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      'Late Bloomers': A Late Summer Poem by Cynthia Erlandson

      The Society
      September 2, 2023
      Beauty, Poetry
      25 Comments
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      1
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      9
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      From the Society, Poetry, Poetry Contests, Translation
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On Seasonal Affective Disorder: ‘October Leaves’ by Richard Lackman

The Society
October 23, 2021
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
8 Comments
. As I look out upon October leaves And brown grass weathered by the autumn sun, I see the shafts of light a bare branch cleaves And so much of creation now undone. I feel the sorrow of a world defeated And...

‘By Waterloo Station’ by Paul A. Freeman

The Society
October 23, 2021
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
21 Comments
. By Waterloo Station I sat down and thought (on a bench not too far from the turbulent stream) of Edwardian London’s once dominant port, and of trains puffing by, empowered by steam. The air was polluted...

‘Lady Macbeth’s Regret’ and Other Poetry by Susan Jarvis Bryant

The Society
October 22, 2021
Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Shakespeare
44 Comments
. Lady Macbeth’s Regret Soft hands that led her smitten lord to bedInflamed the flare and thrust of his desire.Cool hands that won his trust and soothed his dread,Now sting and burn in licks of Hades’...

‘The Twilight’s Last Gleaming?’ and Other Poetry by Cynthia Erlandson

The Society
October 21, 2021
Culture, Poetry
20 Comments
. The Twilight’s Last Gleaming? The waning moon is framed by crippled branches; One long white stripe of cloud-chalk intersects Another: an immense, prophetic X. The skyline’s red is flagging; in the...

‘Perfect Apples’ and Other Autumn Poems, by C.B. Anderson

The Society
October 20, 2021
Beauty, Culture, Humor, Poetry
15 Comments
. Perfect Apples The Law of Perfect Apples says it all:A malic acid tang pervades the crispAnd shocking mouth appeal that tells you fallIs under way.  If you should catch a wisp Of summer turning winter in...

‘I Took a Notion’ (A Man’s View and Then a Woman’s), by Norma Pain

The Society
October 20, 2021
Culture, Humor, Poetry
23 Comments
. I Took a Notion (A Man’s View) I took a notion once in life, To find myself a willing wife. A wife who’d cook and clean and mend And to my every need attend. I had a momentary lapse Within my mind that...

‘Ballade for His Lady Deceased’ by Charles d’Orléans, translated by Margaret Coats

The Society
October 19, 2021
Beauty, Love Poems, Poetry, Translation
26 Comments
. Ballade for His Lady Deceased by Charles d’Orléans (1394–1465) Alas, Death, who made you so bold? My noble princess you possess; My life and comfort you enfold, My pleasure, wealth, and...

‘Gods Having Too Much Fun’ by Cheryl Corey

The Society
October 19, 2021
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
12 Comments
. When the goddesses came by the light of the dawn, They were greeted with music, and what did they see, But a flute that was pressed to the lips of a Faun As he leaned up against a deciduous tree; As the...

‘The Battle of Glorieta Pass’ by Brian Yapko

The Society
October 18, 2021
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
19 Comments
. I’m old, my young ones. Soon I’ll have to leave. But ere we part I have just one tale more To share---a tale of valor. Never grieve A grandpa who helped win the Civil War! Back then I was a farmer,...

‘Autumn’ by Joe Tessitore

The Society
October 18, 2021
Beauty, Poetry
17 Comments
. Autumn You’ll notice, ‘round this time of year, That to the flowers they hold dear, The bees will cling the whole night through--- And if you loved them, wouldn’t you? So what if evening’s deadly...

‘History’s Tide’ by Clara Huang

The Society
October 18, 2021
Beauty, Culture, Deconstructing Communism, High School Submissions, Poetry
5 Comments
. after the Epoch Times series' How the Specter of Communism Is Ruling the World History’s tide brought us forth to this day, A dark, sullen mist hanging low on display, The Communist Specter’s tail...

A Reading of ‘Endless Bloom’ by Angel L. Villanueva

The Society
October 17, 2021
Beauty, Love Poems, Poetry, Readings, Video
15 Comments
. https://youtu.be/eRp7_tqfxTs On Rumble here: https://rumble.com/vnvehl-a-poem-for-aging-beauties-endless-bloom-society-of-classical-poets.html?mref=iosaf&mc=6b8az Poet: Angel L. Villanueva of...

‘Prince Albert in a Can’ and Other Poetry by James A. Tweedie

The Society
October 17, 2021
Beauty, Covid-19, Culture, Humor, Poetry
23 Comments
. Prince Albert in a Can What can I say? I wore a mask and did The social distance thing, got Pfizer-vaxxed And tested negative five times (I kid You not!), did online research, asked A lot of questions,...

‘Nature Is Bountiful’ by Roy E. Peterson

The Society
October 16, 2021
Beauty, Poetry, The Environment
17 Comments
. Nature is bountiful giving to man All that we require, however She can; Food for the table and meds for the sick; Gas for the car that can make our lives quick; The air that we breathe and the water we...

Three Poems on Having COVID-19, by Susan Jarvis Bryant

The Society
October 15, 2021
Covid-19, Culture, Pantoum, Poetry, Villanelle
48 Comments
. A Pox Upon My House a pantoum I heard the hiss of sickness as my mind cracked. I scoured and bleached and reached new hygiene heights. I locked down, muzzled up and shunned all contact--- Its moans and...

‘Pareidolia’ by Beverly Stock

The Society
October 15, 2021
Humor, Poetry
26 Comments
. Pareidolia: The science of seeing faces in everyday objects. Apophenia: The human tendency to seek patterns in random information. Long-nosed creature In my tile, As I shower All the while, Nose that’s...

‘It’s No Surprise’ by Russel Winick

The Society
October 14, 2021
Culture, Poetry
9 Comments
. When you see Inflation rise It’s no surprise... When you see All the goods In short supplies, Work disincentivized, It’s no surprise... When you see An open border, Law and order In demise, It’s no...
poem/graham/culture

‘From Darkest Antiquity’ by Martin Rizley

The Society
October 13, 2021
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
18 Comments
. FROM DARKEST ANTIQUITY . I. Ancient Ritual A thousand brown feet burn on sand In Pharaoh’s funeral caravan. By many a mirage they pass Of phantom palms and pools of glass. The princess moves as in a...

‘Alfred the Great’ and Other Limericks by Peter Hartley

The Society
October 12, 2021
Culture, Humor, Limerick, Poetry
25 Comments
. Alfred the Great Alfred the Great was a shy king Who found it not much to his liking __Making do with cornflakes __‘Cos he’d burned all the cakes While hiding his face from the Viking. __ Sweyn...

‘Geronimo the Alpaca – In Memoriam’ by Paul A. Freeman

The Society
October 11, 2021
Culture, Humor, Poetry, Rondeau
3 Comments
. read about Geronimo here Geronimo! That is my name; I’ve garnered international fame because I haven’t got TB, or have I? That’s the quandary which has become a running game. Results of skin tests say...

‘What Did Paul Revere?’ and Other Poetry by Joe Tessitore

The Society
October 10, 2021
Covid-19, Culture, Humor, Poetry
9 Comments
. What Did Paul Revere? Listen, my children, and shed a tear, Because everything that he held dear Did vanish in the blink of an eye And banished, those who dared to defy The Bill of Lies of the Reign of...

‘Whose Life Improved?’ by Michael Charles Maibach

The Society
October 10, 2021
Poetry
8 Comments
. What do you do? What mission’s yours? Come now, be true: Which soul now stirs? Who do you serve? Whose life improved? What cause advanced? What harms removed? What’s made better? What gifts...

‘Love Thy Neighbor’ and Other Poetry by C.B. Anderson

The Society
October 9, 2021
Beauty, Humor, Poetry
8 Comments
. . Love Thy Neighbor Make no excuseIf sheer abuseIs all you giveTo those who live Around you.  OwnThat you aloneMust bear the shameAnd take the blame For having doneTo anyoneThe slightest wrongThat all...

Three Sonnets on Contemporary Poetry, by Joseph S. Salemi

The Society
October 8, 2021
Culture, Humor, Poetry
25 Comments
. Prerequisites for a Trendy Poetry Reading Casual clothes, streetwise but debonair: Knit sweater, denims (slightly dishabille); A tentative, apologetic air, As if you told what you would most...

‘Discrimination by Who?’ and Other Poetry by Russel Winick

The Society
October 8, 2021
Culture, Humor, Poetry
9 Comments
. Discrimination by Who? YMCA basketball for 7-year olds It’s not the least bit personal, But kids who have no skills at all, Will often seem to find themselves Without much chance to touch the ball. Still...

‘Heartfelt Baptism’ and Other Poetry by Mike Ruskovich

The Society
October 7, 2021
Beauty, Poetry, Villanelle
3 Comments
. Heartfelt Baptism The morning rain that washes this day clean of yesterday's despair, of last night's sleep, and promises to turn the pastures green by falling gently, penetrating deep, is waking spring in...

‘Why Freedom Had to Die’: A Song by Jack DesBois

The Society
October 6, 2021
Covid-19, Humor, Music, Poetry, Song Lyrics, Video
3 Comments
. https://youtu.be/ErwnJkA4G68 inspired by a T-shirt at a Boston freedom rally You may be wondering why Freedom had to die. You may be wondering why Freedom had to die. If you were wondering why Freedom had...

‘Olio Bergoglio’ by Julian Woodruff

The Society
October 6, 2021
Culture, Poetry
11 Comments
. on “Pope Francis’ Plans will ‘destroy’ contemplative life: Franciscan friar” Here’s a question: What’s it to the pope how cloistered nuns hear Mass? Is there no hope, for those who love the...
poem/erlandson/culture

‘A Pantoum of Wager’ and Other Poetry by Leland James

The Society
October 6, 2021
Beauty, Culture, Pantoum, Poetry
1 Comment
. A Pantoum of Wager God said to Satan: Have you seen my servant Job, a man who fears God and shuns evil. Satan replied: You’ve bought him with blessings. Take them away and he’ll spit in your eye. God...

‘In Love’s Counting House’ by Charles d’Orléans (1394–1465), translated by Margaret Coats

The Society
October 5, 2021
Chant Royal, Humor, Love Poems, Poetry, Translation
19 Comments
. In Love's Counting House by Charles d’Orléans (1394–1465) One day I asked my heart to heed A claim for pay that I commended, And we in secret soon agreed That he would tell, for pains expended In risky...
poem/pain/love poems

‘Regret Hangs on Where Opportunity Once Existed’ by Richard Buchanan

The Society
October 4, 2021
Beauty, Humor, Love Poems, Poetry
17 Comments
. Regret Hangs on Where Opportunity Once Existed There are lots of sad words we lament with such ease,But there’s none any sadder and mournful than these:I regret my decisions, and wish to go backTo that Y...

‘How Long Will It Last?’: A Haiku and Other Poetry by Joe Tessitore

The Society
October 3, 2021
Beauty, Haiku and Senryu, Poetry
8 Comments
. Haiku How long will it last? Butterflies are in decline. Monarch flutters past. . . Nevermore (and Somewhat Less) Beside a little country church, The ravens on the gravestones perch To do, not what you...

Poetry Challenge: Write a Tetra-Pentameter Poem

The Society
October 2, 2021
Poetry, Poetry Challenge, Poetry Contests
54 Comments
Write a rhyming poem that works as either ten lines of tetrameter or eight lines of pentameter. Post it in the comments section below. This challenge comes from poet Paul Erlandson who learned of it some time...

‘The Shepherd Who Remained in the Fields’ and Other Poetry by Duane Caylor

The Society
October 2, 2021
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
8 Comments
. The Shepherd Who Remained in the Fields I had to stay behind to watch the flocks,a sentry against lions, bears, wolves, thieves,and other dangers slouching through the rocksand hills.  No matter how much...

White House Nursery Rhymes: ‘The Case Against Humpty Dumpty’ by Roy E. Peterson

The Society
October 1, 2021
Culture, Humor, Poetry
11 Comments
. August 31, 2021 Humpty Dumpty looked at the wallHumpty Dumpty said “This must fall.”Mexican cartels, yes rapists and thugs,Cross now with ease and sold Humpty his drugs. Humpty Dumpty left a long...

‘The Untrue Artist’ and Other Poetry by Reid McGrath

The Society
September 30, 2021
Beauty, Humor, Love Poems, Poetry
17 Comments
. The Untrue Artist “The true artist will let his wife starve, his children go barefoot, his mother drudge for his living at seventy, sooner than work at anything but his art” ---George Bernard Shaw I’ve...

‘SAT Tips’: A Poem for Students by Evan Mantyk

The Society
September 30, 2021
Culture, Education, Poetry
16 Comments
. SAT Tips Leave nothing blank, your chances are __As good as one in four; So when the end is not too far __Fill in! to raise your score. Jot notes down on the booklet page __or circle a key word. This helps...

Two Excerpts from Legends of Liberty, Chapter 5, by Andrew Benson Brown

The Society
September 29, 2021
Beauty, Culture, Epic, Poetry
11 Comments
. from Legends of Liberty Volume 1 . The Battle of Concord By that rude bridge men formed up double file,The company from Acton in the van.Their bayonets cast beams—reverse sundialsDissecting the empire’s...

On the Infrastructure Bill and Other Poetry by James A. Tweedie

The Society
September 28, 2021
Covid-19, Culture, Poetry
9 Comments
. . The Cost of Infrastructure Our property association has Three rich folks down the street. Their houses are Much bigger than the rest, with more pizzazz, More rooms, more gadgets, and more space by...
poem/anderson/love/valentines day

‘My Lips Have Kissed Her’ and Other Poetry by David D. Irby

The Society
September 28, 2021
Beauty, Love Poems, Poetry
10 Comments
. My Lips Have Kissed Her My lips have kissed her lips. Now I know why the timid sun arises with each day. I understand what moves the birds to fly and why the trees within the breezes sway. My lips have...
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  1. Roy Eugene Peterson on ‘Going Home to Campania’: A Poem by Patricia Rogers CrozierMay 16, 2025

    I can feel the sadness of you returning to your home and it spoke volumes to me. My childhood home…

  2. James Sale on ‘Pressed for Time’: A Poem by C.B. AndersonMay 16, 2025

    By Jesus, indeed, CB!!! Technically, you are correct: conundrum is the right word, though even better, I feel, is the…

  3. Mike Bryant on ‘If You Ever Break Down’ and Other Poetry by James A. TweedieMay 16, 2025

    Hey James, since you mentioned Tesla… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8UwMCeD6jU

  4. Paul A. Freeman on ‘The Water Closet’ and Other Bathroom Poetry by Cheryl CoreyMay 16, 2025

    To the nostalgic memory of the chamber pot! https://everydayfiction.com/an-elizabethan-tale-by-paul-a-freeman/

  5. James A. Tweedie on ‘If You Ever Break Down’ and Other Poetry by James A. TweedieMay 16, 2025

    Margaret, I agree that folks of all political stripes appreciate quality, and Tesla certainly fits that bill. My point was…

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