English poetry has been in existence for at least 1,400 years. This tradition continues alive and well at The Society of Classical Poets like nowhere else.
Today, poetry is everywhere. It is in the songs on the radio, in our national anthems, and in the fight songs of our favorite sports teams; it pervades our literature, our history, and our culture. But, despite poetry’s abundance, poetry that is both new and good is hard to find now, more than ever. Good, new poetry cherishes and builds on the perennial forms, like meter and rhyme, left to us by 1,400 years of English poets, who in turn have built on ancient Greek and Chinese traditions. Such good, new poetry carries a message infused with the profound insights and lofty character of the poet. It touches on humanity’s quintessential quest for virtue over vice, epic over ephemeral, and beauty over baseness.
With this in mind, the Society of Classical Poets is non-profit organization formed in 2012 as a group of poets dedicated to the revival and proliferation of good, new poetry.
We invite you to join us!
Evan Mantyk, President
The Society of Classical Poets
11 Heather Lane
Mount Hope, NY 10940
Executive Staff
Evan Mantyk, President
Joshua Philipp, Vice President
Frank Yu, Chief Financial Officer
Dan Skorbach, Chief Technology Officer
Kristina Pentchoukova, Marketing Director
Journal Staff
Connie Phillips, Editor
Evan Mantyk, Editor
Diana Benedetti, Chief Designer
Advisory Board
William Ruleman, Professor of English, Tennessee Wesleyan College
James Sale, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Motivational Expert
Michael Curtis, Architect, Sculptor, Painter, Founding Director of The National Civic Art Society
Damian Robin, Poet and Editor
Bruce Dale Wise, Poet
Hi, I had an old book of poems a while back. There was a particular poem that I liked with the line “war are fought by old men …..” The poem was about young men dying on the battlefield as a result of the decisions of old men.
If anyone can identify the poem or the book I’d really appreciate it. Thanks.
Dear Bryan,
Could it be this one by Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)?:
The Parable of the Young Man and the Old
So Abram rose, and clave the wood, and went,
And took the fire with him, and a knife.
And as they sojourned, both of them together,
Isaac the first-born spake, and said, My Father,
Behold the preparations, fire and iron,
But where the lamb for this burnt-offering?
Then Abram bound the youth with belts and straps,
And builded parapets the trenches there,
And stretched forth the knife to slay his son.
When lo! an angel called him out of heaven,
Saying, Lay not thy hand upon the lad,
Neither do anything to him. Behold,
A ram, caught in a thicket by its horns;
Offer the Ram of Pride instead of him.
But the old man would not so, but slew his son,
And half the seed of Europe, one by one.
I went to your website today, to submit my work for the 2014 poetry competition. To my dismay, an announcement appeared saying that no more submissions would be accepted. I respectfully inquire if this was expressly stated in your guidelines–that the contest can be closed before the deadline has passed? Normally, a deadline is accepted to be midnight of that day. So, I (and maybe many other poets) thought I had until 1/12014 at midnight to submit. Please advise why you have imposed what seems to be an arbitrary cutoff. Can’t the deadline be allowed to expire at midnight, which is conventionally accepted as the next day? Please answer today, as I stand ready to submit my work for the contest.
My apologies. I see now that the wording suggests by Jan. 1, not “before,” you can submit today or tomorrow (Jan. 2) because of the error.
Hello Evan:
Congratulations on the new website. It’s lovely.
Per your email, yes, I want to continue to receive notices on the latest posts, but I was a bit confused as to how exactly one goes about re-registering. I hope this comment gets me on the list. If not, please advise further how I should go about it.
Thanks so much, and again: warmest congratulations.
Jeffrey