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      Beauty, Culture, Deconstructing Communism, Poetry
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Short Stories

Home
Short Stories

What Happened to Narrative Poetry?—An Opinion Piece by James A. Tweedie

The Society
March 5, 2020
Culture, Epic, Essays, Poetry, Short Stories
24 Comments
This isn’t so much an essay as it is an opinion piece where I shoot off a few words in praise of narrative poetry or, in other words, poetry that tells a story. From Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, to...

‘Sunday Visitors – Parts 1 & 2’ by Derek Bland

The Society
February 6, 2020
Beauty, Poetry, Short Stories
6 Comments
  Part 1 I wished I’d had a shotgun as I looked out of me window To level at the woman and the lad. They’re strolling up the dirt track of me driveway, jumpin’ Nora, A Sunday morning. God, it...

‘The Magic Lamp of Al-Jafar: A Terza Rima’ by James A. Tweedie

The Society
February 4, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Short Stories
12 Comments
  While walking through the Grand Bazaar In Istanbul, I came upon A man whose name was Al-Jafar. His friendly face was thin and drawn, A misbaha* was in one hand. And in the other, a...

‘The Constant Truth’ by Tod Benjamin

The Society
October 28, 2019
Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Short Stories
10 Comments
  The Constant Truth A Reflection on the Times of My Life   I. The Old Days A sheep filled meadow lay adjacent to our street Where from March throughout spring one could hear the lambs...

‘The Last Evening in Eden’ by Martin Rizley

The Society
October 8, 2019
Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Short Stories
18 Comments
  This is an abridged version of the original. A reading of the original can be found here. A chilling breeze blew through the trees, which filtered beams of light That danced in play as dying day gave...

‘Romantic Triangle, With An Ice-Pick’ by Joseph S. Salemi

The Society
September 23, 2019
Culture, Deconstructing Communism, Humor, Poetry, Short Stories
16 Comments
In 1937, the renegade Communist Leon Trotsky (real name: Lev Bronstein) came to Mexico with his family and took up residence with the painter Diego Rivera and his wife Frida Kahlo. An affair developed between...

‘The Miller’s Daughter’ by Bob McAfee

The Society
September 15, 2019
Beauty, Poetry, Short Stories
3 Comments
inspired by “The Lady of Shalott” by Tennyson Part I The forests loom at Nottinghamshire. The river oaks still aiming higher, Surround the field where from the byre The cattle trample through the...

A Ballad for College-bound Students, by Ron L. Hodges

The Society
June 6, 2019
Culture, Deconstructing Communism, Poetry, Short Stories
2 Comments
Icarus’ Fall at College   Prologue Dear reader, surely, you must think, __“What could be taught to us That we haven’t already learned __Of mythic Icarus? “His plunge is clearly a...

Selected Poems from ‘Journey to the East’ by Evan Mantyk

The Society
May 13, 2019
Beauty, Children's, Classical Literature, Culture, Humor, Poetry, Short Stories
10 Comments
A Journey to the East by Evan Mantyk is a historical and poetical fairytale adventure styled after Journey to the West, by Ming Dynasty writer Wu Cheng’en. The first nine chapters of the former may be read...

‘Centauromachy’ by Nathaniel Todd McKee

The Society
May 4, 2019
Culture, Poetry, Short Stories
15 Comments
  This poem recounts the famous mythical battle, “Centauromachy.” It unfolds in the ancient home of the Lapiths in the region of Thessaly, Greece, a generation or two before the Trojan War. King...

‘The Ballad of Mulan’: A Rhyming Translation

The Society
September 23, 2018
Culture, Poetry, Short Stories, Translation
26 Comments
Translation by Evan Mantyk "The Ballad of Mulan" was written in the sixth century about a legendary warrior, Hua Mulan, who lived during China’s Northern and Southern dynasties period (420–589...

‘Canto 3’ by James Sale

The Society
August 30, 2018
Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Short Stories
19 Comments
Canto 3 is the third canto in the sequence of the English Cantos, the first two of which are available to read on the SCP website. James Sale is attempting in this poem to emulate Dante, and this begins,...

‘Out on a Limb’ by David Watt

The Society
May 18, 2018
Humor, Poetry, Short Stories
17 Comments
  In an old timber town lived a man of renown; With a chainsaw he couldn’t be beat, And as quick as you’d say “What’s for dinner today?” Limbs would fall, cut precise and complete; And...

‘The Old Buzzard’ by Bruce Wren

The Society
May 2, 2018
Humor, Poetry, Short Stories
14 Comments
On looking into the mirror one afternoon An old buzzard once came and he knocked on my heart, And politely he asked to come in for a while. He had said he was looking for carrion to eat, “Oh no...

‘Fear’ and Other Poetry by Amy Foreman

The Society
April 20, 2018
Culture, Poetry, Short Stories
31 Comments
Fear A ballad I said to Fear, “Away from here!” And, softly, he withdrew. But, lost in thought, I plain forgot To bar the door anew. So Faith and I sat down to try And chat the night away. But...

‘Crime of Youth’ by David Watt

The Society
April 6, 2018
Humor, Poetry, Short Stories
10 Comments
  I knew her when I could be called a youth And life had not uncovered certain truths Apparent to detectives, super-sleuths; Such as ‘Best clues are found within untruth.’ For boasting of a...

‘A Rounded Stone’ by Benjamin Daniel Lukey

The Society
April 3, 2018
Beauty, Poetry, Readings, Short Stories
5 Comments
    He pressed a rounded stone into my hand. He said, "Take care of this," and turned away To tend to things we needed for our trip: The boats, the lines, the paddles, and the...

‘Longinus, Spearman’ by Joseph S. Salemi

The Society
March 30, 2018
Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Short Stories
18 Comments
Miles hastatus (spearman) of the Legio Decima Fretensis, stationed in Roman Judaea, A.D. 33 Vere, filius Dei erat iste. —Roman centurion at the crucifixion, noted in Matthew 27:54. They say he was the...

‘The Ride of Godiva’ by David E. Müller

The Society
March 27, 2018
Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Short Stories
6 Comments
About the Lady Godiva and her famed naked ride through Coventry Once in the town of Coventry, Leofric Earl had held decree; Too great the tax that he appealed, Greater than his folk could yield. They...

‘ Which Is the Grandest Name of All?’ and Other Poetry by Ted Hayes

The Society
February 20, 2018
Beauty, Culture, Human Rights in China, Humor, Poetry, Short Stories
7 Comments
Which Is the Grandest Name of All? Which is the grandest name of all? Churchill, Churchill, Churchill! Winter sere or crimson fall Churchill, Churchill, Churchill! Who held bold freedom’s flag so...

‘Ballade on the Man Who Could Have Killed George Washington’ by Ron L. Hodges

The Society
February 19, 2018
Culture, Poetry, Short Stories
8 Comments
“But it was not pleasant to fire at the back of an unoffending individual…so I let him alone.” —Major Patrick Ferguson, British Expeditionary Force What if it had been a different man Scouting along...

The Power of Poetry: A Traditional Chinese Story

The Society
February 15, 2018
Culture, Short Stories, Translation
6 Comments
Fenghan Gao was an outstanding artist of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD). He had profound wisdom and was multi-talented; he was good at writing poems and good at painting, especially landscapes and flowers. He...

‘Flower of Choice’ and Other Poetry by David Watt

The Society
February 7, 2018
Beauty, Culture, Humor, Poetry, Short Stories
16 Comments
Flower of Choice On native Australian flowers The wattle bears her gold in early spring As luminescent beads on woody strings, Spreading perfume ‘til the mild air brings Sweetness deep to every living...

‘The Exclusive Inclusive’ and Other Poetry by Ron L. Hodges

The Society
January 3, 2018
Deconstructing Communism, Humor, Poetry, Short Stories
4 Comments
  The Exclusive Inclusive I heard about a tender troop, Whose commission was to give Love like a ministry serves soup; They seemed, oh, so inclusive. This sounded like the group for me; Yes, I...

‘Cicada and Mantis’ and Other Poetry by Ron L. Hodges

The Society
September 3, 2017
Beauty, Culture, Humor, Poetry, Short Stories
2 Comments
Cicada and Mantis You are known to us by your choral song, The clicks and buzzes of an insect throng. Hidden in darkness, a collective hum Consumes attention like a temple gong. You are not known to...

‘The Journal’ and Other Poetry by Amy Foreman

The Society
August 13, 2017
Beauty, Deconstructing Communism, Poetry, Short Stories
12 Comments
The Journal It sat upon his bedside table, closed, And waiting to keep record of each day: The silent pages still and unexposed, A diary to come, his dossier. He saw it every evening as he bent To turn...

‘Windmill Song’ and Other Poetry by Don Shook

The Society
August 7, 2017
Beauty, Humor, Poetry, Short Stories
8 Comments
  Windmill Song Alone it shudders on a hill, Defiant in the wind. A strong south gale could topple it, A hard rain do it in. Too many years its silver blades Whirled in the morning breeze While...

‘I Think I Like You Better Now’ and Other Poetry by Amy Foreman

The Society
June 10, 2017
Beauty, Poetry, Short Stories
27 Comments
I Think I Like You Better Now I think I like you better now; it’s been a little while Since first you took my breath away with just a passing smile. When love was fresh and new and fast, before life took...

An Alternative Ending to Romeo and Juliet Part II by Reid McGrath

The Society
June 2, 2017
Classical Literature, Culture, For Educators, Humor, Poetry, Short Stories
6 Comments
Click here to read Part I. Montague (That afternoon, on the outskirts of Verona, at a Club, getting in an afternoon’s worth of pheasant shooting, having needed to get out of town and “think about...

‘Justice, Equity and Compassion in Human Relations’ and Other Poetry by G.M.H. Thompson

The Society
May 27, 2017
Beauty, Humor, Poetry, Short Stories
6 Comments
  Justice,  Equity  and  Compassion  in  Human  Relations In realms of Humankind’s relations, Justice rules as queen & from her crown, the powers Compassion & Equity descend to Earth...

‘Prelude to the Gettysburg Address’ by Arthur Mortensen

The Society
April 17, 2017
Culture, Poetry, Short Stories
3 Comments
Posting atop the hill beyond the field in rain so thick he barely saw the bodies, the General tilted back his hat and sat, shaking his head. His horse shifted a foot and whinnied, a grazing wound across...

‘All the Poets Who Rhymed Are Dead’ (A Short Story)

The Society
March 10, 2017
Humor, Poetry, Short Stories
3 Comments
By Dona Fox It was Friday night. I fought my way across the campus through special effects left over from a Grade-B horror movie. Lightning shattered the sky as I entered the building. Thunder rumbled as I...

‘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...

‘Buyer’s Remorse’ and Other Poetry by Lorna Davis

The Society
January 22, 2017
Human Rights in China, Poetry, Short Stories
10 Comments
Buyer’s Remorse How long are we allowed to close our eyes To who produces what our money buys? How can it be that goods made by a slave Are justified by how much cash we save? The cargo ships that...

‘Wanderer’s Retreat’ and Other Poetry by Ron L. Hodges

The Society
April 1, 2015
Culture, Humor, Poetry, Short Stories
2 Comments
Wanderer's Retreat I Across the dive bar floor strode a figure, Tall but slightly slouching, wearing a cloak. His facial features, save nose and chin, were Submerged in hooded shadow as he...

Short Story: ‘The Tin Shant Social Collective’ by Neal Dachstadter

The Society
August 2, 2014
Humor, Short Stories
8 Comments
I. The Tin Shant on the hill in Martinique is stoutly situated, unique in design, and built half a century ago.  Though stucco and cinderblock, we call it the Tin Shant due to a fine-sounding tap on the...




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Resources

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       4. Poetry and Writing Contests

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       6. Poems by High School Students

       7. What Is Poetry?

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