‘Sibylline Sonnets for Advent’ by Margaret Coats The Society December 11, 2021 Acrostic, Beauty, Culture, Poetry 44 Comments . Sibylline Sonnets for Advent The sibyls were ecstatic prophetesses active from about 600 B.C. in the Greek coastlands of Asia Minor, and in Greek colonies on the west coast of Italy. A few apparent...
‘Samode Palace Hotel’ by Isabel Miles The Society December 11, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 4 Comments . Samode Palace Hotel An erstwhile palace, and all wished to claim a former sultan's, not a servants', room. So we drew keys, for all had paid the same and won two turrets and a vast bedroom. But, best,...
‘So Simple’ and Other Poetry by Mike Bryant The Society December 10, 2021 Covid-19, Culture, Poetry 23 Comments . So Simple Lies are told to Balkanize, To disenfranchise, federalize, To bloat the vote. An anecdote, A narrative, a false footnote To cast their spell on sheepish folk, Who swell with pride because they’re...
‘Maria Montessori’ and Other Clerihews by Peter Hartley The Society December 10, 2021 Clerihew, Culture, Humor, Poetry 33 Comments . Maria Montessori Seldom felt hunky-dory. Her vision for education Fell short of inspiring a nation. . King George the Second It has often been reckoned Would have been more fecund Had more mistresses...
A Poem on Hot Flashes: ‘The Devil and the Hounds of Hell’ by Norma Pain The Society December 9, 2021 Culture, Humor, Poetry 12 Comments . The Devil and the Hounds of Hell Over and over in the gloom of night, In degrees of Celsius or Fahrenheit. From deep in the middle of a hard-won sleep, An evil entity begins to creep. A dark, diabolical...
A Fake News Pantoum and Other Poetry by Brian Yapko The Society December 9, 2021 Culture, Humor, Pantoum, Poetry, Rondeau 9 Comments . What Is Truth? a pantoum To keep us blind and riven You falsify the facts. You will not be forgiven--- These are a tyrant’s acts! You falsify the facts Promoting news that’s fake. These are a tyrant’s...
‘We Are in for Another Covid Christmas!’ by Susan Jarvis Bryant The Society December 8, 2021 Covid-19, Culture, Humor, Poetry 23 Comments . We Are in for Another Covid Christmas! We are in for another Covid Christmas: __Lockdown tales of woe. ____Now forbidden to fly his sled __Santa is drenched in dread And Rudolph’s rosy nose has lost its...
‘Turn, Turn, Turn’ by Joe Tessitore The Society December 8, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 9 Comments . Turn, Turn, Turn I, whose heart is closed and locked, Who turned away when your Son knocked And who, through sin, did turn my soul Into a twisted lump of coal Turn now, Holy Mary, to you. Least worthy, no...
‘Daphne and Apollo’ by James A. Tweedie The Society December 7, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Love Poems, Poetry 18 Comments . Daphne and Apollo “O foolish Cupid,” fair Apollo mocked. “To think that you, a wanton boy, should dare To think yourself the equal to a man Of arms, or even to a god like me, In putting arrows full...
‘The Biden Oil Refrain’ by Russel Winick The Society December 4, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Humor, Poetry 16 Comments . The Biden Oil Refrain As President, on his first day, He closed old Keystone down, Then shut off Arctic drilling, Forty-thousand jobs left town. He cancelled key oil leases, Barred new highly needed...
‘A Shot in the Dark’ by Susan Jarvis Bryant The Society December 2, 2021 Covid-19, Culture, Poetry 35 Comments . A Shot in the Dark "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help. " ---Ronald Reagan The experts push experimental science, Big...
‘Post-Apocalyptic Politics’ by Alec Ream The Society December 2, 2021 Culture, Poetry 2 Comments . The lights went off, for long enough, And in the darkness things got rough, All four quarters gushing red— Some bloody politician's dead, We liked him once, yes, very much, And wanted to have four of...
‘Listening to Bach While the World Falls Apart’ by Cynthia Erlandson The Society December 1, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 16 Comments . Listening to Bach While the World Falls Apart for Adrianna, Paul, and Beth I Sight isn’t needed---the continuous cracking of all The pillars supporting civilization, is audible. Thunderous crumbling of...
A Poem on Huckleberry Finn Being Canceled for Mark Twain’s Birthday, by Brian Yapko The Society November 30, 2021 Culture, Humor, Poetry 41 Comments . On Mark Twain's Birthday He piloted a Mississippi steamboat, Then panned for gold and sailed around the world. He authored tales of rogues and slavery’s stain But now is damned for all the things he...
A Poem for Peng Shuai, by Douglas J. Lanzo The Society November 29, 2021 Culture, Human Rights in China, Poetry 6 Comments . A Silenced Voice Cried Out dedicated to Peng Shuai A voice cried out decrying her assault, Courageously to light the way for truth Against one high up preying on her youth— A Vice Premier accused of this...
‘Allentown Nights’ and Other Poetry by Sally Cook The Society November 29, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 23 Comments . Allentown Nights Sometimes the nights were full of evil there. Relentless searchers drove the block most nights, While novices in bushes would prepare As Lady Scarface told them of their rights— Just how...
‘CDC: Urgent Directive’ by Mike Bryant The Society November 27, 2021 Covid-19, Culture, Humor, Poetry 32 Comments . CDC: Urgent Directive Dillard “Sparky” Barker Is a Doc at CDC. It seems he’s done a study That is sad for you and me. “Accidental deaths are At an all-time scary high. And just because we care We...
‘What Foo Dogs Can Teach Us’: An Essay by Joseph S. Salemi The Society November 26, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Essays, Poetry 19 Comments . Many years ago I gave a talk at a scholarly conference at Queens College, C.U.N.Y. My section of the conference was dedicated to contemporary translation, and the bulk of the papers presented were deadly...
‘Guilty Thoughts’: Three Poems by Peter Hartley The Society November 26, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 37 Comments . Guilty Thoughts I Through idle thoughts alone if no-one knows, We cannot hurt someone who never will Find out. No victim: none could ever spill The beans. Can we do any harm to those Among our foes we...
A Poem for Thanksgiving: ‘My Raven’ by Roy E. Peterson The Society November 25, 2021 Culture, Humor, Poetry, The Raven 13 Comments . My Raven My Raven is a different bird. I guess he learned a different word Than Poe’s that uttered “Nevermore.” My Raven tells me, “Furthermore.” “Alright” I said “what do you want? Why did...
A Poem for Thanksgiving: ‘A Song of Thanksgiving’ by Evan Mantyk The Society November 25, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 16 Comments . A Song of Thanksgiving The pilgrims long ago faced strong __Attacks on their beliefs, And found a land they could command __Where faith would find relief. They journeyed long but still faced...
‘Permanent Power Plan’ and Other Poetry by Russel Winick The Society November 23, 2021 Culture, Humor, Poetry 8 Comments . Permanent Power Plan Scene: While Joe Biden is taking notes, the Statue of Liberty appears and gives him ideas. STATUE OF LIBERTYGive me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe...
On Joe Rogan’s Interview of Demi Lovato, by Jeff Kemper The Society November 23, 2021 Culture, Poetry 5 Comments . Making Asses A meditation on pop star Demi Lovato’s expounding on her newfound sexuality in an interview on "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast (28 March 2021). Are pop stars making asses of themselvesBy...
Three Perspectives from Samos: Sonnets by Margaret Coats The Society November 22, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 22 Comments . Three Perspectives from Samos Poet’s note: The Greek island of Samos, in the region of Ionia, was the reputed birthplace of the goddess Hera, and the scene of her marriage to Zeus. It was also the...
A Poem on Transgenderism and Truth: ‘Reality—Plan B’ by James A. Tweedie The Society November 21, 2021 Culture, Poetry 19 Comments . Reality—Plan B If you don’t like the world the way it is, And think that “he” should be the same as “she,” And “hers” be interchangeable with “his,” Then come up with a new...
‘A Knot of Ought Nots’ and Other Poetry by Leland James The Society November 21, 2021 Beauty, Children's, Culture, Poetry 3 Comments . A Knot of Ought Nots A bright blue canoe atop of Mount Crumble, canoes can be tippy; down it might tumble —ought not to be there! The cat in galoshes and plaid underwear eating fish tacos in Dad’s...
A Poem for Kyle Rittenhouse: ‘Don’t Tread on Me’ by Joseph S. Salemi The Society November 20, 2021 Culture, Poetry 18 Comments . Don’t Tread on Me For Kyle Rittenhouse, acquitted on November 19, the feast day of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, patroness of the falsely accused. Two enemies you faced down in a fight: Canaille of leftist...
A Poem on Enes Kanter Standing up to the CCP, by Damian Robin The Society November 18, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Human Rights in China, Poetry 10 Comments . On the Question of Enes Kanter How do heroes take a stand above the skyline? How face off sharp machinery that spades the earth, Converting humans into demons by the roots— Machines that grind distinctive...
Four Sonnets on Traditional Dance, by Evan Mantyk The Society November 18, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Homer, Poetry 19 Comments . I. The Blacksmith God Forges Scenes on Achilles’ Shield after Homer’s Iliad Book 18 The hammer strikes! And glowing sparks fly out As Earth takes shape and then the flowing seas, The sun, the moon, the...
‘One Miracle After Another’ and Other Poetry by Brian Yapko The Society November 17, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 28 Comments . One Miracle After Another A misty morning greeted by the sun Whose dappled rays arouse the drowsing Earth; The grandeur in the web a spider’s spun; A mother’s tearful joy for a safe birth; The giddy...
‘Old? Hell No!’ by Norma Pain The Society November 16, 2021 Culture, Humor, Poetry 25 Comments . Old? Hell No! in a thick British accent __It's bin three years an’ a day, __Since the Mrs. passed away, I still see ‘er face afore me smilin’ kindly. __For a while I wasn’t right, __I’d awake most...
‘Gender Reveal’ by Reid McGrath The Society November 15, 2021 Culture, Humor, Limerick, Poetry 6 Comments . We went to a gender reveal. And we had an exceptional meal. __But the host was forlorn __when she unhusked her corn. It was pink instead of blue-teal. Her emotions were on full display. They should have...
Reading [Classical] Poetry Will Save the World: Crisis Magazine The Society November 14, 2021 Culture, Essays, Poetry 5 Comments . Below is an excerpt from a Crisis Magazine article "Reading Poetry Will Save the World" by Auguste Meyrat, published November 13, 2021. (The article was passed to me by poet Joe Tessitore.) . For those who...
‘Racial Idiocy’ and Other Poetry by Russel Winick The Society November 14, 2021 Culture, Poetry 20 Comments . Racial Idiocy My son was on a city team,__Where two kids caught my eye:Stefon---warm and articulate,__And Marcus---risk deemed high. I thought that I’d invite them to__My law firm for a day,And offer---if...
On Three Pre-Raphaelite Paintings, by Peter Hartley The Society November 12, 2021 Art, Beauty, Culture, Ekphrastic, Poetry 52 Comments . . The Hireling Shepherd painting by William Holman Hunt This comely wench was Emma Watkins, she Who sat for Hunt in eighteen fifty-two. Too unaffected she, she never knew What lay beyond the brink, beyond...
On World Leaders Falling Asleep at the U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow: COP26 The Society November 12, 2021 Culture, Humor, Poetry, The Environment 7 Comments . At the COP26 We all have piled up at the COP,For in a day the World may stop!No really, that’s what voters sayAnd that’s enough, so I’m here today. We must turn up or all goes pop—And yet I find my...
For Veterans Day and Remembrance Sunday: ‘Where Poppies Blow’ by Susan Jarvis Bryant The Society November 11, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 22 Comments . Today I feel the stirrings of the Dead In crimson-littered fields where poppies blow. I hear embittered groans and gasps of dread From churning earth neath crosses row on row. Today our freedoms fade along...
‘From a Classified Location in England’: A Veteran’s Day Poem by Brian Yapko The Society November 11, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 33 Comments . From a Classified Location in England Dear Jim---my son---I write from far away. From England, Spring of 1944. June first! That means you’re six years old today! So happy birthday, son! And many...
‘Colours of War’ by Paul A. Freeman The Society November 11, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 20 Comments . Colours of War What colour was the war to end all wars?We’ve watched as men, in grainy black and white,go o’er the top to face the chomping jawsof curtain fire and shrapnel’s iron bite.And when the...
A Poem for Veteran’s Day 2021, by Roy E. Peterson The Society November 11, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 15 Comments . The Soldier Keeps the Wolf at Bay The soldier keeps the wolf at bay So we may never see it. That is why the young today Simply don’t believe it. You say “We see no wolf out there? So why should we...