The Distinguished Panel: Voices and Verdicts

Cultivators of the Earth and Meter

A distinct connection often exists between the tending of soil and the pruning of lines, a balance C.B. Anderson mastered during his tenure as the gardener for the PBS television series The Victory Garden. His literary contributions have flourished across continents, appearing in journals spanning from Austria to India, and he solidified his voice with the collection Mortal Soup and the Blue Yonder in 2013. This dedication to both the physical and the metrical landscape marks his presence on the panel.

C.B. Anderson, former gardener for PBS and poet

The 2020 winner of the International SCP Poetry Competition, Susan Jarvis Bryant, brings a sharp wit found in publications like Snakeskin and Lighten Up Online. Her work has earned recognition beyond the digital sphere, securing a nomination for the 2022 Pushcart Prize and appearing in the Extreme Formal Poems anthology. She represents a dynamic shift in formal verse, bridging the gap between classical structure and modern satire.

Susan Jarvis Bryant, 2020 competition winner

Scholars of Tradition and Translation

Margaret Coats offers a deep academic perspective, grounded in her Ph.D. in English and American Literature from Harvard University. Her time living in Kyoto for four years fostered a profound engagement with Japanese haiku, complementing her work in translating verse from French, Latin, and Italian. As a retired teacher who focused extensively on homeschooling, she approaches poetry with the precision of a linguist and the patience of an educator.

Margaret Coats, Harvard PhD and translator

Bridging the worlds of hard science and retail, Patricia Rogers Crozier holds a B.S. in Physics from Mississippi College while working at Publix in Gulf Breeze, Florida. Her unique background informs her verse, which recently culminated in her victory at the 2024 SCP International Poetry Competition. Her writing has even graced the pages of The Washington Post, proving that the poetic muse favors no single profession.

Patricia Rogers Crozier, 2024 competition winner

Leadership and Regional Voices

Evan Mantyk serves as the central pillar of the organization, teaching history and literature in New York while acting as President and Editor of the Society of Classical Poets. His editorial vision shapes both the online and printed journals, ensuring a platform for structured verse in a free-verse world. His own creative output includes Heroes of the East and West, reflecting a broad cultural synthesis.

Evan Mantyk, President of the Society of Classical Poets

Rooted in the landscapes of the Hudson Valley Region of New York, Reid McGrath draws inspiration from his immediate surroundings. His most recent volume, Juvenalia, captures a specific vitality that resonates with the Society’s mission. Readers often find his contributions directly on the Society’s platform, where his regional voice adds a distinct local color to the international mix.

Reid McGrath, poet from the Hudson Valley

The Academics and The Legal Minds

Joseph S. Salemi stands as a formidable figure in the classical revival, teaching in the Department of Humanities at NYU and Classical Languages at Hunter College. With five books of poetry and over a hundred scholarly articles, he also steers the literary magazine TRINACRIA as its editor. His influence extends to Expansive Poetry On-line, making him a critical theoretical voice in the room.

Joseph S. Salemi, professor at NYU and Hunter College

Adam Sedia manages a dual life as a civil and appellate litigator and a composer of music in his native Northwest Indiana. Born in 1984, he infuses his work with a musicality that perhaps stems from his composition background, appearing in The Chained Muse Review and Indiana Voice Journal. His ability to navigate the strict structures of law and the fluid rhythms of music offers a unique critical lens.

Adam Sedia, litigator and composer

Narratives from the Coast and Courtroom

James A. Tweedie, a retired pastor residing in Long Beach, Washington, brings a prolific storytelling ability to the panel. His bibliography is extensive, featuring six novels, a short story collection, and three poetry volumes including Poems with a Wink and a Smile. The theological background likely informs the humanity and humor found in his critical assessments.

James A. Tweedie, retired pastor and novelist

Rounding out the group is Brian Yapko, a retired lawyer and the winner of the 2023 SCP International Poetry Competition. His literary range is surprisingly dark and vast, including the gothic archaeological novel Bleeding Stone and the science fiction work El Nuevo Mundo. Based in Wimauma, Florida, his publication history in over fifty journals speaks to a relentless dedication to the craft.

Brian Yapko, retired lawyer and 2023 winner