The Architecture of Verse: Why Classical Form Still Matters

In an era where modern verse often resembles a spill of words rather than a constructed vessel, the question arises: why return to the rigidity of meter and rhyme? This is the central inquiry of the inaugural episode of Classical Poets Live, hosted by Andrew Benson Brown.

It is not merely an act of preservation, but a resurrection. The debut session features Evan Mantyk, the co-founder and editor of the Society of Classical Poets (SCP), peeling back the curtain on the organization’s origins and its expanding footprint in the literary world.

Classical Poets Live (CPL) with Andrew Benson Brown – Episode 1: Why Classical Poetry?

The Bricklayer and the Editor

The conversation drifts beyond simple administrative history into the philosophical bedrock of the craft. Mantyk, often the unseen hand guiding the Society’s publications, steps into the digital light—a “talking torso,” as the setup humorously dictates—to discuss the necessity of structure.

There is a grounding reality to this pursuit. Just as Ben Jonson was once a bricklayer, stacking stones to build something that endures, the classical poet stacks syllables. The mission discussed is not about elitism but about “Truth, Beauty, and Goodness.” It is a deliberate counter-movement to the formlessness that dominates much of the contemporary “woke narrative,” offering instead a return to objective aesthetic standards.

The Mechanics of Revival

Brown, celebrating his 40th year during the launch, steers the dialogue toward the practical machinery of this revival. The discussion highlights the FoFG Poetry Competition, a contest notable not just for its rigor but for its lack of entry fees—a detail that democratizes access to high culture.

Behind the polished final product of a poem (or a podcast) lies the sweat of the edit. Brown candidly notes the exhaustion of the process—the digital cutting and splicing required to make a conversation flow as smoothly as a sonnet. It is a reminder that art, whether written in iambic pentameter or recorded for Spotify, requires labor.

A Community of Order

The episode serves as more than just an interview; it is a rallying cry for those who find solace in rhythm. The Society has grown from a small initiative in New York to a global platform, proving that the hunger for rhyme is not archaic—it is perennial.

Looking ahead, the series promises to bring more voices from the page to the screen, including the sharp wit of poets like Susan Jarvis Bryant. But for now, the foundation is laid: classical poetry is not a museum piece. It is a living, breathing argument for order in a chaotic world.