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@stevenratiner.bsky.social

36 Followers  |  23 Following  |  42 Posts  |  Joined: 15.11.2024  |  1.7125

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The Red Letters Archives - Steven Ratiner I’ve come to see the Letters as an anthology evolving in real-time,Β responsive to the emotional and imaginative weather that affects all of our lives.

Linda Bamber's new poem (Red Letter #286), by turns sardonic and solemn, takes us back to Covid & our shared brush with mortality.

#LindaBamber #RedLetters #poetry

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06.02.2026 03:07 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
The Red Letters Archives - Steven Ratiner I’ve come to see the Letters as an anthology evolving in real-time,Β responsive to the emotional and imaginative weather that affects all of our lives.

RLP#282: a poem from former US Poet Laureate Ted Kooser from the new chapbook FELLOW CREATURES--a benefit for the Red Letters.

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#TedKooser #RedLetters #poetry

23.12.2025 21:05 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
The Red Letters Archives - Steven Ratiner I’ve come to see the Letters as an anthology evolving in real-time,Β responsive to the emotional and imaginative weather that affects all of our lives.

Red Letter#277: a marvelous new poem from acclaimed poet Carol Muske-Dukes' next book,(BAD) SCHEHERAZADE.

#CarolMuske-Dukes #RedLetters #DragQueenStoryTime

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21.11.2025 18:29 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
The Red Letters Archives - Steven Ratiner In ancient Rome, feast days were indicated on the calendar by red letters. To my mind, all poetry and art serves as a reminder that every day we wake together beneath the sun is a red-letter day.Β  Β  Β ...

What sly delight in Pam Alexander's "Long Story Short" published in the new Red Letter - a history of Earth and its possible destruction.

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#RedLetters #PamAlexander

27.10.2025 16:55 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
The Red Letters Archives - Steven Ratiner In ancient Rome, feast days were indicated on the calendar by red letters. To my mind, all poetry and art serves as a reminder that every day we wake together beneath the sun is a red-letter day.Β  Β  Β ...

RLP#243: a poem from Kevin McLellan's collection Sky. Pond. Mouth. -- heartbreak and revelation.

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#KevinMcLellan #RedLetters #WaltWhitman

17.10.2025 16:13 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
The Red Letters Archives - Steven Ratiner In ancient Rome, feast days were indicated on the calendar by red letters. To my mind, all poetry and art serves as a reminder that every day we wake together beneath the sun is a red-letter day.Β  Β  Β ...

Celebrating Ted Kooser's new chapbook - published as a benefit for the Red Letters. Read about it in this week's RLP:

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#TedKooser #FellowCreatures #RedLetters #poetry

13.10.2025 17:47 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
The Red Letters Archives - Steven Ratiner Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum nulla leo, iaculis sed odio eu, interdum convallis turpis. Donec eleifend, turpis facilisis facilisis lacinia, turpis erat ullamcorp...

Red Letter #271 features a poem from one of China's foremost poets, Wang Jiaxin - utterly relevant to our current situation.

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#WangJiaxin #RedLetters #ChinesePoetry

05.10.2025 05:25 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Intro - Steven Ratiner Poet and educator Steven Ratiner has contributed poetry and prose to numerous magazines in America and abroad. Two of his chapbooks were published in 2002: a retrospective collection from Pudding Hous...

Poet-turned-soldier, defending his Ukrainian homeland, Artur Dron' offers us an honest, harrowing glimpse from the frontlines. Published as RLP#266

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#ArturDron #Ukraine #RedLetters

21.08.2025 20:16 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Intro - Steven Ratiner Poet and educator Steven Ratiner has contributed poetry and prose to numerous magazines in America and abroad. Two of his chapbooks were published in 2002: a retrospective collection from Pudding Hous...

Jack Stewart's poem offers yet another fascinating take on the Wicked Witch of the (far) West in his new Red Letter poem.

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#JackStewart #RedLetters #WickedWitchoftheWest

13.08.2025 04:48 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Intro - Steven Ratiner Poet and educator Steven Ratiner has contributed poetry and prose to numerous magazines in America and abroad. Two of his chapbooks were published in 2002: a retrospective collection from Pudding Hous...

Acclaimed novelist Askold Melnyczuk's first love was poetry. The Venus of Odesa collects his poems & translations. RLP#264 depicts conscience clashing with calamity.
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#Melnyczuk #RedLetters

06.08.2025 19:51 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Intro - Steven Ratiner Poet and educator Steven Ratiner has contributed poetry and prose to numerous magazines in America and abroad. Two of his chapbooks were published in 2002: a retrospective collection from Pudding Hous...

Heart-breakingly beautiful - reading Susan Roney-O’Brien's new suite of poems about coping with an awful diagnosis: MS. Red Letter #263 now available.

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or view at: dougholder.blogspot.com
#SusanRoneyOBrien #RedLetters #MS

29.07.2025 20:42 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Intro - Steven Ratiner Poet and educator Steven Ratiner has contributed poetry and prose to numerous magazines in America and abroad. Two of his chapbooks were published in 2002: a retrospective collection from Pudding Hous...

A posthumous poem from the dearly-missed Danielle Legros Georges, built upon slave documents from Colonial N. England. Crispus Attucks lives!

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#DanielleLegrosGeorges #RedLetters #poetry

16.07.2025 23:33 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Intro - Steven Ratiner Poet and educator Steven Ratiner has contributed poetry and prose to numerous magazines in America and abroad. Two of his chapbooks were published in 2002: a retrospective collection from Pudding Hous...

In RLP#260, science, history, and poetry collide inside Teresa Cader's lovely meditation on how we 'know.'

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#TeresaCader #RedLetters #hippocampus

10.07.2025 06:10 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Intro - Steven Ratiner Poet and educator Steven Ratiner has contributed poetry and prose to numerous magazines in America and abroad. Two of his chapbooks were published in 2002: a retrospective collection from Pudding Hous...

RLP#259 is a lovely triparte poem from Susan Donnelly exploring 'the nature of things' (as Lucretius might have phrased it) in our emotional lives.

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02.07.2025 22:01 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene This blog consists of reviews, interviews, news, etc...from the world of the Boston area small press/ poetry scene and beyond. Regular contributors are reviewers: Dennis Daly, Michael Todd Steffen, D...

Our bitter childhood mistakes - is atonement ever possible? George Kalogeris' beautiful poem considers our shared fate.

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#GeorgeKalogeris #atonement #RedLetters

19.05.2025 03:22 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene This blog consists of reviews, interviews, news, etc...from the world of the Boston area small press/ poetry scene and beyond. Regular contributors are reviewers: Dennis Daly, Michael Todd Steffen, D...

RLP#251 features the estimable Jennifer Clarvoe and a poem from her forthcoming collection, PIANO PIANO.

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or view at: dougholder.blogspot.com
#JenniferClarvoe #RedLetters #poetry

30.04.2025 19:28 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene This blog consists of reviews, interviews, news, etc...from the world of the Boston area small press/ poetry scene and beyond. Regular contributors are reviewers: Dennis Daly, Michael Todd Steffen, D...

For Poetry Month, a Flashback Friday from the first weeks of the Red Letters back in 2020: a lyric-tour-de-force from Thomas DeFreitas.

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#ThomasDeFreitas#RedLetters

18.04.2025 16:40 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

. . .If you're in the Boston area:

Tuesday, April 15th, 7 p.m., free, everyone welcome!

700 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington. Small parking lot plus street parking available. Hope to see you there!

13.04.2025 17:43 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

If you're in the Boston area. . .

I'll be doing a reading on Tuesday at the Robbins Library in Arlington from GRIEF'S APOSTROPHE, along with the always-marvelous Fred Marchant reading work from a new manuscript.
(continued)

13.04.2025 17:42 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene This blog consists of reviews, interviews, news, etc...from the world of the Boston area small press/ poetry scene and beyond. Regular contributors are reviewers: Dennis Daly, Michael Todd Steffen, D...

As baseball's in full-swing, a tribute to Jimmy Piersall, youth & our desire to express our truth:RLP#250 with poet Susan Eisenberg.
For new installments, subscriptions, or submissions: steven.arlingtonlaureate@gmail.com
or view at: dougholder.blogspot.com
#SusanEisenberg #RedLetters #JimmyPiersall

12.04.2025 19:20 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene This blog consists of reviews, interviews, news, etc...from the world of the Boston area small press/ poetry scene and beyond. Regular contributors are reviewers: Dennis Daly, Michael Todd Steffen, D...

Red Letter #249 from poet Jennifer Markell: an elegy for her aunt, a memory of Theater in the Park, a salute to the power of poetry.
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or view at: dougholder.blogspot.com
#JenniferMarkell #RedLetters

07.04.2025 00:48 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene This blog consists of reviews, interviews, news, etc...from the world of the Boston area small press/ poetry scene and beyond. Regular contributors are reviewers: Dennis Daly, Michael Todd Steffen, D...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the Red Letters! We've just completed our fifth year & are excited to leap into the sixth.

To receive the new installment, subscribe, or submit your own poetry: you can reach me at: steven.arlingtonlaureate@gmail.com

or view the newest installment at: dougholder.blogspot.com

31.03.2025 05:12 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene This blog consists of reviews, interviews, news, etc...from the world of the Boston area small press/ poetry scene and beyond. Regular contributors are reviewers: Dennis Daly, Michael Todd Steffen, D...

RLP#248: Gary Whited celebrates his 80th(!) birthday with an evocative new poem from the Montana prairie.

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or view at: dougholder.blogspot.com
#GaryWhited #RedLetters #poetry

31.03.2025 04:46 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene This blog consists of reviews, interviews, news, etc...from the world of the Boston area small press/ poetry scene and beyond. Regular contributors are reviewers: Dennis Daly, Michael Todd Steffen, D...

It's been a while since Jonathan Aaron had a new book out - but today's Red letter highlights a little gem from the collection.

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or view at: dougholder.blogspot.com
#JonathanAaron #RedLetters #JosBrodsky

14.03.2025 19:46 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene This blog consists of reviews, interviews, news, etc...from the world of the Boston area small press/ poetry scene and beyond. Regular contributors are reviewers: Dennis Daly, Michael Todd Steffen, D...

Bonnie Bishop's poem, "Traveling Solo," reminds us of how important it is to eventually arrive at the self. RLP#245

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08.03.2025 00:30 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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I am delighted to share the news that my new poetry collection, GRIEF'S APOSTROPHE, has been published by Beltway Editions. It can be purchased on most of the book sites like bookshop.com, Amazon, and Barnes&Noble. Take a look!
#StevenRatiner #RedLetters #Grief #poetry

24.02.2025 21:38 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene This blog consists of reviews, interviews, news, etc...from the world of the Boston area small press/ poetry scene and beyond. Regular contributors are reviewers: Dennis Daly, Michael Todd Steffen, D...

Red Letter #243 features a new poem from Michael T. Steffen. What happens when a bat - or inspiration - startles us awake?
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or view at: dougholder.blogspot.com
#MichaelTSteffen #RedLetters #poetry #bat

21.02.2025 17:39 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene This blog consists of reviews, interviews, news, etc...from the world of the Boston area small press/ poetry scene and beyond. Regular contributors are reviewers: Dennis Daly, Michael Todd Steffen, D...

RLP#242 - an elegiac poem from Susan Donnelly, touching on the unique pain involved in the loss of siblings, quite moving.

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or view at: dougholder.blogspot.com
#SusanDonnelly #RedLetters #siblings

14.02.2025 19:24 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

A new poem from the marvelous Danielle Legros Georges celebrating Black History Month: to make us pause, reassess, appreciate.

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or view at: dougholder.blogspot.com
#DanielleLegrosGeorge #BlackHistory

09.02.2025 08:13 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene This blog consists of reviews, interviews, news, etc...from the world of the Boston area small press/ poetry scene and beyond. Regular contributors are reviewers: Dennis Daly, Michael Todd Steffen, D...

Red Letter#240 explores the power and surprise of deadpan delivery - in comedy as well as poetry. 3 new poems from the estimable Andrea Cohen.

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or view at: dougholder.blogspot.com
#AndreaCohen #RedLetters

01.02.2025 20:27 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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