Kaitlin Dyer
@kaitlindyer.bsky.social
Poet born on the banks of the Ohio river and now thriving in the sunshine of San Diego where hollers and hollas nestle simultaneously in my heart. Published in PANK, New Welsh Review, Hawaii Pacific Review, among others. Author of Alter Lives of Alter Egos
Last year, I trained with @goodlistening.bsky.social and had the honor of writing this poem for a community member. It feels important to share today.
![“How do you not see this? That’s what’s disappointing. We let racism and white supremacy blind us. It’s sad. I thought we were past that,” this officer told me when reflecting on how the recent political actions by the Trump administration were weighing on him. He expressed his concerns for middle-class Americans: “we are the hardest working people; we make America work.”
He described to me how he couldn’t understand the thoughts and actions of some people he had known for over twenty years. It is very disappointing for him because he values those relationships: “we are pack animals. We need that touch—that closeness. It’s what makes us strong.”
As someone who enjoys poetry, he wanted to feel the “joy of [my] talent” when reading the poem. He explained, “I love poetry and reading a good poem that has meaning and depth.” To honor that challenge, this poem utilizes Terrance Hayes’ golden shovel form by pulling lines from Langston Hughes’ “Let America Be America Again.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:nk5m4zp5urzcv5vg4mer6a5a/bafkreichybvqfod63cr3geg6hxxuqzh74qabzs6q67slqlgoeibx6sshmm@jpeg)
January 25, 2026 at 3:46 AM
Last year, I trained with @goodlistening.bsky.social and had the honor of writing this poem for a community member. It feels important to share today.
Reposted by Kaitlin Dyer
This month we’re celebrating the work of Saba Keramati in our “Emerging BIWOC Poet Spotlight.” Here’s a piece from her book Self-Mythology (University of Arkansas Press, 2024), and you can learn more about this poet on our website (linktree in bio). @uarkpress.bsky.social @sabadilla15.bsky.social
May 28, 2025 at 1:42 PM
This month we’re celebrating the work of Saba Keramati in our “Emerging BIWOC Poet Spotlight.” Here’s a piece from her book Self-Mythology (University of Arkansas Press, 2024), and you can learn more about this poet on our website (linktree in bio). @uarkpress.bsky.social @sabadilla15.bsky.social
May 14, 2025 at 10:12 PM
“The work of the writer is to be relentless and to write and write and write.” @roxanegay.bsky.social #AWP25
In 2010, PANK published a few of my poems. One of which they nominated for Best New Poets. It didn’t make it in, but I’ve always felt grateful for that nod. When I relayed the decline, …
In 2010, PANK published a few of my poems. One of which they nominated for Best New Poets. It didn’t make it in, but I’ve always felt grateful for that nod. When I relayed the decline, …
March 28, 2025 at 9:21 PM
“The work of the writer is to be relentless and to write and write and write.” @roxanegay.bsky.social #AWP25
In 2010, PANK published a few of my poems. One of which they nominated for Best New Poets. It didn’t make it in, but I’ve always felt grateful for that nod. When I relayed the decline, …
In 2010, PANK published a few of my poems. One of which they nominated for Best New Poets. It didn’t make it in, but I’ve always felt grateful for that nod. When I relayed the decline, …
100% my problem!
I want to go to all the things, but all the things happen at the same time. #awp25
March 27, 2025 at 9:36 PM
100% my problem!
According to my #AWP25 hotel window, traffic on the 110 is moving steadily in LA, so you know it’ll be a good day. #SoCalJokes
March 27, 2025 at 3:16 PM
According to my #AWP25 hotel window, traffic on the 110 is moving steadily in LA, so you know it’ll be a good day. #SoCalJokes
Reposted by Kaitlin Dyer
AOC: I want to live in an America that guarantees healthcare to every person.
I want to live in an America that has a living wage for every person
I want to live in an America where you have free speech to express yourself and not be afraid of being put on a list or deported.
I want to live in an America that has a living wage for every person
I want to live in an America where you have free speech to express yourself and not be afraid of being put on a list or deported.
March 21, 2025 at 3:34 AM
AOC: I want to live in an America that guarantees healthcare to every person.
I want to live in an America that has a living wage for every person
I want to live in an America where you have free speech to express yourself and not be afraid of being put on a list or deported.
I want to live in an America that has a living wage for every person
I want to live in an America where you have free speech to express yourself and not be afraid of being put on a list or deported.
Reposted by Kaitlin Dyer
I think some in the Senate have convinced themselves that the backlash to folding will be limited to “the left” and therefore ignorable.
Those people are deeply and profoundly misreading the moment and the stakes.
Virtually every swing district House Dem walked the plank to vote NO for a reason.
Those people are deeply and profoundly misreading the moment and the stakes.
Virtually every swing district House Dem walked the plank to vote NO for a reason.
March 14, 2025 at 2:46 AM
I think some in the Senate have convinced themselves that the backlash to folding will be limited to “the left” and therefore ignorable.
Those people are deeply and profoundly misreading the moment and the stakes.
Virtually every swing district House Dem walked the plank to vote NO for a reason.
Those people are deeply and profoundly misreading the moment and the stakes.
Virtually every swing district House Dem walked the plank to vote NO for a reason.
Reposted by Kaitlin Dyer
Getting back to game dev and finding the creative joy in life, soon releasing my first game on Steam, 'Rumor Raiders'. Give it a wishlist if a city-arranger/word puzzle/dungeon push-your-luck sounds like it's up your very specific alley.
store.steampowered.com/app/3219910/...
#screenshotsaturday
store.steampowered.com/app/3219910/...
#screenshotsaturday
March 8, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Getting back to game dev and finding the creative joy in life, soon releasing my first game on Steam, 'Rumor Raiders'. Give it a wishlist if a city-arranger/word puzzle/dungeon push-your-luck sounds like it's up your very specific alley.
store.steampowered.com/app/3219910/...
#screenshotsaturday
store.steampowered.com/app/3219910/...
#screenshotsaturday
My poem “My Therapist Asks Why I’m Writing” is in the 2024-25 San Diego Poetry Annual!
sandiegopoetryannual.com/order/free-p...
sandiegopoetryannual.com/order/free-p...
March 8, 2025 at 2:18 AM
My poem “My Therapist Asks Why I’m Writing” is in the 2024-25 San Diego Poetry Annual!
sandiegopoetryannual.com/order/free-p...
sandiegopoetryannual.com/order/free-p...
Grit by Angela Duckworth seemed like a good place to return to lately. I’m channeling my inner optimist.
March 6, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Grit by Angela Duckworth seemed like a good place to return to lately. I’m channeling my inner optimist.
Reposted by Kaitlin Dyer
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Trump wants control over the USPS to interfere with mail-in votes in the midterms.
This is dangerous—tampering with the postal service threatens democracy.
Be very clear: voter suppression isn’t strategy; it’s cheating.
#FuckTrump #USPS
Trump wants control over the USPS to interfere with mail-in votes in the midterms.
This is dangerous—tampering with the postal service threatens democracy.
Be very clear: voter suppression isn’t strategy; it’s cheating.
#FuckTrump #USPS
February 21, 2025 at 2:32 PM
.
Trump wants control over the USPS to interfere with mail-in votes in the midterms.
This is dangerous—tampering with the postal service threatens democracy.
Be very clear: voter suppression isn’t strategy; it’s cheating.
#FuckTrump #USPS
Trump wants control over the USPS to interfere with mail-in votes in the midterms.
This is dangerous—tampering with the postal service threatens democracy.
Be very clear: voter suppression isn’t strategy; it’s cheating.
#FuckTrump #USPS
Reposted by Kaitlin Dyer
You have questions. Mostly of the "What Can I Do to Resist This Coup?" variety. Choose Democracy has answers. Here's a really handy guide to the how/what/why of organizing... Share widely. Link here: choosedemocracy.us/what-can-i-do/
February 12, 2025 at 2:43 AM
You have questions. Mostly of the "What Can I Do to Resist This Coup?" variety. Choose Democracy has answers. Here's a really handy guide to the how/what/why of organizing... Share widely. Link here: choosedemocracy.us/what-can-i-do/
Here’s a fun game: for every independent clause that begins with “simply” tack on “dummy” at the end. A la “simply empty contents into a cup—add hot water and stir, dummy.”
February 11, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Here’s a fun game: for every independent clause that begins with “simply” tack on “dummy” at the end. A la “simply empty contents into a cup—add hot water and stir, dummy.”
Imagine it: standing at the bathroom mirror with one contact in and you get a epiphany. Will likely be in a writing vacuum for months. 👋
February 9, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Imagine it: standing at the bathroom mirror with one contact in and you get a epiphany. Will likely be in a writing vacuum for months. 👋
“To approach words from poetry is a form of asking questions.
La distancia entre una palabra y su significado es el espacio de la transformación.
—Cecilia Vicuña”
From Jose Felipe Alvergue’s Précis
#poetry
La distancia entre una palabra y su significado es el espacio de la transformación.
—Cecilia Vicuña”
From Jose Felipe Alvergue’s Précis
#poetry
February 8, 2025 at 4:52 AM
“To approach words from poetry is a form of asking questions.
La distancia entre una palabra y su significado es el espacio de la transformación.
—Cecilia Vicuña”
From Jose Felipe Alvergue’s Précis
#poetry
La distancia entre una palabra y su significado es el espacio de la transformación.
—Cecilia Vicuña”
From Jose Felipe Alvergue’s Précis
#poetry