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      The Society
      December 25, 2021
      Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Terza Rima, Villanelle
      28 Comments
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      9
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      Humor, Poetry, Poetry Contests, Riddles
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Poetry

‘Nordic Memories’: A Poem by Dan Tuton

The Society
December 30, 2024
Culture, Poetry
13 Comments
. Nordic Memories They rise with the dawn of fashion Their eyes for new booty are keen, To ride the tide of nostalgia For something that they’ve never seen. Their patrons board the longship, Geared up for...

‘Lines Written in a Time of Illness’ and Other Poetry by A.J. Illingworth

The Society
December 29, 2024
Beauty, Poetry
4 Comments
. Lines Written in a Time of Illness My body is weak, and this reflects my soul,Who baser pleasures is obsessed to know;For the mind, of late, has been filled with resentmentAnd not contented by mere...

‘The Matters of Life’: A Poem by Margaret Brinton

The Society
December 29, 2024
Beauty, Poetry
12 Comments
. The Matters of Life With furrowed brow she knits away her troubles,Her wrinkled face so tight and drawn with age.The skeins of yarn unwind in rapid motionAs woes translate to tight and tighter gauge. Tho...

‘Help! I Can’t Stop Speaking in Iambic!’: A Poem by Cynthia Erlandson

The Society
December 28, 2024
Humor, Poetry
33 Comments
. Help! I Can’t Stop Speaking in Iambic! Help! I can’t stop speaking in iambic Pentameter! No matter what I say, Somehow it keeps on coming out that way. It’s not the first time. Could it be a...

‘On Learning of a Lover’s Death’ and Other Poetry by Cheryl Corey

The Society
December 28, 2024
Beauty, Ekphrastic, Poetry
18 Comments
. On Learning of a Lover’s Death Your parting words were not exactly nice, But when I read the news that you had died, At least for old times’ sake, I should have cried. I haven’t—yet. Is that a crime?...

‘The Blank-Page Stage’ and Other Poetry by Warren Bonham

The Society
December 27, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
18 Comments
. The Blank-Page Stage I once embraced the blank-page stage, when words would somehow always rhyme, but now my brain shows signs of age, and operates on its own time. So now, I dread the clean-slate...

‘Catching Up’ and Other New Year’s Poetry by C.B. Anderson

The Society
December 27, 2024
Culture, Poetry
18 Comments
. Catching Up An hour passes in a second. A month goes by in just an hour. The rosy future that once beckoned Has now become a withered flower. Complaints about the pace of time Do nothing to arrest its...

‘Twas the Day After Christmas’ by Roy E. Peterson

The Society
December 26, 2024
Poetry, Satire
10 Comments
. 'Twas the Day After Christmas ‘Twas the day after Christmas. Mom went to the store To return all her presents and gift herself more. The stockings still hung on the big mantle there, While she was out...

‘Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming’: A Musical Arrangement by James A. Tweedie

The Society
December 26, 2024
Music, Poetry
5 Comments
. Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming Every year I either compose new music for Christmas or create a new arrangement of a familiar carol. This year I have chosen, “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming,” a hymn which...

‘Ode to a Christmas Pudding’: A Poem by Susan Jarvis Bryant

The Society
December 25, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
32 Comments
. Ode to a Christmas Pudding O fragrant orb of dark and luscious depths Made with magic conjured every year By souls who know the spell---those tricky steps That summon plummy culinary cheer, You started as a...

‘Stars Voluble’: A Christmas Poem by Margaret Coats

The Society
December 25, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
32 Comments
. Stars Voluble Profound and lightless silent night _Lay still with curtains closed. Into unspeaking dark the Word Descended from his regal throne And rose from Israel below, _A supernova blaze Encircling...

‘Christmas in Florida’: A Poem by Brian Yapko

The Society
December 25, 2024
Culture, Humor, Poetry
22 Comments
. Christmas in Florida I watched him pass! St. Nick himself---Kris Kringle,Who hails from Buffalo, not the North Pole.He waved; I heard bells on his golf-cart jingleAs he sang karaoke rock and roll. That’s...

‘A Present Unclaimed’: A Christmas Poem by James A. Tweedie

The Society
December 25, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
11 Comments
. A Present Unclaimed Under the tree is a present unclaimed Paper and ribbon and bows, good to go. Who is it for? “Who it’s from” isn’t named. Where is the tag? No one here seems to know! “Maybe,”...

A Yuletide Medley Performed for Christmas Day by Poet Jeff Eardley

The Society
December 24, 2024
Music, Poetry
10 Comments
. Professional musician and SCP poet Jeff Eardley performs a medley of Christmas songs on his guitar. Merry Christmas from the Society of Classical Poets! . . Jeff Eardley lives in the heart of England...

‘Make Room, He’ll Come In’: A Poem by Warren Bonham

The Society
December 24, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
4 Comments
. Make Room, He’ll Come In Have you spent much time wandering, feeling distressed,and upon your arrival, found no place to rest?You can’t possibly know what it’s like till you’ve beenwhere you longed...

‘Santa Claus Has Passed Away’: A Christmas Poem by Jeffrey Essmann

The Society
December 24, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
7 Comments
. Santa Claus Has Passed Away As is their custom every year, the Men’s Club promptly after class had half the hallway commandeered and cheerfully began to pass out toys and games as grade by grade the...

‘Love Broke Through Time’: A Poem by Gigi Ryan

The Society
December 24, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
7 Comments
. Love Broke Through Time On the first Christmas night Love broke through time With pain to Mary and her child whose bed Was straw with ox and ass in nearby stalls. Love arrived in suffering and shame. All...

‘A Remarkable Day’: A Christmas Poem by Shamik Banerjee

The Society
December 24, 2024
Culture, Ekphrastic, Poetry
3 Comments
. A Remarkable Day "He's God in human form!" whispers the crowd In motley clothes and groups of twos and threes Beneath the bulky, partly-aqua sky. As nighttime slowly drops, birds meet the breeze And soar...

‘A Christmas Eve Sestina’ by Mary Gardner

The Society
December 24, 2024
Beauty, Poetry, Sestina
8 Comments
. A Christmas Eve Sestina “He who sings prays twice.” ---Saint Augustine The vagabond had too much Christmas cheer. He doesn’t notice that the air is cold Although his clothes are unseasonably light. A...

Jupiter Hammon’s Christmas Poem: An Essay by Michael Curtis

The Society
December 23, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Essays, Poetry
6 Comments
. Jupiter Hammon’s Christmas Poem by Michael Curtis 1761 was a slow, yet interesting year for poetry. The imposter Macpherson announced the discovery of Ossian’s Gaelic Epic and the collected works of the...

‘Home for Christmas’: A Poem by Martin Rizley

The Society
December 23, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
12 Comments
. Home for Christmas Beneath the sinking skies I ride, a traveler on his way,                     .Through drizzling mist and fading light until the end of day.As skies grow dim and gray clouds...

A Christmastime Poem by Gigi Ryan, Sung to the Tune of ‘Sterling’

The Society
December 23, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry
16 Comments
. The Story the Stars are Retelling ---to the tune of 'Sterling' When burdens are heavy and Christmas is near And faraway star luster barely appears, Tomorrow’s prediction of rain with a chill Won’t drown...

‘The Interview’ and Other Poetry by Brian Yapko

The Society
December 22, 2024
Culture, Poetry, Satire
20 Comments
. The Interview “Respect my grammar rules or else,” K said, “This interview will be extremely short. Or better yet, I’ll summon you to court.” My pulse raced. I could feel my face turn red. K said,...

Three Christmas Sonnets by Phillip Whidden

The Society
December 22, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
10 Comments
. Dim and Not He carries one white candle in the space Beneath cathedral vaults. He has to hold His hand in front of it so just a trace Of light escapes. The candle’s flame shines gold Yet it is blocked by...
poem/essmann/beauty

‘Be Still and Know . . .’: A Poem by Peter Venable

The Society
December 21, 2024
Beauty, Poetry
4 Comments
. Be Still and Know . . . Gulls brawl over a chip and squawk. __Waves wash shell shards on sand. On the sea shore, a morning walk. __I wade through tidal strands. Colossal clouds roll overhead. __A pelican...

‘Full Circle’: A Poem by Dennis McSweeney

The Society
December 21, 2024
Culture, Poetry, Science
7 Comments
. Full Circle From age to age how long the fray’s been fought Tween those who seek the Truth on sacred ground And those who wish to harness mankind’s thought To what is measured, tested, proved, and...

‘Song of the Sophist’ and Other Poems by Susan Jarvis Bryant

The Society
December 20, 2024
Pantoum, Poetry, Rondeau, Satire
37 Comments
. Song of the Sophist a pantoum I tiptoe past all that is true--- The facts never matter to me. My aim is to wheedle and woo. I peddle malarkey with glee. The facts never matter to me. I fib as I fox and...

‘The Most Impactful Hate’ and Other Poems by Russel Winick

The Society
December 20, 2024
Culture, Poetry
12 Comments
. The Most Impactful Hate It’s fun now to listen to every Trump haterWho tries to explain how a racist dictatorWas able to win with a new coalitionOf Blacks and Hispanics defying traditionPlus middle and...

‘Aubade: Composure’: A Poem by Steven Frattali

The Society
December 19, 2024
Beauty, Poetry
8 Comments
. Aubade: Composure The first light tints the eggshell walls From dimmest grey to violet, And light-spokes through the window’s shade Glance over eyes asleep as yet. But light is opening within The mind...

‘The Lonely Sailor’: A Poem by Thor Kangas

The Society
December 19, 2024
Beauty, Poetry
14 Comments
. The Lonely Sailor No sailor is so lonely __As one who rows alone Across the vast and battered seas __Along the cliffs of stone. He has no one to read the chart __No one to man the oar No one to keep the...

A’sailin’: A Poem by Cynthia Bernard

The Society
December 18, 2024
Beauty, Poetry
20 Comments
. A’sailin’ ‘Twould seem quite true I never was __the captain of this ship, though in my youth I did believe __in charting my own trip. But Master Time has made it clear __how lowly is my rank. I’ve...

‘Come, Spring’: A Poem by Janice Canerdy

The Society
December 18, 2024
Beauty, Poetry
9 Comments
. Come, Spring When by the winter cold we’re most oppressed, mere thoughts of spring’s arrival make us smile. We dream of earth in vivid colors dressed, blue skies, sunshine, birds trilling tunes with...

‘The Wreath’ and Other Poetry by Cheryl Corey

The Society
December 17, 2024
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
15 Comments
. The Wreath Circle of green— What does it mean? Never ending, Ever bending. It’s hope that’s vernal And faith that’s welling For God in-dwelling And life eternal. . Pruning Trees   Now that all...

‘Intersubjective Bootstrap’: A Poem by Josh Mitteldorf

The Society
December 17, 2024
Culture, Poetry
10 Comments
. Intersubjective Bootstrap If all life is a dream, is it your dream or mine? __And why should our two worlds agree? An answer avails if we’re both The Divine, __At our source, I am you and you’re...

‘Journalists Live in a Fantasy World’: A Poem by Roy E. Peterson

The Society
December 16, 2024
Poetry, Satire
14 Comments
. Journalists Live in a Fantasy World If you like fiction, then turn on the news. You will hear journalists giving their views. Facts are conveniently pushed to the side; Truth becomes something that they may...

‘Let’s Just Say’: A Poem by Mark Stellinga

The Society
December 15, 2024
Culture, Poetry
18 Comments
. Let’s Just Say A friend of ours was asked by some reporter how he viewed the war his only son had gone to fight in and had died. His face went limp, his breathing paused his eyes welled up with tears, and...
poetry/mantyk/shakespeare

‘Imitating Shakespeare’s Sonnet 107’ by James Sale

The Society
December 15, 2024
Love Poems, Poetry, Shakespeare
18 Comments
. Imitating Shakespeare’s Sonnet 107 . Sonnet 107 __by William Shakespeare Not mine own fears, nor the prophetic soul Of the wide world dreaming on things to come, Can yet the lease of my true love...

‘A House in Winter’ and Other Poems by Adam Sedia

The Society
December 15, 2024
Beauty, Poetry
17 Comments
. A House in Winter Preternaturally silent, still.The omnipresent biting chill, And deepest, darkest night surround.The snow’s soft crunch, the only sound; Fierce, unrelenting wind gusts downFrom boreal...

‘A Simple Prayer’ and Other Poetry by Marc Gilbert

The Society
December 14, 2024
Beauty, Poetry
8 Comments
. A Simple Prayer Crown my head in gray, dear Lord, __And bless my tangled tongue. Return to me the mystery __I knew when I was young. Before the echoed scorn of cynics, __Before the sophist’s...

‘Sharpton’: A Poem by James A. Tweedie

The Society
December 14, 2024
Poetry, Satire
10 Comments
. Sharpton He talks his walk and walks his talk and then He walks his talk and talks his walk again. The walk he talks goes nowhere I can see. The talk he walks seems jabberwock to me. But everybody thinks...
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  1. Miguel Ángel Hervás on ‘From the Tower’ by Francisco de Quevedo, Translated by Elwin WirkalaJune 8, 2025

    This is great! Soy español y me interesa mucho cómo se traduce a nuestros clásicos al extranjero. Ha mantenido el…

  2. Susan Jarvis Bryant on ‘Family Values’: Four Poems by Susan Jarvis BryantJune 8, 2025

    Yael, thank you most kindly for your sagacious comment. Choosing to relate to the challenges life presents with humor and…

  3. Susan Jarvis Bryant on ‘Roads of Potter County’: A Poem by Frank RableJune 8, 2025

    Frank, I just love this mellifluous marvel - especially the lines: "I rode and mowed without a pain, / Across…

  4. Frank Rable on ‘Roads of Potter County’: A Poem by Frank RableJune 8, 2025

    Not Gibby's? Not Dairy Delite? DQ instead? You should go back, it's not too late. Now let me tell you…

  5. Yael on ‘Family Values’: Four Poems by Susan Jarvis BryantJune 8, 2025

    Lol, quite the family gathering you so artfully described! We don't get to choose family, but we do get to…

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