SCP Symposium In-Person in September in Naperville, Illinois
. Request for Expression of Interest SCP Poet Russel Winick has graciously agreed to host an in-person SCP Symposium at his large residence in...
‘Summer Family Cookout’: A Poem by Doug Stoiber
. Summer Family Cookout Criss-cross, hamburger toss, _Flip that sizzlin’ patty! Pretty please, and top with cheese! _You’re the Great Grill...
‘Bayesian Hubris v. Mercy Seat 11A’: A Poem by James Sale
. Bayesian Hubris v. Mercy Seat 11A “Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, who miraculously walked away from the Ahmedabad disaster, in which more than 240...
‘Gorge’: A Poem on Fishing by Stephen M. Dickey
. Gorge Millennia before the Bass Pro tours, Sonar fish finders and electric reels, Some unsung pioneer dreamed baits and lures, Felt in his blood...
‘On the Existence of Two Genders’: A Poem by Brian Yapko
. On the Existence of Two Genders Note: This poem is written in response to the trans-driven push to promulgate the idea that gender is either...
‘Therapy’: A Poem by Mary Jane Myers
. Therapy ---After "Help! I Can’t Stop Speaking in Iambic!" by Cynthia Erlandson Help! I can’t stop writing psychobabble!No matter what I pen, it...
‘Every Square Inch’: A Poem by Frank Rable
. Every Square Inch Her every square inch, her breath, and her voice, In all this and more my soul can rejoice. The beat from her heart, the wink...
Two Poems on Cardinals, by T.M. Moore
. Cardinals The cardinal is my favorite bird.They mate for life, or so I’ve heard.You hear them sing antiphonally—it’s like a game they play,...
Report on Results of the SCP Survey of Poets
. Report on Results of the SCP Survey of Poets by Roy E. Peterson and Evan Mantyk The survey had 60 respondents, about 1/3rd of them were SCP...
SCP Poetry Competition Winners’ Symposium—You’re Invited! (Updated with Link)
. The SCP Poetry Competition Winners’ Symposium Join the Symposium...
‘Rolling the Dice’: A Poem by Warren Bonham
. Rolling the Dice “Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the Universe exists, why we exist.”...
‘A Whale Is a Whale’: A Poem After Ogden Nash, by Jonathan Bear
. A Whale is a Whale ---after Ogden Nash While laughing aloud at Ogden's smart rhymes, I was struck by a way to interpret his lines. Though Nash's...
‘Hope’ and Other Poems by Russel Winick
. Hope ---in homage to Langston Hughes Hold steadfastly to hopeFor if hope should subsideLife’s a slippery slopeWhere dreams only...
‘Dad and I’ and Other Poems by C.B. Anderson
. Dad and I Our sessions last an hour or two at most, for we get through them just as fast as can be managed, trying not to stir the ghost of hurts...
‘Rodrigo’s Lament’: A Poem by Damon Rose
. Rodrigo’s Lament The legendary knight El Cid duels with his fiancé’s father. His rasping knavish voice profanes my good name. It grates my...
‘New York, New York’: A Poem on the NYC Mayor Race, by Brian Yapko
. New York, New York “Give up Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island too…” (with apologies to Rodgers & Hart) How many songs about New York...
‘A Sonnet for My One True Love’ and Other Poetry by Aaron Nydegger
. A Sonnet for My One True Love Forever let the night go on and on, My body to your softness gently pressed, Nor let the touch of shameful, blushing...
‘Gruesome’: A Poem on the LA Riots of 2025, by Adam Wasem
. Gruesome Grinning Gavin smooths his tie, Makes sure he’s framed against blue sky. He pats his hair—one’s out of place; He frowns to note...
A Poem on John Duns Scotus, by Mary Jane Myers
. Doctor Subtilis ---Blessed John Duns Scotus (1265--1308) A proud and canny Scot from Duns am I, an infant when Franciscans reached our coast. These...
‘Another Species’ and Other Poems by Sally Cook
. Another Species Each time you felt some shame you could confess The sins you had committed, but instead You whispered a revision, something less In...
‘Six’: A Poem by Patricia Rogers Crozier
. Six Bitter were the crimson seeds, Beautiful they were to me, Sparkling like ruby beads, In his palm of ivory. Dark they were to look upon, Rivers...
‘Archaic Torso of Apollo’ by Rilke and ‘Reconciliation’ by Goethe, Translated by Josh Olson
. Archaic Torso of Apollo by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) translated from German by Josh Olson We cannot know that enigmatic head in which his eyes...
‘The Prayer Blanket’: A Poem Based on the Real Experience of Tim Cassar
. The Prayer Blanket ---as related to me by my friend Tim Cassar, who recently survived a brain cancer operation by Brian Yapko The paramedics came....
The Society of Classical Poets 2025 Haiku Competition
. WHO Anyone in the world, of any age or background, may participate (SCP Membership not required). Among members of the Society of Classical Poets,...
‘Together’: A Poem by Margaret Coats
. Together The windows of our dawning day_Let light in through the dew,But outdoors ambling in cool air,_I knew that I’d find you. Close comfort,...
‘I Would Say Yes’ and Other Poetry by Gigi Ryan
. I Would Say Yes ---a villanelle for Larry on our 36th Anniversary We were young and rather stupid then, But still I see that we were meant to be. I...
‘The Comings and Goings of Heaven and Earth’: A Poem by David L. Williams
. The Comings and Goings of Heaven and Earth Clouds’ movement in the sky, the sight of birds, phenomena that draw an upward glance, may sometimes...
‘Tilted Tales’: Three Poems by Susan Jarvis Bryant
. Clueless ---a villanelle How can I tell what is and isn’t true In daffy days that stupefy the wise? I’m sifting through the chaos for a...
‘Enigma’: A Poem by Steve Cooper
. . . Steve Cooper is a retired professional career counselor. He lives near Salem, Oregon. He has one traditionally published picture book on...
‘Periwinkle’: A Poem by Jeffrey Essmann
. Periwinkle Don't know that I was on the spectrum, no, But I was weird. I read too much and played Pretend too much. My mind too often strayed To...
‘A Winter’s Tale’ by Jeff Eardley
. A Winter's Tale There’re many strange and spooky tales, That come from England’s hills and dales. When Winter tightens up its grip, As feet and...
‘Get Along, Little DOGE-ie’ and Other Social Commentary Poetry by James A. Tweedie
. Get Along, Little DOGE-ie Should come a day my fortunes be increased, It’s guaranteed such bounty will be fleeced. For government, like vacuum...
‘Salmon Skin’ and Other Poetry by Adam Sedia
. Salmon Skin _Laid temptingly Upon a china dish, _Poached perfectly, A long, pink flank of fish. _Its scents amaze. Fork poised to dig right in, _I...
‘What Is a Man?’: A Poem by Cynthia Erlandson
. What Is a Man? “Ask now, and see, whether a man is ever in labor with child?” ---Jeremiah 30: 6 The prophet’s statement clearly is...
‘Everyday Care’: A Poem by David Ram
. Everyday Care PCA: personal care assistant When the latest PCA discovers wet towels in the washer, a baguette inside its paper sleeve on the...
A Poem for Father’s Day: ‘The Weight of a Father’ by Susan Jarvis Bryant
. The Weight of a Father . I. The Smell of Sawdust On bawling-brother, busy-mother days, The saint who slew the dragons in her dream Whisked her...
‘Shakespeare’ and Other Poetry by Lee Evans
. Shakespeare The Master strolled upon the beach, __And stooped to find Among the shells washed up in heaps, __Mere husks of Mind— Selecting them...
‘Florida Beach Vacation 2025’: A Poem by Evan Mantyk
. Florida Beach Vacation 2025 They buried me in pale white sand. _They took away my phone. The mouse was wrested from my hand _And now I’m all...
‘Term Limits’: A Poem by Warren Bonham
. Term Limits Without term limits, nothing prevents the eruption of bribery, graft, and unbridled corruption. Too few of our founders felt our...
‘When the Child Appears’: A Poem by Victor Hugo, Translated by Bruce Phenix
. When the Child Appears by Victor Hugo (1802-1885)translated from French by Bruce Phenix When the child appears, the family’s loud praiseBursts...