Robert van Vliet
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Robert van Vliet
@letterspace.org
560 followers 290 following 360 posts
Poet. St Paul, MN.

Offline for September 2026.

inventions (above/ground 2026)
Vessels (Unsolicited 2024)
This Folded Path (above/ground 2023)

Blog: www.letterspace.org
Homepage: www.robertvanvliet.com

“Don’t give her money back.”

he/him
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Robert van Vliet @letterspace.org · Dec 17
It’s publication day for my strange little book!

Order a copy here.
Vessels was written during a time of disquiet, isolation, and absences, when each day was folded over on itself, false and empty. To keep working, Robert van Vliet challenged himself to build a ten-line poem each day that needed to include five words and a line or fragment from a book, all chosen randomly through chance operations. ¶ He knew that he was too swamped by the quotidian to allow himself to choose the words—they would be nothing but fear, mask, Covid, police, racist, murder, climate, rage… The chance operations allowed him to leave most of the decisions until the very moment he began composing. ¶ The result is a collection of three suites, each seeking a path beyond the polarity of either willfully ignoring the appalling spectacle of those pandemic years or being angrily transfixed by it. Three paths out of mute heartbreak and toward a third space of hope, presence, spirit.
letterspace.org
Gosh, I sure hope Angie remembered to thank ICE in her concession speech.
August 12, 2026 at 2:17 PM
letterspace.org
I have absolutely no interest in seeing the Odyssey now that I’ve learned they cut all the Tom Bombadil scenes.
August 6, 2026 at 2:00 PM
letterspace.org
Vin Diesel and Jason Statham in “I Know a Man”
jessehawken.bsky.social Jesse Hawken @jessehawken.bsky.social · Jul 28
Studio execs are going to want to adapt more poems for the big screen now
July 28, 2026 at 10:09 PM
letterspace.org
Schadenfreude is a many-splendored thing.
July 6, 2026 at 11:44 PM
letterspace.org
This work is by Barbara Kruger: Untitled, 1991. Text stylized like the stars and stripes of the American flag. In the blue field, these words in white: LOOK FOR THE MOMENT WHEN PRIDE BECOMES CONTEMPT. In the red field, these word in white: WHO IS FREE TO CHOOSE? WHO IS BEYOND THE LAW? WHO IS HEALED? WHO IS HOUSED? WHO SPEAKS? WHO IS SILENCED? WHO SALUTES LONGEST? WHO PRAYS LOUDEST? WHO DIES FIRST? WHO LAUGHS LAST?
July 4, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Reposted by Robert van Vliet
jeffsharlet.bsky.social
I asked my creative writing students to anonymously share their thoughts about AI. www.chronicle.com/article/my-s...
Opinion | My Students Hate AI. But They Can’t Stop Using It.
Big Tech has gotten them addicted to cheating, and they’ve internalized the blame.
www.chronicle.com
July 2, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Reposted by Robert van Vliet
cwahmanholm.bsky.social
What a thrill, gang!! "Overwinter" was written during Operation Metro Surge, when I was trying very hard to stay afloat. I reread it again just now and realized I've been using it every day since then, too. So grateful that it resonated with @ampoetryreview.bsky.social ❤️❤️
ampoetryreview.bsky.social The American Poetry Review @ampoetryreview.bsky.social · Jul 2
Congratulations to Claire Wahmanholm, winner of the 2026 Kunitz Prize for her poem "Overwinter."
July 2, 2026 at 2:04 AM
letterspace.org
Firefly, just outside the window!
June 19, 2026 at 3:44 AM
letterspace.org
This looks amazing — what a lineup!
tolu.ca Tolu Oloruntoba @tolu.ca · Jun 16
Vancouver Poet Laureate @eleekg.bsky.social will be launching "sometimes, forest" at @shelflifebooks.bsky.social tonight at 7 PM. @nikkireimer.bsky.social @ryanfitzpublic.bsky.social @sjonespoet.bsky.social and I will be reading briefly, in support. Hope to see you there!
Event poster with the following text: Book Launch June 16 | 7 PM | 1302 4 St W | Free Shelf Life Books With Author Elee Kralji Gardiner Joined by Tolu Oloruntoba Samantha Jones Ryan Fitzpatrick Nikki Reimer There is a photo of the cover of “sometimes, forest” by Elee Kralji Gardiner at the left corner of the graphic. Photos of the readers are also featured against a teal background.
June 16, 2026 at 11:27 PM
letterspace.org
Next month, folks!
shinepoetry.bsky.social SHINE Poetry @shinepoetry.bsky.social · Jun 10
Friends, the winner of SHINE Poetry's book prize -- Mapless by Kyla Houbolt -- is coming out NEXT month! Check out this early praise for the collection, from fellow writer Tom Snarsky. More news on Mapless coming soon...

#shinepoetry
#poetrylovers
#booklovers
#poetrycommunity
Mapless book praise
June 10, 2026 at 6:54 PM
letterspace.org
YES
A college instructor turns to typewriters to curb AI-written work and teach life lessons
Once a semester, a Cornell University instructor requires her students to complete an in-class assignment using typewriters — an exercise to help them understand what writing, thinking and classrooms ...
apnews.com
June 9, 2026 at 10:07 PM
letterspace.org
James Blood Ulmer, avant-garde electric guitarist and singer, has died at 86
The fearless free-funk and jazz artist, a student of Ornette Coleman's Harmolodics concept, followed his unorthodox path to a singular five-decade career.
www.npr.org
June 9, 2026 at 12:50 AM
letterspace.org
I wasn’t kidding. My wife and I are going analogue with our calendars.
Close-up of a blank day — today! — in a paper calendar.
May 31, 2026 at 1:55 PM
letterspace.org
“You can make it okay: you can get married in Gibraltar near Spain.” Christ!
An image of the book "Journeys of the Mind," a memoir by Peter Brown, a historian of Late Antiquity. The joke here (if I may be forgiven for explaining a joke) is that in "The Ballad of John and Yoko," there's a line that quotes the Beatles' manager, Peter Brown. They are obviously not the same Peter Brown. But the song frequently gets stuck in my head whenever I'm reading this book (or other works by the same author). Also, there is a cover photo of Brown in his tweed jacket, pencil in hand, looking very much like Bilbo writing the Red Book of Westmarch.
May 26, 2026 at 11:34 PM
letterspace.org
Now playing:
Cover image of SONNY ROLLINS VOLUME ONE. Blue and yellow. Rollins behind his sax, looking whimsical and inscoucient, hand to his forehead.
May 26, 2026 at 10:34 PM
letterspace.org
I’m about to have a lot of free time on my hands.

Maybe I should submit some poems somewhere. It’s been over two years since I did that.

I have almost fifty poems in my new weird project. A few of them are good. Some are okay. Most are stupid. But people like stupid poems, right? Gawd I hope so.
May 25, 2026 at 10:37 PM
letterspace.org
Loyalty is a two-way street.
May 24, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Reposted by Robert van Vliet
intoadarkerwilderness.com
We invite you to join us, and our sponsor Milkweed Editions, for our launch party at 6:00 pm on May 27th in the Open Book Performance Hall.

Admission is free; light refreshments and beverages will be provided.

@mkdordiggsy.bsky.social
@davigray.com
@milkweededitions.bsky.social
May 14, 2026 at 1:30 PM
letterspace.org
This looks amazing!
intoadarkerwilderness.com Into a Darker Wilderness @intoadarkerwilderness.com · May 14
You are invited!
Erin Sharkey and Michael Kleber-Diggs have been working on a podcast about Black nature writing called "Into a Darker Wilderness." The first season of the podcast will feature conversations with writers around the complicated relationships and history of Black people and nature…

1/
Flyer with text: Join us for our podcast launch. Michael Kleber-Diggs, Co-host. Erin Sharkey, Co-host. Davi Gray, producer. Into a Darker Wilderness podcast. May 27th, 6 pm, Open Book, 1011 Washington Ave S. Photos of Michael Kleber-Diggs, a middle-aged Black man with medium-dark skin; Erin Sharkey, a middle-aged Black woman with light brown skin; and Davi Gray, a middle-aged white nonbinary woman.
May 21, 2026 at 11:42 PM
letterspace.org
Hey, look what I found on my doorstep: it’s a box of chapbooks from above/ground press!

@robmclennan.bsky.social
An opened cardboard box showing stacks of poetry chapbooks.
May 9, 2026 at 9:15 PM
letterspace.org
I’m not quite the target audience but I have from time time taught writing and I must say: Don’t be fooled by the title. It may sound niche but if you want to be a writer of any kind, you may want to read this book. It probably has something to offer you. Also, lots of really good sentences.
letterspace.org Robert van Vliet @letterspace.org · Apr 28
I preordered this (by @lollardfish.bsky.social) from my favorite indie bookstore, @nextchapterbooksmn.bsky.social. It just arrived this afternoon.

Ooh look! It’s set in Chaparral!
A copy of THE PUBLIC SCHOLAR by DAVID M. PERRY (in all-caps to match the cover), seen here with what I hope is an interesting background. (No pets, sorry: allergies.)
May 5, 2026 at 12:52 AM
Reposted by Robert van Vliet
mischieftoy.com
Emily says we're wrecking the whole #SaintPaul scene. 🫠
A 1 star google review from Emily: I can't help but feel like Mischief Toy Store has lost the plot a bit. The exterior of the building is covered in messaging that comes across more like virtue signaling than welcoming. It honestly feels like the building is yelling at you before you even walk in. As a Minnesota native, it makes me sad to see the direction parts of the St. Paul scene seem to be heading. I understand the owner may feel strongly and might be defensive of this feedback, but I wish the focus stayed on what brings people in the door in the first place: kids, toys, and a sense of fun, rather than politics. Our reply: Emily, Social justice has been our "plot" since we opened 10 years ago. Those signs aren't virtue signaling, they reflect the core values of our family and our business. Black Lives Matter. Protect Trans Youth. No ICE. Resist Fascism. Build safer streets. If those sentiments made you feel unwelcome, then we kindly encourage you to broaden your understanding and empathy of your fellow human beings. Until then, we encourage you to shop elsewhere. Sincerely, Abby, Millie, and Dan owners, Mischief Toy Store
May 1, 2026 at 2:39 AM
letterspace.org
The moon through the trees.
May 1, 2026 at 2:15 AM
letterspace.org
“I’m gonna do it anyway
even if it doesn’t pay”
May 1, 2026 at 12:18 AM
letterspace.org
I preordered this (by @lollardfish.bsky.social) from my favorite indie bookstore, @nextchapterbooksmn.bsky.social. It just arrived this afternoon.

Ooh look! It’s set in Chaparral!
A copy of THE PUBLIC SCHOLAR by DAVID M. PERRY (in all-caps to match the cover), seen here with what I hope is an interesting background. (No pets, sorry: allergies.)
April 28, 2026 at 11:48 PM