• Submit Poetry
  • Support SCP
  • About Us
  • Members
  • Join
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Society of Classical Poets
  • Poems
    • Beauty
    • Culture
    • Satire
    • Humor
    • Children’s
    • Art
    • Ekphrastic
    • Epic
    • Epigrams and Proverbs
    • Human Rights in China
    • Music
    • Performing Arts
    • Riddles
    • Science
    • Song Lyrics
    • The Environment
    • The Raven
    • Found Poems
    • High School Poets
    • Terrorism
    • Covid-19
  • Poetry Forms
    • Sonnet
    • Haiku
    • Limerick
    • Villanelle
    • Rondeau
    • Pantoum
    • Sestina
    • Triolet
    • Acrostic
    • Alexandroid
    • Alliterative
    • Blank Verse
    • Chant Royal
    • Clerihew
    • Rhupunt
    • Rondeau Redoublé
    • Rondel
    • Rubaiyat
    • Sapphic Verse
    • Shape Poems
    • Terza Rima
  • Great Poets
    • Geoffrey Chaucer
    • Emily Dickinson
    • Homer
    • Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
    • Dante Alighieri
    • John Keats
    • John Milton
    • Edgar Allan Poe
    • William Shakespeare
    • William Wordsworth
    • William Blake
    • Robert Frost
  • Love Poems
  • Contests
  • SCP Academy
    • Educational
    • Teaching Classical Poetry—A Guide for Educators
    • Poetry Forms
    • The SCP Journal
    • Books
No Result
View All Result
Society of Classical Poets
  • Poems
    • Beauty
    • Culture
    • Satire
    • Humor
    • Children’s
    • Art
    • Ekphrastic
    • Epic
    • Epigrams and Proverbs
    • Human Rights in China
    • Music
    • Performing Arts
    • Riddles
    • Science
    • Song Lyrics
    • The Environment
    • The Raven
    • Found Poems
    • High School Poets
    • Terrorism
    • Covid-19
  • Poetry Forms
    • Sonnet
    • Haiku
    • Limerick
    • Villanelle
    • Rondeau
    • Pantoum
    • Sestina
    • Triolet
    • Acrostic
    • Alexandroid
    • Alliterative
    • Blank Verse
    • Chant Royal
    • Clerihew
    • Rhupunt
    • Rondeau Redoublé
    • Rondel
    • Rubaiyat
    • Sapphic Verse
    • Shape Poems
    • Terza Rima
  • Great Poets
    • Geoffrey Chaucer
    • Emily Dickinson
    • Homer
    • Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
    • Dante Alighieri
    • John Keats
    • John Milton
    • Edgar Allan Poe
    • William Shakespeare
    • William Wordsworth
    • William Blake
    • Robert Frost
  • Love Poems
  • Contests
  • SCP Academy
    • Educational
    • Teaching Classical Poetry—A Guide for Educators
    • Poetry Forms
    • The SCP Journal
    • Books
No Result
View All Result
Society of Classical Poets
No Result
View All Result
Home Poetry Humor

‘Modern Blessing’ and Other Poems by Kevin Ahern

September 24, 2025
in Humor, Poetry
A A
16
poems 'Modern Blessing' and Other Poems by Kevin Ahern

.

Modern Blessing

May you have five bars upon your phone
_And a WiFi signal strong.
May your identity stay yours alone
_If you click on something wrong.

May you never need good health care
_Or the assistance of an official,
And may you always be two steps ahead
_Of intelligence artificial.

.

.

Rejection Letter

Thank you for sending
The verse you have written
But with it, our editors
Weren’t very smitten.

In fact, smite is what
They’ve threatened to do
If we get any more
Like it from you.

.

.

Venous Envy

Moving blood
Is quiet, mostly
You must listen
Varicosely.

.

.

Kevin Ahern is a Professor Emeritus of biochemistry from Oregon State University who is enjoying the spare time he has gained in retirement to write verses, limericks, and other creative items.

ShareTweetPin
The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary.
Read Our Comments Policy Here

RandomPoems

‘U.S. Midterm Election 2018’ and Other Poetry by Bruce Dale Wise
Poetry

‘U.S. Midterm Election 2018’ and Other Poetry by Bruce Dale Wise

November 7, 2018

(All poetry by Bruce Dale Wise) U.S. Midterm Election 2018 by Brice U. Lawseed There wasn't any blue wave, nor...

‘Childhood, 1919’ by David Whippman
Culture

‘Childhood, 1919’ by David Whippman

January 19, 2021

. Daddy came home from “the war to end all war” And seemed, at first, one of the lucky ones....

Next Post
‘Bleed, Saxon Blood’: An Alliterative Poem by Theresa Werba

'Bleed, Saxon Blood': An Alliterative Poem by Theresa Werba

‘The Limits of Hospitality’ and Other Poetry by C.B. Anderson

'The Limits of Hospitality' and Other Poetry by C.B. Anderson

A Video Reading of the Poem “Wisdom and Sway” by Mark F. Stone

A Video Reading of the Poem "Wisdom and Sway" by Mark F. Stone

Comments 16

  1. Roy Eugene Peterson says:
    8 months ago

    Kevin, what a joy to read your concise humorous poems that are entertaining. Like you, I have hope we can stay ahead of AI and use it appropriately. “Rejection Letter” is my favorite or your three, probably because I can identify with the effort spent in writing and honing a poem only to receive a rejection notice.

    Reply
    • Kevin Ahern says:
      7 months ago

      Thanks, Roy.

      Reply
  2. Margaret Coats says:
    8 months ago

    Kevin, I do hope for all those blessings! Especially, I’m doing my best to avoid the need for “good health care,” as I see too many who are plagued yet satisfied with the poor version. Love the play on “smite” and “smitten” in “Rejection Letter,” and glad you did not get one from the Society. And I’m a just bit envious that I never before considered whether “mostly” and “varicosely” rhyme perfectly. You have a welcome way with words.

    Reply
    • Kevin Ahern says:
      7 months ago

      Thanks, Margaret.

      Reply
  3. Martin Briggs says:
    8 months ago

    These three succinct little gems made me smile, Kevin. And “Varicosely” is ingenious.

    Reply
    • Kevin Ahern says:
      7 months ago

      Thanks, Martin. I’m happy you enjoyed them.

      Reply
  4. Paul Freeman says:
    8 months ago

    I especially enjoyed the form rejection letter. Being an expert (sorry for using a swear word) on them, I can vouch for its near authenticity.

    Reply
    • Kevin Ahern says:
      7 months ago

      Thanks. I think we’re all experts, most likely.

      Reply
  5. Paulette Calasibetta says:
    8 months ago

    Kevin, a clever trio exposing the reality we are living in….which is not always pretty.
    Thanks for sharing a humorous outlook.

    Reply
    • Kevin Ahern says:
      7 months ago

      Thanks, Paulette. I’m happy you enjoyed them.

      Reply
  6. Adam Sedia says:
    8 months ago

    Light verse is always a treat, and you’ve given us three witty, pithy gems. “Varicosely” is a clever pun. “Rejection Letter” is my favorite.

    Reply
    • Kevin Ahern says:
      7 months ago

      Thanks, Adam.

      Reply
  7. Gigi Ryan says:
    8 months ago

    Thank you, I laughed out loud when I read the word, “varicosely.”

    Reply
    • Kevin Ahern says:
      7 months ago

      Thanks, Gigi. I’m happy you enjoyed them.

      Reply
  8. Shamik Banerjee says:
    8 months ago

    Love these packs of humour, Kevin! Modern Blessing is my favourite. Keep sharing more.

    Reply
    • Kevin Ahern says:
      7 months ago

      Thanks, Shamik. Will do.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Russel Winick on A Poem on the Zambian National Park Mosi-oa-Tunya, by Paul A. FreemanMay 12, 2026

    I love this poem, Paul, because of how well it describes and explains one of the most uniquely beautiful places…

  2. Susan Jarvis Bryant on ‘Spontaneous Conjugal Combustion’ and Other Poems by Susan Jarvis BryantMay 12, 2026

    Joe, I love your interpretation - as far as I'm concerned" a gold-digging young gigolo who attaches himself to a…

  3. Roy Eugene Peterson on National Poetry Month Limerick ChallengeMay 12, 2026

    Urszula, what an imaginative limerick! That is something Poe might have done! Sorry to be so late seeing this.

  4. Roy Eugene Peterson on National Poetry Month Limerick ChallengeMay 12, 2026

    Agreed, Urszula! Thank you for commenting.

  5. Joseph S. Salemi on ‘Spontaneous Conjugal Combustion’ and Other Poems by Susan Jarvis BryantMay 12, 2026

    When I was in the U.K. I heard that "poodle" could mean a henpecked or subservient husband, and by extension…

Subscribe to Daily Poems

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1,593 other subscribers

Recent Poems

  • A Poem on Coach “Black Mike” Castronis from Athens Y Camp, by Alec Ream
  • A Poem on the Zambian National Park Mosi-oa-Tunya, by Paul A. Freeman
  • ‘Creation of Mom’: A Mother’s Day Poem by Roy E. Peterson
  • ‘Spontaneous Conjugal Combustion’ and Other Poems by Susan Jarvis Bryant
  • ‘The Man in the Moon Was a Very Round Man’: A Poem by Lauren V. Leon
  • ‘Fibromytrauma’: A Poem by Golan Shahar
  • ‘A Lonely Sliver’: A Poem by Katie Tencza
  • ‘Higher Gas Prices Are a Small Price to Pay’: An Iran War Poem by Mark F. Stone
  • ‘Always Ahead’: A Poem by Scharlie Meeuws
  • ‘Hamlet’s Lawyer’ and Other Poetry by Brian Yapko
  • ‘On An Old Photograph’: A Poem by Joseph S. Salemi
  • ‘Faust Foresees His End’: A Poem by Martin Briggs
  • ‘À la Carte’ and Other Poetry by C.B. Anderson
  • ‘Where the Sweet Bluebonnets Bloom’: A Poem by Roy E. Peterson
  • ‘The Waters’: A Poem by Margaret Brinton
  • ‘The Pinnacle of Poetry’ and Other Poems by Russel Winick
  • The First American Sonnets: An Essay on David Humphreys, by Margaret Coats
  • ‘The Holy Rollers on Poetry’: A Poem by Joseph S. Salemi
  • Sappho’s ‘Poem 1’ Translated by Bruce Phenix
  • ‘The Cautionary Tale of Phone Addicted Mimi’: A Poem by Paul A. Freeman
  • ‘Look Away’: A Poem for America’s 250th Anniversary, by Roger Crane
  • ‘Sunday Morning in Canada’: A Poem by Jeffrey Essmann
  • ‘Bean’: A Poem by Jan Mennite
  • ‘The Swan’s Song ’: A Poem for Shakespeare’s Birthday, by Susan Jarvis Bryant
  • ‘The Gravedigger’: A Poem by Marie Burdett
  • ‘Waiting for the Perfect Man’: A Poem by Janice Canerdy
  • ‘The George-A-Saurus’ and Other Poetry by Brian Yapko
  • ‘When Asked: What’s Your Favorite Season?’: A Poem by Paul Millan  
  • ‘The Last At-Bat of Lyndon Braun’: A Poem by Michael Pietrack
  • ‘The Perpetual Battle’ and Other Poetry by Adam Sedia

Categories

  • Acrostic
  • Alexandroid
  • Alliterative
  • Art
  • Best Poems
  • Blank Verse
  • Chant Royal
  • Classical Poets Live
  • Clerihew
  • Covid-19
  • Deconstructing Communism
  • Educational
  • Epic
  • Epigrams and Proverbs
  • Essays
    • Interviews with Poets
    • Poetry Reviews
  • Featured
  • From the Society
  • Great Poets
    • Dante Alighieri
    • Edgar Allan Poe
    • Emily Dickinson
    • Geoffrey Chaucer
    • Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
    • Homer
    • John Keats
    • John Milton
    • Robert Frost
    • William Blake
    • William Shakespeare
    • William Wordsworth
  • Human Rights in China
  • Limerick
  • Love Poems
  • Music
  • Pantoum
  • Performing Arts
  • Poetry
    • Beauty
    • Children's Poems
    • Culture
    • Ekphrastic
    • Found Poems
    • High School Poets
    • Humor
    • Riddles
  • Poetry Challenge
  • Poetry Contests
  • Poetry Forms
    • Curtal Sonnet
    • Haiku
  • Poetry Readings
  • Rhupunt
  • Rondeau
  • Rondeau Redoublé
  • Rondel
  • Rubaiyat
  • Sapphic Verse
  • Satire
  • Science
  • Sestina
  • Shape Poems
  • Short Stories
  • Song Lyrics
  • Sonnet
  • Symposium
  • Terrorism
  • Terza Rima
  • The Environment
  • Translation
  • Triolet
  • Video
  • Villanelle

Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Submit Poetry
  • Become a Member
  • Members List
  • Support the Society
  • Advertisement Placement
  • Comments Policy
  • Terms of Use

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Poems
    • Beauty
    • Culture
    • Satire
    • Humor
    • Children’s
    • Art
    • Ekphrastic
    • Epic
    • Epigrams and Proverbs
    • Human Rights in China
    • Music
    • Performing Arts
    • Riddles
    • Science
    • Song Lyrics
    • The Environment
    • The Raven
    • Found Poems
    • High School Poets
    • Terrorism
    • Covid-19
  • Poetry Forms
    • Sonnet
    • Haiku
    • Limerick
    • Villanelle
    • Rondeau
    • Pantoum
    • Sestina
    • Triolet
    • Acrostic
    • Alexandroid
    • Alliterative
    • Blank Verse
    • Chant Royal
    • Clerihew
    • Rhupunt
    • Rondeau Redoublé
    • Rondel
    • Rubaiyat
    • Sapphic Verse
    • Shape Poems
    • Terza Rima
  • Great Poets
    • Geoffrey Chaucer
    • Emily Dickinson
    • Homer
    • Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
    • Dante Alighieri
    • John Keats
    • John Milton
    • Edgar Allan Poe
    • William Shakespeare
    • William Wordsworth
    • William Blake
    • Robert Frost
  • Love Poems
  • Contests
  • SCP Academy
    • Educational
    • Teaching Classical Poetry—A Guide for Educators
    • Poetry Forms
    • The SCP Journal
    • Books

© 2025 SCP. WebDesign by CODEC Prime.