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    • 'Brimstone' and Other Poetry by Susan Jarvis Bryant

      The Society
      July 14, 2021
      Beauty, Culture, Humor, Poetry, Rondeau Redoublé
      35 Comments
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    • ‘Ten Floors’: A Love Poem by Russel Winick

      The Society
      August 25, 2025
      4
    • ‘On the 125th Anniversary of Nietzsche’s Death’: A Poem by Warren Bonham

      The Society
      August 25, 2025
      3
    • A Video Poetry Reading of ‘Extinction’ by Mary Jane Myers

      The Society
      August 24, 2025
      1
    • A Poetic Retelling of the Myth of Icarus and Daedalus, Martin Rizley

      The Society
      August 24, 2025
      4
    • ‘When Prices Surge’: A Poem by Paul A. Freeman

      The Society
      August 23, 2025
      12
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      The Society
      August 23, 2025
      5
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      The Society
      July 28, 2021
      Beauty, Culture, Haiku and Senryu, Poetry, Poetry Contests
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      The Society
      July 26, 2025
      3
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      May 13, 2025
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      March 31, 2025
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      February 1, 2025
      28
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      February 1, 2025
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  • ‘Ten Floors’: A Love Poem by Russel Winick

    The Society
    August 25, 2025
    Love Poems, Poetry
    4 Comments
  • ‘On the 125th Anniversary of Nietzsche’s Death’: A Poem by Warren Bonham

    The Society
    August 25, 2025
    Poetry, Satire
    3 Comments
  • A Video Poetry Reading of ‘Extinction’ by Mary Jane Myers

    The Society
    August 24, 2025
    Poetry, Readings, Symposium, Video
    1 Comment
  • A Poetic Retelling of the Myth of Icarus and Daedalus, Martin Rizley

    The Society
    August 24, 2025
    Children's, Education, Poetry
    4 Comments
  • ‘When Prices Surge’: A Poem by Paul A. Freeman

    The Society
    August 23, 2025
    Culture, Poetry
    12 Comments
  • ‘The Capital’: A Poem by Bruce Dale Wise

    The Society
    August 23, 2025
    Poetry, Satire
    5 Comments
  • Inspiring Muse Poetry Challenge

    The Society
    August 22, 2025
    Love Poems, Poetry, Poetry Challenge
    58 Comments
  • ‘Gull’: A Poem by Jim Hurford

    The Society
    August 21, 2025
    Culture, Poetry
    4 Comments
  • ‘Shackled’ and Other Poetry by Gigi Ryan

    The Society
    August 21, 2025
    Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Satire, Villanelle
    12 Comments
  • ‘Farewell Colbert’: A Poem by Warren Bonham

    The Society
    August 20, 2025
    Culture, Poetry
    11 Comments
  • ‘There Was a Time I Tried to Love the Sun’: A Poem by Patricia Rogers Crozier

    The Society
    August 19, 2025
    Love Poems, Poetry
    18 Comments
  • A Video Poetry Reading of ‘The Settlers’ by Martin Rizley

    The Society
    August 19, 2025
    Poetry, Readings, Symposium, Video
    4 Comments

‘The Mortal Eyes’ by Emmanuel Flores, LC

The Society
February 11, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Villanelle
2 Comments
  a villanelle The mortal eyes in time shall wilt away, as fast as breath retreats its kiss from glass, but delight they will on the endless...

‘Uncle Joe’s Last Stand’ by Rob Crisell

The Society
February 10, 2020
Culture, Humor, Poetry
19 Comments
. Uncle Joe's Last Stand “Lying, dog-faced pony soldier!” Blurts out Biden, as he scolds her. Eyes unfocused, can’t walk upright; Goes not...

‘Jorge Bergoglio Blesses the Amazon Synod’ by Joseph S. Salemi

The Society
February 10, 2020
Culture, Humor, Poetry
44 Comments
  Bongo, bongo, bongo, I don’t wanna leave the Congo, Oh no, no, no, no, no! Bingle, bangle, bungle, I’m so happy in the jungle I just...

‘The Absolute and Relative’ by Peter Venable

The Society
February 9, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
3 Comments
  The Absolute and Relative Argue with repartee: Ultimate One or Ground or Truth, Or relativity? Through the Hubble’s stupendous...

‘The Park’ and Other Poetry by Amy Struthers

The Society
February 9, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Humor, Poetry
31 Comments
  The Park Northern pintails brushing blue, the crescendo of their wings, weaving windsong into words some say that, “Up jumped...

Recommended Poetry Contests of 2020

The Society
February 8, 2020
Education, From the Society, Poetry Contests
5 Comments
  Better Than Starbucks Sonnet Contest Accepting Submissions Beginning: October 1, 2020 Deadline: December 1, 2020 Top Prize:...

‘Ilaria Smiles’ by Lawrence Fray

The Society
February 8, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Ekphrastic, Poetry
18 Comments
  Ilaria Del Carretto was the second wife of Paolo Guinigi of Lucca. Her sepulchre lies in Lucca’s Duomo San Martino and the tall Guinigi tower...
poem/freeman/culture

‘The Problem with Socialism’ by Andrew Benson Brown

The Society
February 7, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Deconstructing Communism, Poetry
22 Comments
  The Problem with Socialism Upon Reading Charles Murray's Coming Apart Some sit on clouds and moonburn as they dream, Skin blistered pale...
poem/yapko/covid leak

A Poem on Li Wenliang, Doctor Who Exposed the Coronavirus, by Bruce Dale Wise

The Society
February 6, 2020
Covid-19, Culture, Human Rights in China, Poetry
14 Comments
Li Wenliang (1985 - 2020) by Dr. Weslie Ubeca Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist, worked in Wuhan; and when he saw the new coronavirus coming...

‘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...

“A Child’s Winter Inventory” and Other Poetry by Anna J. Arredondo

The Society
February 5, 2020
Beauty, Children's, Culture, Humor, Poetry
10 Comments
A Child’s Winter Inventory Winter ‘87-’88 Twittering birds; Chattering teeth; Snow coats the trees In an icy sheath. Glittering...

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

The Society
February 4, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Short Stories, Terza Rima
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...

A Poem for Black History Month: Excerpts from Two Mistakes, by Martin Hill Ortiz

The Society
February 3, 2020
Culture, Epic, Poetry
4 Comments
  Two Mistakes is a drama-length poem in metered verse for which I won second place in the Tom Howard / Margaret Reid Poetry Prize. The full...

‘Bring On the Leeches’ and Other Humorous Poems by C.B. Anderson

The Society
February 2, 2020
Culture, Humor, Poetry
10 Comments
Bring On the Leeches A condition called aspergillosis, And a touch of marasmus as well, Was the surgeon’s succinct diagnosis. All my innards...

The Best Poems of 2019

The Society
February 1, 2020
Best Poems, From the Society, Poetry, Poetry Contests
11 Comments
The Best Poems of 2019: Winners of 8th Annual International SCP Poetry Competition Thank you to everyone who participated! It was an epic year with...

Winners of 2020 High School Poetry Competition Announced

The Society
February 1, 2020
High School Submissions, Poetry, Poetry Contests
2 Comments
Thank you to every one who participated! The quality of the high school poems submitted this year was stunning.    First Place ($100...

Winners of 2020 Poetry Translation Competition Announced

The Society
February 1, 2020
Poetry, Poetry Contests, Translation
1 Comment
Thank you to everyone who participated! The quality of submitted translations continues to rise.   First Place ($100 Prize): Margaret Coats,...

‘Sonnet for a Homecoming’ and Other Poetry by Diana G. Woodcock

The Society
January 31, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
5 Comments
Sonnet for a Homecoming Best way of all to be welcomed back at last, Returning home from months of life abroad: Spring songs of birds arouse me...

‘Eternal Rose’ by Shari Jo LeKane

The Society
January 30, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
1 Comment
  The autumn sun warming keeps rose bushes forming well into the days of December, but frost without warning one fine winter...

‘Proverbs for Engraving onto Imperial Monuments’ and Other Poetry by Daniel Galef

The Society
January 30, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Epigrams and Proverbs, Humor, Poetry
3 Comments
Proverbs for Engraving onto Imperial Monuments War is the price of freedom. Depths bewilder. The blow aimed at the beast hits him who shields...

‘At Königstein Festung’ by Gleb Zavlanov

The Society
January 29, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
6 Comments
  Within the shadow of the fortress wall, I stand agape; such gross, exquisite scale. My bulging eyes attempt to take in all But sadly,...

‘An English Ode’ and Other Odes by William Glyn-Jones

The Society
January 28, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Humor, Poetry
An English Ode That famous field where nodding poppies sway In sunlit grass, where souls of all the good Spend sweet Eternity in dance and...

‘Song of the Rose’ and Other Poetry by Joseph Charles MacKenzie

The Society
January 27, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Deconstructing Communism, Love Poems, Poetry
16 Comments
  Song of the Rose The rose awakens, ere the sky Has wakened to the sun; And we, my one true love and I, Awaken with a tender sigh, To...

‘Victus’ and Other Poetry by Luke Hahn

The Society
January 26, 2020
Beauty, Culture, High School Submissions, Poetry
17 Comments
Victus a response to William Ernest Henley’s poem “Invictus,” from which the first two lines of the final stanza are taken. Dry chatter of...

‘A Letter to Sir Grammar’ and Other Poetry by Dania El-Ghattis

The Society
January 26, 2020
Beauty, Culture, High School Submissions, Humor, Poetry
8 Comments
  A Letter to Sir Grammar Dear Sir Grammar: With all kindness and courtesy, may I request, A new package of words, freshly made, For,...

‘The Turkey Vulture’ by Anna J. Arredondo

The Society
January 25, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Poetry, The Raven
18 Comments
  Years ago—I still remember: final Thursday in November, I was in my kitchen cooking food to rival feasts of yore; To and fro sashaying,...

‘The Lorelei’ by Heinrich Heine (1797-1856)

The Society
January 25, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Poetry, Translation
7 Comments
  translation by Anna Leader I do not know what it might bode That I should be so sad, A fairytale from long ago Now will not leave my...

‘Praise for Fall’ and Other Poetry by Janice Canerdy

The Society
January 24, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Humor, Poetry
7 Comments
Praise for Fall You float in on a late September breeze with still-warm days and mild, cool nights in tow. It’s not your way to bring the...

‘Thank You Sonnet’ and Other Poetry by James Sale

The Society
January 23, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
15 Comments
Thank You Sonnet This thanking you in sonnet form might seem Somewhat unusual, but I think it best, Simply to show how simply lines are...

‘Forgotten’ and Other Poetry by Randal A. Burd, Jr.

The Society
January 22, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
  Forgotten The grass has overgrown the weathered stone Since they first placed his body in the ground, And visitors no longer come...

‘Mama’ and Other Poetry by Sally Cook

The Society
January 21, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Humor, Poetry, The Environment
19 Comments
Mama My mama took two drinks a year; A shot glass down the gullet— Yet hated bars and abhorred beer. Would execute a pullet— An ax, a...

‘Et In Arcadia Ego’ and Other Poetry by Michael Coy

The Society
January 21, 2020
Beauty, Humor, Poetry
6 Comments
  Et In Arcadia Ego Oh, that's it, Keko. Pass through. Go ahead. Just walk across my books without a glance, with all that arrogant...

‘What Song Shall I Sing?’ by James A. Tweedie

The Society
January 20, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
35 Comments
  What song shall I sing for a nation divided By politics, race, economics, and power? By what sweet refrain shall our nation be...

Write a Poem on One of These Images

The Society
January 19, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Ekphrastic, Poetry, Poetry Contests
39 Comments
The above photographs were taken and submitted by New York City poet Joe Tessitore. We invite readers to pick one of the images (or both) and write a...

Three Translations of the Poetry of Jean Froissart, by Margaret Coats

The Society
January 18, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Deconstructing Communism, Poetry, Rondeau, Translation
3 Comments
Translator's note: The following consists of three poems by Jehan (or Jean) Froissart (c.1335–c.1410), translated not very literally but as far as...

‘Song at Sunset’ by Connie Phillips

The Society
January 18, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Humor, Poetry
6 Comments
Song at Sunset The sun sets ‘neath the mountain top: __A golden orb that blinks And just for seconds lights the sky __Ablaze before it...

‘Requiem for the U.N.’ and Other Poetry by Rod Walford

The Society
January 17, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Poetry
6 Comments
Requiem for the U.N. 73 years—countless billions of dollars— And here we are today... Behold the statesmen smartly dressed Assembled from...

‘To You, My Wife’ and Other Poetry by Angel L. Villanueva

The Society
January 16, 2020
Beauty, Culture, Love Poems, Poetry, Villanelle
8 Comments
  To You, My Wife a villanelle To you, my wife, my love I declare, My joy and gain, a gift to me blessed, A morning flower of beauty and...

FoFG 2020 Poetry Contest: Adult, College, and High School Awards

The Society
January 15, 2020
Deconstructing Communism, Human Rights in China, Poetry, Poetry Contests
1 Comment
Fight for Freedom. Write for Freedom. A Great Cause, Plus Over $1,200 in Prizes and No Submission Fee. Today, the communist government of China,...

‘Grapes’ and More Phobia Limerick Riddles by Jan Darling

The Society
January 15, 2020
Culture, Humor, Limerick, Poetry, Riddles
9 Comments
Grapes Peel me a grape But remove the seed I love the flesh But have no need Of hard encounters In the skin Juicy, fat, dry or thin. On...
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  1. Russel Winick on ‘Ten Floors’: A Love Poem by Russel WinickAugust 25, 2025

    Thank you Cynthia — Now, if I could only sing like Frank!

  2. Martin Rizley on ‘On the 125th Anniversary of Nietzsche’s Death’: A Poem by Warren BonhamAugust 25, 2025

    Very well done, Warren! The marchlike meter appropriately echoes the rhythm of a Nazi goosestep! Your careful and frequently funny…

  3. Paul Freeman on ‘When Prices Surge’: A Poem by Paul A. FreemanAugust 25, 2025

    King Lear with Ian McKellen. I can see why you would pay over the odds. Even so, when genuine fans…

  4. Cynthia L Erlandson on ‘On the 125th Anniversary of Nietzsche’s Death’: A Poem by Warren BonhamAugust 25, 2025

    What a wonderful summary of a perverse life. I love your many hilarious rhymes!

  5. Cynthia L Erlandson on ‘Ten Floors’: A Love Poem by Russel WinickAugust 25, 2025

    What a sweet love story that led to marriage! It is an amusing poem, too, especially that you were talking…

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