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      Beauty, Culture, Poetry
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poem/stellinga/transgender

‘Something in the Water’ and Other Poetry by Russel Winick

The Society
September 21, 2024
Culture, Poetry, Satire
14 Comments
. Something in the Water The swimmer had removed her clothes, __Then turned and gave a wail, For in the dressing room there was __A biologic male. Man’s voice, broad shoulders, 6 foot 4, __With men he could...

‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game’ and Other Poetry by James A. Tweedie

The Society
September 21, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
14 Comments
. Take Me Out to the Ball Game The game of baseball’s changed since I was younger, Back when the Giants played at Candlestick. A hot dog in my hand helped quench my hunger; The left-field stands were cheap,...

‘Of Windows and Lawns’: A Poem by James A. Tweedie

The Society
September 17, 2024
Culture, Poetry
13 Comments
. Of Windows and Lawns "I grew up in a neighborhood of folks who were very proud of their lawn." —Kamala Harris There was a theory that a single broken Window wasn’t a big deal. But Too many broken...

‘Follow the Miracle’: A Poem on the Trump Assassination Attempts by Brian Yapko

The Society
September 16, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
32 Comments
. Follow the Miracle A random head-turn? Vector wind deflection? Or was it truly heavenly protection? His head came close to being torn asunder Yet he survived! I have to wonder If Trump was saved by divine...

‘Viracocha’: A Poem on the Incan Sun God by Daniel Pugh

The Society
September 16, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
3 Comments
. Viracocha Viracocha made the world, __He made it in a day. A day in Viracocha’s life __Would leave you old and gray, So when he’d finished making it __He must sit down and play. Viracocha made the...

‘Kristallnacht—The Night of Broken Glass’: A Poem by Brian Yapko

The Society
September 15, 2024
Blank Verse, Culture, Poetry
31 Comments
. Kristallnacht---The Night of Broken Glass I tell my son he must not make a sound. I whisper, “Karl, this attic is our haven. Don’t cry! Don’t let the brown shirts know we’re here!” Alfrida’s...

‘When Your Foe Is Perilously Strong’: A Villanelle by Maria Panayi

The Society
September 13, 2024
Culture, Poetry, Villanelle
13 Comments
. When Your Foe Is Perilously Strong When your foe is perilously strong It mightn’t be too preposterous or wrong To let him think that you’re a friend of his. If you’re a minority and somewhat...

‘There Are Masters and Then There Are Masters’ and Other Poetry by Phillip Whidden

The Society
September 12, 2024
Culture, Poetry
19 Comments
. There Are Masters and Then There Are Masters The moth’s desire for muzziness of moon Looms large in some men’s minds.  They seem to think That muddled paradox, that Indian rune Philosophy, is fine...

‘Flora’s England’: A Poem by Isabella Simmonds

The Society
September 11, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
18 Comments
. Flora's England The hedgerows droop with bulbous berries black As feathers of the Raven in the sun Of August, glowing hot upon his back. He soars above the corn, its growing done. While Lammas songs are sung...

‘A Prayer in Three Quatrains’: A Poem by William Harrison

The Society
September 10, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
10 Comments
. A Prayer in Three Quatrains Too well I know, I am a son of error; Too well I know the weakness of my frame. Yet still I plead, Lord, save me from this terror; And of Thy mercy, blot out all my shame. A...

‘Crystal Spires or Lake of Fire?’: A Poem by Peter Venable

The Society
September 8, 2024
Culture, Poetry
4 Comments
. Crystal Spires or Lake of Fire? The day shall come. For some, just like a thief That sneaks unknown. An accident and grief. __Our flesh and spirit sever. For many souls, slow as a morphine drip Their life...

‘Nehemiah Questions Robert Frost About Walls’: A Poem by Cynthia Erlandson

The Society
September 8, 2024
Culture, Poetry
12 Comments
. Nehemiah Questions Robert Frost About Walls “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall.” ---Robert Frost, “Mending Wall” “Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burnt with fire. Come and let...

‘Empty Words’: A Poem by James A. Tweedie

The Society
September 7, 2024
Culture, Poetry
9 Comments
. Empty Words There was a time not long agoWhen insults led to deadly duels.Today, on streaming videoI saw men call each other fools. And women did the same, and worse,Forsaking wit and eloquenceWith every...

‘Cicada Serenade’ and Other Summer Poems by Susan Jarvis Bryant

The Society
September 6, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Villanelle
27 Comments
. Cicada Serenade Boys hang their beat on the heat of the summer. Sticky days twang with their thick, tinny ring. Banshee crescendos and thrums from each drummer Shiver mesquites where the mockingbirds...
poem/binns/dante

‘Dante in Modern Times’ and Other Poetry by Rob Fried

The Society
September 5, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Dante, Poetry
14 Comments
. Dante in Modern Times If I were Dante, and the quest were mine To reprise chapters of his Comedie For modern times, perhaps no less Divine For being steeped in modern tragedie, I’d start with Hell, where...

‘The High Priest’s Homily’: A Poem by Shaun C. Duncan

The Society
September 3, 2024
Culture, Poetry, Science
20 Comments
. The High Priest's Homily Once Man, in thrall to ignorance, believed the world was round, But now we know that everything is one vast sea of sound, __And what seemed solid ground Is but an anxious emptiness,...

‘Circling In’: A Poem in Terza Rima by Jeffrey Essmann

The Society
September 2, 2024
Culture, Poetry, Terza Rima
9 Comments
. Circling In It’s time (I tell myself) we circled in;Gave up at last the overwrought concernThat pulls us this-way-that till we begin To lose the human power to discernWhat truly holds and what has little...

A Poem for Labor Day and Others by Christine de Pisan, Translated by Margaret Coats

The Society
September 2, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Translation
25 Comments
. For All Who Labor by Christine de Pisan (1364-c. 1430) Lady, fair branch where God’s grace blooms,Our labors, Saint Bernard assumes,Are benefited by your taskTo help those who ply hoes or broomsWhen night...

‘Married to the Mob’ and Other Poetry by Brian Yapko

The Society
September 1, 2024
Culture, Poetry, Satire
24 Comments
. Married to the Mob He’s going out again today. What for? His hundredth chance to settle some old score? “Damn this! Screw that! Free cash! Free hash! More war!” It seems some things just never change,...

‘Government Waste’: A Poem by Warren Bonham for the Reagan Movie Premiere

The Society
August 31, 2024
Culture, Poetry
6 Comments
. Wisdom of Reagan: Government Waste “Government is like a baby: with a big appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.”  ---Ronald “The Gipper” Reagan The Gipper knew a thing or...

‘Ode to the Zeer’: A Poem by Paul A. Freeman

The Society
August 30, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
14 Comments
. Ode to the Zeer Across the Sahel states, the humble zeer, A pear-shaped or full-bellied earthen pot Strains muddy water, turns it cool and clear Beneath a tree or other shady spot. Constructed from alluvium...

‘Oversimplification’ and Other Poems by Russel Winick

The Society
August 29, 2024
Culture, Poetry
12 Comments
. Oversimplification What so many people tend to say or write, Reduces complex issues of today, To merely simple packages of black or white, Oblivious to present shades of grey. . . A Permanent New Season I...

‘The First Fallen Leaf’ and Other Poetry by Pamela Ruggiero

The Society
August 29, 2024
Children's, Culture, Poetry
23 Comments
. The First Fallen Leaf A single leaf begins to fall. He wants to be the first of all. His brethren strain to join his fun. For now he’s still the only one. He floats and sways inside the breeze, but,...

‘August Foraging’: A Poem by Margaret Coats

The Society
August 26, 2024
Culture, Poetry
28 Comments
. August Foraging “It’s hot, it’s dry. No fun outdoors; No fungi, flowers, foliage, fruit For us to eat where Nature stores Wild food. The month is destitute.” Now, novice, look about you. Woodland...

‘The Worst of Our Convictions’: A Poem by T.M. Moore

The Society
August 23, 2024
Blank Verse, Culture, Poetry
9 Comments
. The Worst of Our Convictions When, finally, the last church shuts its doors; when we run out of new identities to choose from; when the politicians have enough of power and wealth to make sure they can...

‘Mainstream News’: A Poem by Warren Bonham

The Society
August 22, 2024
Culture, Poetry
25 Comments
. Mainstream News "Just 7% of Americans have 'a great deal' of trust and confidence in the media, and 27% have 'a fair amount.' Meanwhile, 28% of U.S. adults say they do not have very much confidence and...

‘The Mannequins Are Melting’ and Other Hot Poetry by Martin Rizley

The Society
August 20, 2024
Culture, Humor, Poetry
10 Comments
. The Mannequins Are Melting The mannequins are melting as we speak Now that the summer heat wave's at its peak. __While passing by the clothing store __This afternoon at half past four, I saw the havoc waves...

‘The Web of Sustenance’ and Other Poetry by C.B. Anderson

The Society
August 18, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
11 Comments
. The Web of Sustenance __Voraciously the lion feeds, But leaves the scraps for jackals and hyenas— __To each according to its needs, In Nature’s sprawling tawny-grass arenas. __The residue will nourish...

‘The Leper’: A Poem by Brian Yapko

The Society
August 18, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
51 Comments
. The Leper “When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, 'Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.' Jesus reached out...

‘The Wise Farmer’: A Poem from the Zen Parable, by Joshua C. Frank

The Society
August 16, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
20 Comments
. The Wise Farmer ---based on a Zen parable attributed to Alan Watts A farmer in China was left by his horse. He took up his plow and continued his course, And right after sunset, he finished his labors. When...

‘It Won’t Happen Here’ and Other Poems by Russel Winick

The Society
August 15, 2024
Culture, Poetry
15 Comments
. It Won’t Happen Here There were anti-Semites in our Congress, And still they said:  “It will not happen here.” Anti-Jewish protests broke out often, And still they said:  “It will not happen...

‘Free Verse as Nightmare Surrealism’: A Poem by Phillip Whidden

The Society
August 13, 2024
Culture, Poetry
26 Comments
. Free Verse as Nightmare Surrealism “I thirst for new songs without moons or irises, and without loves that have died.”  ---Lorca, New Songs (Cantos Nuevos) Who doesn’t?  But the problem is the...

‘Prodigious Dreams’ and Other Poetry by Kevin Farnham

The Society
August 12, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
6 Comments
. Prodigious Dreams Let not these Autumn notes lead you amiss. Autumn, indeed, is come (the signs are all around). This aging empire wanes, its fall accelerates: decay effects abyss. Our Winter now approaches,...

A Poem on Children Stabbings and Free Speech in the UK, by Susan Jarvis Bryant

The Society
August 11, 2024
Culture, Poetry
34 Comments
. Knock, Knock! ---free speech in the UK is dead Three more children stabbed---a country mourning The murdering of minors by the score. Opine online---ignore the hate-speech warning--- And fascist fuzz will...

Poems from Foundations of the Cross by Cynthia Erlandson

The Society
August 10, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
18 Comments
. But Who Am I? “But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’” ---Exodus 3: 11 God, did I hear you right?  Did you tell...

‘Sicilian Samurai’: A Poem on Giovanni Battista Sidotti, by Margaret Coats

The Society
August 10, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
36 Comments
. Sicilian Samurai circa 1700 He made a startling, militant request To journey to Japan—strange land long closed To foreign influence. The Pope’s behest Asked that authorities be unopposed— But how to...

‘Chasing Time’ and Other Poetry by Warren Bonham

The Society
August 8, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
7 Comments
. Chasing Time  "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some...

‘Boycott the Bullies’: A Poem for the Real Women Boxers, by Susan Jarvis Bryant

The Society
August 4, 2024
Culture, Pantoum, Poetry
37 Comments
. Boycott the Bullies ---a pantoum for the real women boxers at the Paris Olympics Don’t let a slappy chap punch out your lights. Refuse the bruise of hairy rounds with guys. It’s time to block woke...

A Poem on ‘The 2024 Olympics’ and Its Opening, by Cheryl Corey

The Society
August 3, 2024
Art, Culture, Poetry
20 Comments
. The 2024 Olympics . I. Excusez-moi, s’il vous plait, But having seen your lewd display, I’ve chosen not to watch your Games; Despite too late, half-hearted claims Attempting to equivocate, As if to...

A Poem on Jewelweed, by Gigi Ryan

The Society
August 2, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
12 Comments
. In the Shade There Meekly Grows a Plant urushiol (yoo-roo-shee-awl) is the name of the compound in poison ivy that causes allergic reactions. In the shade there meekly grows a plant With roots that hold on...
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  1. Susan Jarvis Bryant on ‘Family Values’: Four Poems by Susan Jarvis BryantJune 6, 2025

    I'm glad you had fun reading these, Roy. Thank you! "There's nowt as queer as folk" as they say up…

  2. Michael Vanyukov on ‘Supernova’: A Poem on Ben Shimoni and Other Poetry by Margaret CoatsJune 6, 2025

    These read like a documentary enhanced by what poetry affords you, Margaret, so well. Thank you very much for writing…

  3. Michael Vanyukov on ‘Family Values’: Four Poems by Susan Jarvis BryantJune 6, 2025

    What a pleasurable sunny read! Poetry is alive!

  4. jd on ‘On Twenty Years of YouTube’: A Poem by Paul A. FreemanJune 6, 2025

    I am grateful for its presence. Somehow, I'm able to find many excellent movies generously provided for free not to…

  5. jd on ‘Family Values’: Four Poems by Susan Jarvis BryantJune 6, 2025

    Ditto to all said above including the choice of graphic. Expertly penned as always, Susan. Thank you.

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