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    • 'Apollo in Retirement' by Margaret Coats

      The Society
      June 20, 2022
      Beauty, Culture, Poetry
      42 Comments
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    • ‘Attention Deficit Disorder’: A Poem by Reid McGrath

      The Society
      August 13, 2025
      3
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      The Society
      August 12, 2025
      11
    • ‘Mary’: A Sequel to the Poem ‘Martha’ by Scharlie Meeuws

      The Society
      August 12, 2025
      5
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      The Society
      August 11, 2025
      18
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      August 10, 2025
      6
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      The Society
      August 10, 2025
      18
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    • 2022 FIFA World Cup Poetry Challenge

      The Society
      December 9, 2022
      Poetry, Poetry Challenge, Poetry Contests
      21 Comments
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    • SCP Haiku Competition Featured on Radio New Zealand

      The Society
      July 26, 2025
      3
    • The Society of Classical Poets 2025 Haiku Competition

      The Society
      June 21, 2025
      548
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      The Society
      May 13, 2025
      1
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      The Society
      March 31, 2025
    • The Best Poems of 2024: Winners of SCP International Poetry Competition

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      February 1, 2025
      28
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      February 1, 2025
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  • ‘Attention Deficit Disorder’: A Poem by Reid McGrath

    The Society
    August 13, 2025
    Culture, Poetry
    3 Comments
  • ‘Mnemonic Device for Military Pro-Signs A-Z’: A Poem by Joseph S. Salemi

    The Society
    August 12, 2025
    Children's, Culture, Poetry
    11 Comments
  • ‘Mary’: A Sequel to the Poem ‘Martha’ by Scharlie Meeuws

    The Society
    August 12, 2025
    Beauty, Culture, Poetry
    5 Comments
  • ‘Sidewalk Sincerity’ and Other Poems by Russel Winick

    The Society
    August 11, 2025
    Culture, Poetry
    18 Comments
  • ‘Falun Dafa Parade’ and Other Poetry by Shindy Cai

    The Society
    August 10, 2025
    Beauty, Culture, Poetry
    6 Comments
  • ‘On Having a Little Girl’: A Poem by Jacob Schultz

    The Society
    August 10, 2025
    Beauty, Poetry
    18 Comments
  • ‘Snapshots of Oxford—July 20, 2025’: A Poem by Paul A. Freeman

    The Society
    August 9, 2025
    Beauty, Poetry
    11 Comments
  • ‘Autism Sonnet’: A Poem by Theresa Werba

    The Society
    August 9, 2025
    Culture, Poetry, Science
    17 Comments
  • ‘Spotlights and Shadows’: A Poem by Susan Jarvis Bryant

    The Society
    August 8, 2025
    Culture, Poetry, Satire
    31 Comments
  • ‘Mourning Doves’: A Poem by Paulette Calasibetta

    The Society
    August 8, 2025
    Beauty, Poetry
    13 Comments
  • ‘True Worth’: A Poem by Margaret Brinton

    The Society
    August 7, 2025
    Beauty, Poetry
    8 Comments
  • poem/bryant/shakespeare

    ‘Artificial Intelligence Versus Real Intelligence’: A Poem by Bruce Dale Wise

    The Society
    August 7, 2025
    Poetry
    6 Comments

‘Bayesian Hubris v. Mercy Seat 11A’: A Poem by James Sale

The Society
July 1, 2025
Beauty, Poetry
19 Comments
. Bayesian Hubris v. Mercy Seat 11A “Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, who miraculously walked away from the Ahmedabad disaster, in which more than 240...

‘Gorge’: A Poem on Fishing by Stephen M. Dickey

The Society
July 1, 2025
Poetry, Satire
10 Comments
. Gorge Millennia before the Bass Pro tours, Sonar fish finders and electric reels, Some unsung pioneer dreamed baits and lures, Felt in his blood...
poem/yapko/culture

‘On the Existence of Two Genders’: A Poem by Brian Yapko

The Society
June 30, 2025
Culture, Poetry
33 Comments
. On the Existence of Two Genders Note: This poem is written in response to the trans-driven push to promulgate the idea that gender is either...

‘Therapy’: A Poem by Mary Jane Myers

The Society
June 30, 2025
Culture, Humor, Poetry
22 Comments
. Therapy ---After "Help! I Can’t Stop Speaking in Iambic!" by Cynthia Erlandson Help! I can’t stop writing psychobabble!No matter what I pen, it...

‘Every Square Inch’: A Poem by Frank Rable

The Society
June 29, 2025
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
12 Comments
. Every Square Inch Her every square inch, her breath, and her voice, In all this and more my soul can rejoice. The beat from her heart, the wink...

Two Poems on Cardinals, by T.M. Moore

The Society
June 29, 2025
Beauty, Love Poems, Poetry
12 Comments
. Cardinals The cardinal is my favorite bird.They mate for life, or so I’ve heard.You hear them sing antiphonally—it’s like a game they play,...

Report on Results of the SCP Survey of Poets

The Society
June 28, 2025
From the Society, Poetry
13 Comments
. Report on Results of the SCP Survey of Poets by Roy E. Peterson and Evan Mantyk The survey had 60 respondents, about 1/3rd of them were SCP...

SCP Poetry Competition Winners’ Symposium—You’re Invited! (Updated with Link)

The Society
June 28, 2025
From the Society, Poetry, Readings, Symposium
3 Comments
. The SCP Poetry Competition Winners’ Symposium Join the Symposium...

‘Rolling the Dice’: A Poem by Warren Bonham

The Society
June 28, 2025
Culture, Poetry
16 Comments
. Rolling the Dice “Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the Universe exists, why we exist.”...
poem/bonham/culture

‘A Whale Is a Whale’: A Poem After Ogden Nash, by Jonathan Bear

The Society
June 27, 2025
Culture, Poetry
3 Comments
. A Whale is a Whale ---after Ogden Nash While laughing aloud at Ogden's smart rhymes, I was struck by a way to interpret his lines. Though Nash's...

‘Hope’ and Other Poems by Russel Winick

The Society
June 27, 2025
Culture, Poetry
13 Comments
. Hope ---in homage to Langston Hughes Hold steadfastly to hopeFor if hope should subsideLife’s a slippery slopeWhere dreams only...

‘Dad and I’ and Other Poems by C.B. Anderson

The Society
June 26, 2025
Culture, Humor, Poetry
13 Comments
. Dad and I Our sessions last an hour or two at most, for we get through them just as fast as can be managed, trying not to stir the ghost of hurts...

‘Rodrigo’s Lament’: A Poem by Damon Rose

The Society
June 26, 2025
Culture, Poetry
5 Comments
. Rodrigo’s Lament The legendary knight El Cid duels with his fiancé’s father. His rasping knavish voice profanes my good name. It grates my...

‘New York, New York’: A Poem on the NYC Mayor Race, by Brian Yapko

The Society
June 25, 2025
Culture, Poetry
18 Comments
. New York, New York “Give up Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island too…” (with apologies to Rodgers & Hart) How many songs about New York...

‘A Sonnet for My One True Love’ and Other Poetry by Aaron Nydegger

The Society
June 25, 2025
Humor, Poetry
10 Comments
. A Sonnet for My One True Love Forever let the night go on and on, My body to your softness gently pressed, Nor let the touch of shameful, blushing...

‘Gruesome’: A Poem on the LA Riots of 2025, by Adam Wasem

The Society
June 24, 2025
Poetry, Satire
17 Comments
. Gruesome Grinning Gavin smooths his tie, Makes sure he’s framed against blue sky. He pats his hair—one’s out of place; He frowns to note...

A Poem on John Duns Scotus, by Mary Jane Myers

The Society
June 24, 2025
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
6 Comments
. Doctor Subtilis ---Blessed John Duns Scotus (1265--1308) A proud and canny Scot from Duns am I, an infant when Franciscans reached our coast. These...

‘Another Species’ and Other Poems by Sally Cook

The Society
June 23, 2025
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
5 Comments
. Another Species Each time you felt some shame you could confess The sins you had committed, but instead You whispered a revision, something less In...

‘Six’: A Poem by Patricia Rogers Crozier

The Society
June 23, 2025
Culture, Love Poems, Poetry
10 Comments
. Six Bitter were the crimson seeds, Beautiful they were to me, Sparkling like ruby beads, In his palm of ivory. Dark they were to look upon, Rivers...

‘Archaic Torso of Apollo’ by Rilke and ‘Reconciliation’ by Goethe, Translated by Josh Olson

The Society
June 22, 2025
Ekphrastic, Music, Poetry, Translation
10 Comments
. Archaic Torso of Apollo by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) translated from German by Josh Olson We cannot know that enigmatic head in which his eyes...

‘The Prayer Blanket’: A Poem Based on the Real Experience of Tim Cassar

The Society
June 22, 2025
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
12 Comments
. The Prayer Blanket ---as related to me by my friend Tim Cassar, who recently survived a brain cancer operation by Brian Yapko The paramedics came....

The Society of Classical Poets 2025 Haiku Competition

The Society
June 21, 2025
Haiku and Senryu, Poetry, Poetry Contests
548 Comments
. WHO Anyone in the world, of any age or background, may participate (SCP Membership not required). Among members of the Society of Classical Poets,...

‘Together’: A Poem by Margaret Coats

The Society
June 21, 2025
Beauty, Poetry
28 Comments
. Together The windows of our dawning day_Let light in through the dew,But outdoors ambling in cool air,_I knew that I’d find you. Close comfort,...

‘I Would Say Yes’ and Other Poetry by Gigi Ryan

The Society
June 20, 2025
Humor, Love Poems, Pantoum, Poetry, Villanelle
15 Comments
. I Would Say Yes ---a villanelle for Larry on our 36th Anniversary We were young and rather stupid then, But still I see that we were meant to be. I...

‘The Comings and Goings of Heaven and Earth’: A Poem by David L. Williams

The Society
June 20, 2025
Beauty, Poetry
9 Comments
. The Comings and Goings of Heaven and Earth Clouds’ movement in the sky, the sight of birds, phenomena that draw an upward glance, may sometimes...
poetry/mantyk/don quixote

‘Tilted Tales’: Three Poems by Susan Jarvis Bryant

The Society
June 19, 2025
Culture, Poetry, Triolet, Villanelle
21 Comments
. Clueless ---a villanelle How can I tell what is and isn’t true In daffy days that stupefy the wise? I’m sifting through the chaos for a...
poem/anderson/beauty

‘Enigma’: A Poem by Steve Cooper

The Society
June 19, 2025
Love Poems, Poetry, Shape Poems
5 Comments
. . . Steve Cooper is a retired professional career counselor. He lives near Salem, Oregon. He has one traditionally published picture book on...

‘Periwinkle’: A Poem by Jeffrey Essmann

The Society
June 18, 2025
Beauty, Poetry
11 Comments
. Periwinkle Don't know that I was on the spectrum, no, But I was weird. I read too much and played Pretend too much. My mind too often strayed To...

‘A Winter’s Tale’ by Jeff Eardley

The Society
June 18, 2025
Children's, Humor, Poetry
18 Comments
. A Winter's Tale There’re many strange and spooky tales, That come from England’s hills and dales. When Winter tightens up its grip, As feet and...

‘Get Along, Little DOGE-ie’ and Other Social Commentary Poetry by James A. Tweedie

The Society
June 17, 2025
Poetry, Satire
19 Comments
. Get Along, Little DOGE-ie Should come a day my fortunes be increased, It’s guaranteed such bounty will be fleeced. For government, like vacuum...

‘Salmon Skin’ and Other Poetry by Adam Sedia

The Society
June 17, 2025
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
19 Comments
. Salmon Skin _Laid temptingly Upon a china dish, _Poached perfectly, A long, pink flank of fish. _Its scents amaze. Fork poised to dig right in, _I...

‘What Is a Man?’: A Poem by Cynthia Erlandson

The Society
June 16, 2025
Culture, Poetry
15 Comments
. What Is a Man? “Ask now, and see, whether a man is ever in labor with child?” ---Jeremiah 30: 6 The prophet’s statement clearly is...

A Poem for Father’s Day: ‘The Weight of a Father’ by Susan Jarvis Bryant

The Society
June 15, 2025
Beauty, Poetry
30 Comments
. The Weight of a Father . I. The Smell of Sawdust On bawling-brother, busy-mother days, The saint who slew the dragons in her dream Whisked her...

‘Shakespeare’ and Other Poetry by Lee Evans

The Society
June 15, 2025
Culture, Poetry, Shakespeare
13 Comments
. Shakespeare The Master strolled upon the beach, __And stooped to find Among the shells washed up in heaps, __Mere husks of Mind— Selecting them...

‘Florida Beach Vacation 2025’: A Poem by Evan Mantyk

The Society
June 14, 2025
Culture, Poetry
12 Comments
. Florida Beach Vacation 2025 They buried me in pale white sand. _They took away my phone. The mouse was wrested from my hand _And now I’m all...

‘Term Limits’: A Poem by Warren Bonham

The Society
June 14, 2025
Culture, Poetry
13 Comments
. Term Limits Without term limits, nothing prevents the eruption of bribery, graft, and unbridled corruption. Too few of our founders felt our...

‘When the Child Appears’: A Poem by Victor Hugo, Translated by Bruce Phenix

The Society
June 13, 2025
Beauty, Poetry, Translation
8 Comments
. When the Child Appears by Victor Hugo (1802-1885)translated from French by Bruce Phenix When the child appears, the family’s loud praiseBursts...

‘Boomerang’ and Other Poems by Russel Winick

The Society
June 13, 2025
Culture, Poetry, Satire
24 Comments
. Boomerang He was a very handsome guy, Cute girls would stick to him like glue, And his interest in them was high, But only for a night or...
poem/erlandson/culture

‘Ode to Chronic Pain’ and Other Poetry by Dan Davis

The Society
June 12, 2025
Culture, Poetry
9 Comments
. Ode to Chronic Pain I curse your name and spit as you supply these diverse proofs that I am not divine— and yet I should embrace you for the...

‘Reading in Bed’ and Other Poems by Martin Briggs

The Society
June 12, 2025
Culture, Poetry
9 Comments
. Reading in Bed Crowded years from now, and late one wintry night, a certain turn of phrase or trick of poetry will summon me. Pillowed in the warm...
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  1. Frost Whitman on The Society of Classical Poets 2025 Haiku CompetitionAugust 13, 2025

    rain strikes calm water thunder cracks the sky in two a child gasps, delight! bird sings to himself as he…

  2. M.D. Skeen on ‘Mnemonic Device for Military Pro-Signs A-Z’: A Poem by Joseph S. SalemiAugust 13, 2025

    Bravo! This is just wonderful. I have printed it up and taped it on the wall of my office as…

  3. Karen Hodnett on The Society of Classical Poets 2025 Haiku CompetitionAugust 13, 2025

    dark clouds gathering lightning splits open the sky summer night suspense

  4. Reid McGrath on ‘Attention Deficit Disorder’: A Poem by Reid McGrathAugust 13, 2025

    Roy and Joe, thank you. Point taken. I’ll have to change the title!

  5. Joseph S. Salemi on ‘Attention Deficit Disorder’: A Poem by Reid McGrathAugust 13, 2025

    A good poem about the kind of directionless and unfocused person who can do many things, but who cannot settle…

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