My third full-length collection, Made Man, officially launches March 1 from Little Red Tree Publishing. Staci Wright at the American Library Association’s Rainbow Round Table Reviews says: A mix of somber moments and charming wit, Reiter’s collection makes space for humor in the maelstrom of navigating gendered experiences. Their poems synthesize recent historical moments and
My Poetry Book “Made Man” Is Here! Read More »
Time for some more hard-hitting poems about war and American manhood from my friend The Poet Spiel, a/k/a the artist Tom W. Taylor. Watch this space for news of our collaboration on my next poetry book! returnee: commandments 6 and 3 on his knees, in reverse of the sacred thou shalt commandments, first taken to
The Poet Spiel: “Returnee” Series Read More »
When the pandemic started, my spiritual guide Julian said to me, “We’re all going to die, darling–wear your good shoes.” (For more advice from an imaginary fashion photographer, read this book.) The sudden closeness of death and impermanence brought home to me that there may be no “later” that we’re saving our luxuries for. Or,
February Bonus Links: Go Ahead, Break That Dish Read More »
In elementary school they read us this delicious poem by Mark Strand: “Ink runs from the corners of my mouth. There is no happiness like mine. I have been eating poetry…” The gender politics of “Eating Poetry” are a little cringe but the visceral engagement with language still resonates with me. And apparently also with
February Links Roundup: Eat a Book Every Day Read More »
Having just finished my intensive immersion in “The Sopranos”, I don’t have an explanation for the enigmatic and (some would say) unsatisfying final cut-to-black scene of Tony in the diner. To quote Wednesday Addams, Are they dead? Does it matter? What I do notice is a psychological resemblance to the endings of two other shows
Hell Is the Absence of Closure Read More »
Welcome to 2022, readers. Let’s start the year with the energy of this Oregon crow who befriended a class of fifth graders: [Education assistant Naomi] Imel said the bird wasn’t aggressive at all and seemed to love the kids. “It landed on some people’s heads,” she said. And, she added, it spoke. The bird could
January Links Roundup: As the Crow Flies Read More »
How it started: How it’s going: Another year around the Block. I definitely don’t take that for granted. It’s one thing to know intellectually that life is short and unpredictable, entirely another thing to feel that urgency as one wakes up every day in a country under threat from fascism and disease. What am I
Reiter’s Block Year in Review: 2021 Read More »
The time has come “to give a reason for the hope that is in me” (1 Peter 3:15). Since March 2021, I’ve been a Year One student at the Temple of Witchcraft. Co-founded in 1998 by Christopher Penczak, Steve Kenson, and Adam Sartwell, TOW offers online and in-person courses in magical training and personal development.
Multi-genre creator The Poet Spiel, a/k/a the visual artist Tom W. Taylor, has now licensed his colorful, energetic prints of flora and fauna for sale on Spoonflower fabrics and home goods. Spiel’s artwork will also grace the cover and frontispieces of my next poetry collection from Little Red Tree, forthcoming in early 2022. Meanwhile, he
Flash Fiction by Spiel: “Blue Boy” Read More »
Happy (?) November, readers. My mood continues to be “living my best life in the end times”, hence the question mark. This post’s title references an article I will shortly mention, but also a realization that sometimes gives me hope and other times makes me feel more helpless than ever. I grew up thinking that
November Links Roundup: Inequality Isn’t Magic Read More »