Poetry

. Jeffrey Epstein in His Cell On nights like this a lesser man might pray; Instead he dreams of islands in his cell And sends his thoughts a thousand miles away To there await the hour of his farewell. The things he knew, the secrets he could sell; Whatever worth...

. Nature at Peace The feeder for our hummingbird. Was torn down by a bear today. She didn’t growl a single word She just reached up and had her way. And then, as if they owned the place, Two deer sashayed across our lawn. But when, through glass, they saw...

. A Tribune to Mrs. Malaprop My fellow poets, lend me your arrears! Of arms and divan I sing. Let’s have three cheers For Mrs. Malaprop, that dole enchanting tongue-tried Miss Communicating aunt From Sheridan’s old comedy of mangers. She spoke with verbal and linguini dangers. Her word-choice wasn’t always...

. "Gravitas" On the Sack of Rome by the Gauls in 390 B.C. adapted from Livy’s “Ab Urbe Condita,” Book V, Chapters 38-42 The sunset torched the summer sky, __The spectral moon rose round When a shadow passed the city gates __And staggered to the ground. Some rushed to help...

. Share your poetry on currently unfolding Russo-Ukrainian war in the comments section below.  We received a large response on our first post of poetry on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February and our second one. Poets are still actively submitting on this topic, so here is your chance again to...

. The End Begins a rondeau redoublé Now the end begins, do not despair. It’s meant to be. What better battlecry? It’s time for positivity and prayer. The unjust try to justify... then die. The mighty state’s a castle in the sky. “Survival of the fittest”---just a snare To capture...

. And Turn Thanks for the twenty seconds of Your crisp, medicinal perspective, Encapsulated in a laugh That shook like a bragging monkey’s ass. Call it a joke, a gentle nudge— It pushed me over some good edge, Literally enlightening: This cobweb world looks bright again. . . Jack Granath's...

. Servant of the Servants of God Servus Servorum Dei —a title of the Pope A small informal gathering of clergy From satin cassocks down to the discalced Queue in line before the Petrine Seat. There are some buzzing whispers as all wait To pay respects, or else present a...

. From Heathrow to Houston I heard my words would never change a thing From those who had a nose for senseless stuff. They warned me that my odes would never bring Me joy. They cursed my verse as puffs of fluff— Wisps of worthless whispers in hot air That...

. Habakkuk’s Prayer after Habakkuk 3:2, 16-19; excerpts of the prophet’s prayer as he awaited certain destruction of his nation, Judah, by the Babylonian armies (6th century BC). My Yahweh God, I raise my prayer to you I’ve heard of your renown, your fame. I stand in awe of all...

. A Man’s Retreat A man’s retreat is his garage—a place To keep his vehicle, yes; but also space To store his manly, miscellaneous hoards: The glues and putties; automotive oils, Waxes, wipes, and rubbing compound; slats Of wood; insecticide for pesky gnats; His golf umbrella, towels, clubs, and hats;...

. More than My Queen My Queen has always been a noble force--- A force for good on chilly English days. Her friendly face, her air of grace---my source Of joy in more than crown-and-sceptre ways. I saw her wave her white-gloved, regal hand When I was nine and knotted...

. The Twins _Said one foot to the other, _“Please don’t nag, you’re not my mother, I am sick to death of listening to your woes. _You lament you’re always tired, _Whereas I am always wired, Quit complaining that I’m stepping on your toes. _Even though I’m all about you...

. Expansive Poets, Classical Poets, and the Future of Poetry by Michael Curtis Modern poetry is not—it is neither poetry nor modern.  Poetry is words lined in measure, of some three seconds length, the length of breath, and this is true across cultures throughout history, as Frederick Turner demonstrated in “The...

. Uvalde I’m struck with news and views today __As youth and truth lie dead. Words bruise me in a mad melee __Of mind-marauding dread. I’m stunned by words, too many heard __To mull and comprehend--- Cacophonies of what occurred __And why we’ve reached this end. Excuses rise like ghostly smoke __And choke my waning...

. Memories of Memorial Day Sad son standing all alone Staring at the marker stone. Father died he never knew--- Died for him and died for you. Widow’s tears upon her cheek. Trembling body feeling weak, Kneeling at her husband’s grave, Knowing that his all he gave. Family planting on...

. Liberty If skies were ever-blue each lustrous day, If moons were in bold bloom each raven night, If life was never fouled by disarray And all beneath the Milky Way was right, __Would we require a tempest’s ire unfurled __To understand the wonder of our world? Do we know...

. Race Then and Now Race did not matter, The way we were taught. It never should influence Judgments or thought. Just look at the person, We’re mostly the same, With stereotypes Cause for nothing but shame. We certainly know Treatment’s not uniform. And cultures can vary In penchants and...

. Simplicity I’m aching for a vague simplicity: Sophistication’s dainties have grown cold And tepid on the plate and suddenly My tastes lean toward a warm sobriety That feels quite new yet somehow very old. I crave the simpleness of early June: Of bridal wreath still on the branch and...

. You are invited to a reading of exquisite poetry and conversations with the poets.  . Date & Time Sunday June 26, 2022 2 p.m. (New York time), 7 p.m. (U.K. time) Duration: 1 hour . Location Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81501939758?pwd=MnNncmo0YjZabzlCWFk2VUxRNE1udz09 Meeting ID: 815 0193 9758 Passcode: 777770 One tap...

. Karl Barth Platz 1999 Perhaps we walked the same worn cobblestones, Between the same sheer walls, shops clean and trim, Down the same pathways, past the same old homes, And were startled alike by graffiti sneaking in; And gazed, from heights, at Alps presiding higher Than the tallest smokestack,...

. Reviewed Book: Modern Art: An Exhibition in Criticism, by Michael Curtis, National Civic Art Society, 2022 by Evan Mantyk On May 12, 2021, a terrible painting somehow sold for $103 million. It depicts a heavily outlined blob reminiscent of a woman in a chair. The painter clearly had set...

. Press On, Regardless Conduct a full internal audit, Then throw all caution to the wind. Expect a decent measured plaudit No hypercritic can rescind. And if you think you can’t do better It’s time that you should think again. Follow the rulebook to the letter, And pay no heed...

. Sibylline Sonnets for Eastertide See an explanation on what Sibyls are here. The Phrygian Sibyl Speaks portrayed with the resurrection banner or the words “Velum templi scindetur” Jesus, again crying out with a loud voice, yielded up his spirit. The veil of the temple was rent in two from top...

. Where Your Treasure Is “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:...

. The Society of Classical Poets Journal X has been published! It features poetry, translations, and essays selected from those published on the SCP website between February 1, 2021 and January 31, 2022. See a complete list of poetry, art, essays, and reviews below. It also features exquisite color art...

. Nil Carborundum Illegitimi  On dismal days enswathe yourself in rays, Then flash your splash of sunrise with panache. Such zesty citrus, saffron spun displays Will smash malaise with sassy solar dash--- A glowing grin that lifts your lows sky high… __Nil carborundum illegitimi. Brush off the bleak and bask...

. The Mass Mock-Shock of Monkeypox a villanelle Shun the mass mock-shock of monkeypox--- Force-fed fear declaiming death is nigh. Spurn the ceaseless bleat to lock down flocks. Snub the shaman selling shoddy shots--- Shares in care for autocrats to buy. Shun the mass mock-shock of monkeypox. Ditch the regs and rules of dodgy docs (Masqueraders paid to mystify). Spurn the ceaseless bleat to lock down...

. Free-Fall My life has been in free-fall since the day that I was born. __Through clouds and sunshine, I have flown and soared. The trip has been exhilarating since that birth-day morn. __There hasn’t been a day that I’ve been bored. The longer I keep falling all the more...

. Actaeon Transformed after Titian and Ovid Like his hounds, the hunter Actaeon in Titian's painting, drawn by some sharp scent, saw the goddess lounge with nothing on her body, on whose limbs the light was bent--- unearthly light within. The loosened style the artist used reveals the hunter wanted more than what he knew. Her rigid...

. May God Excuse Us If life’s a falling knife then catch the handle... Your every move makes enemies and friends. If life’s a fading flare, a dimming candle, Then slice it up and light up all the ends. And when the sovereign sword swings up above us Like that...

. Formal Poetry Against Free Verse "Modern poetry  modern verse  contemporary poetry  contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem Plato in “inventing some extraordinarily powerful images of his own” came up with “notably the poet as Corybant.”  ---Penelope Murray, Plato on Poetry, 9 If poets are like Corybantes inEcstatic dance, then...

. Now Once Again How many years ago, I’ve lost the count, we lay beneath these trees at summer’s end; the orchard left to tend itself for then the children came and seasons tumbled all together, mad delightful swirling years. The days, like fallen leaves, soon swept away to leave...

. . Shanghai's Robo Dogs With quick unnatural steps, and side to side Focusing glances, robo dogs preside And prowl the streets. They wear their growls in little Speakers around their necks, their barking spittle A blare of words: Go home, home now, now go. They click, record, and scurry...

. Culloden, April 16, 1746 In the Winter of 1745, the Jacobite army of Bonnie Prince Charlie passed through my town of Leek on the way to Derby. This was as far as they got before retreating back to the highlands, chased by the Duke of Cumberland, all the way...

. Shear Wickedness He was black from his nose to the tip of his tail __But for irises of a rich yellow. In his earlier days he was handsome and hale— __Yes, indeed, a magnificent fellow. But the calendar pages kept turning, alas, __And his ways became labored and stressed....

. According to The Telegraph, the University of Salford is planning to remove sonnets from its Creative Writing program.  The reason? They are "products of white western culture" and the University of Salford has an initiative to "decolonise the curriculum." (A version without paywall can be found here.) The Society...

. All Are Numbered Moving along the narrow grassy rows Under a sherbet sky, time seems to be The only place where nothing ever grows Or dies, and grass remains, eternally Quite clipped and orderly. It truly shows That someone, somewhere, sometime gave it care. Each blade of landscape preens...

. The Devoted Angler The river follows on its winding way, And in the angler’s camp above the bank Lilt murmurings arise to greet the day, Appearing now between the rushes rank As rays backlighting flower spikes to grey, And silver flecks in ripples making play Wherever waters lap and...

. Satan’s Limericks on the Seven Deadly Sins Sepulchrum patens est guttur eorum; linguis suis dolose agebant: venenum aspidum sub labiis eorum. Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they acted deceitfully: the poison of asps is under their lips. —Psalms 13:3 . Pride Be proud and aggressive...