Rondeau Redoublé, The Environment 1 Comment The Price (a pantoum in iambic pentameter) The sea and sky, once beautiful and clean, They’ve paid the price for man’s hubris and greed. The jungle canopies were brilliant green as nature...
Paean to “ODE TO JOY” and Other Poetry by Don Shook The Society October 1, 2016 Beauty, Culture, Humor, Poetry 5 Comments Paean to “ODE TO JOY”* I heard the “Ode to Joy” today, ten thousand times at least. I could not hold my heart at bay, engorging on a feast of melody, of majesty, of rhythmic...
‘My Mirror Grinned’ (Rondeau) and Other Poetry by Sathya Narayana The Society September 27, 2016 Beauty, Humor, Poetry, Rondeau, Rubaiyat 6 Comments My Mirror Grinned (Rondeau) My mirror grinned at my first grey. With rearing youth, it’s my first fray. Disturbed, with care I plucked that bane, next day to find one more, again! I cried and sighed...
‘The Pleiades’ (Pantoum) by Carol Smallwood The Society September 25, 2016 Beauty, Culture, Pantoum, Poetry 6 Comments There is a tale of seven sisters whose father help up the sky pursued by Orion, carried to the heavens by Zeus. Farming season began when their star cluster appeared high— their position in the...