. The Juggler ---with special kudos to George Clooney, Whoopi Goldberg, Taylor Swift, Susan Sarandon, Tom Hanks, Mark Hamill, Robert...

. Optimism ---to the Class of 2025 The world is cold and hard and dark enough; We need not cloud...

. Never Time to Spare ---a villanelle My daughter, I am watching you with love for I’ve been there, When...

. Bodie The whistled whispers of a desert wind Drift through the dusty streets and haunted halls Where faded lives...

. Independence Day, 2025 It’s so much more than red and white and blue And stars that spangle banners flying...

. IRL —after G.K. Chesterton’s "A Ballad of Theatricals" (reprinted below) Though all the emails I receive—surprisingly politely read—Although the...

. The Playland Once in a playland caked with fresh-born mud, I saw a league of book-freed children smile collectively...

. Request for Expression of Interest SCP Poet Russel Winick has graciously agreed to host an in-person SCP Symposium at...

. Summer Family Cookout Criss-cross, hamburger toss, _Flip that sizzlin’ patty! Pretty please, and top with cheese! _You’re the Great...

. Bayesian Hubris v. Mercy Seat 11A “Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, who miraculously walked away from the Ahmedabad disaster, in...

. Gorge Millennia before the Bass Pro tours, Sonar fish finders and electric reels, Some unsung pioneer dreamed baits and...

. On the Existence of Two Genders Note: This poem is written in response to the trans-driven push to promulgate...

. Therapy ---After "Help! I Can’t Stop Speaking in Iambic!" by Cynthia Erlandson Help! I can’t stop writing psychobabble!No matter...

. Every Square Inch Her every square inch, her breath, and her voice, In all this and more my soul...

. Cardinals The cardinal is my favorite bird.They mate for life, or so I’ve heard.You hear them sing antiphonally—it’s like...

. Report on Results of the SCP Survey of Poets by Roy E. Peterson and Evan Mantyk The survey had...

. The SCP Poetry Competition Winners’ Symposium Join the Symposium here: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4772266878?pwd=V0lGeUFuSGFkeExOaTM4NlZ6NWRlUT09   You're Invited!  Who: Everyone is invited to...

. Rolling the Dice “Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the Universe exists, why...

. A Whale is a Whale ---after Ogden Nash While laughing aloud at Ogden's smart rhymes, I was struck by...

. Hope ---in homage to Langston Hughes Hold steadfastly to hopeFor if hope should subsideLife’s a slippery slopeWhere dreams only...

. Dad and I Our sessions last an hour or two at most, for we get through them just as...

. Rodrigo’s Lament The legendary knight El Cid duels with his fiancé’s father. His rasping knavish voice profanes my good...

. New York, New York “Give up Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island too…” (with apologies to Rodgers & Hart)...

. A Sonnet for My One True Love Forever let the night go on and on, My body to your...

. Gruesome Grinning Gavin smooths his tie, Makes sure he’s framed against blue sky. He pats his hair—one’s out of...

. Doctor Subtilis ---Blessed John Duns Scotus (1265--1308) A proud and canny Scot from Duns am I, an infant when...

. Another Species Each time you felt some shame you could confess The sins you had committed, but instead You...

. Six Bitter were the crimson seeds, Beautiful they were to me, Sparkling like ruby beads, In his palm of...

. Archaic Torso of Apollo by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) translated from German by Josh Olson We cannot know that...

. The Prayer Blanket ---as related to me by my friend Tim Cassar, who recently survived a brain cancer operation...

. WHO Anyone in the world, of any age or background, may participate (SCP Membership not required). Among members of...

. Together The windows of our dawning day_Let light in through the dew,But outdoors ambling in cool air,_I knew that...

. I Would Say Yes ---a villanelle for Larry on our 36th Anniversary We were young and rather stupid then,...

. The Comings and Goings of Heaven and Earth Clouds’ movement in the sky, the sight of birds, phenomena that...

. Clueless ---a villanelle How can I tell what is and isn’t true In daffy days that stupefy the wise?...

. . . Steve Cooper is a retired professional career counselor. He lives near Salem, Oregon. He has one traditionally...

. Periwinkle Don't know that I was on the spectrum, no, But I was weird. I read too much and...

. A Winter's Tale There’re many strange and spooky tales, That come from England’s hills and dales. When Winter tightens...

. Get Along, Little DOGE-ie Should come a day my fortunes be increased, It’s guaranteed such bounty will be fleeced....

. Salmon Skin _Laid temptingly Upon a china dish, _Poached perfectly, A long, pink flank of fish. _Its scents amaze....