free verse poetry – Ren S.K. Studio

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SLR image under a bridge in northern Michigan cropped to be blog feature size

VERTIGO [?]

By: renskstudio December 9, 2025December 23, 2025

Poetrybridge, fed5b, free verse poetry, mental health, michigan, Poetry, slr, vertigo, vestibularLeave a Comment

Wrote this poem today after some vertigo symptoms took over.

Photo of artist at their booth - table cloth in yellow. ZInes and books and prints and cameras on display. Cropped for wordpress feature size

Railroad City Mobile Book Fair

By: renskstudio October 10, 2025October 10, 2025

Eventsart, community arts, Events, festivals, free verse poetry, indianapolis, midwest, mutual aid, Poetry, rv, self publishing, small press, zine, zine fest, zinesLeave a Comment

Thanks to everyone who supported the read-in event! Read for the recap and details about two self-publishing events you can find me at in the midwest this month.

Risograph print of a person and dog standing in front of a nuclear power plant in neon orange and green

Becoming Lake Erie REDUX

By: renskstudio September 5, 2024February 25, 2025

Poetrydetroit, downriver, environment, environmental justice, environmentalism, free form poetry, free verse poetry, michigan, mths zine, photography, plant art, queer artist, riso, risograph, wildlife art, zines

A More-Than-Human Society vol 2 zine has launched, so I want to reshare my ode to Downriver area of Detroit, Michigan in its final risograph form!

Two green and yellow parakeets sitting on a spiraling rainbow rope, preening and napping

MONUMENTAL CIRCLE

Liberation is a dream within reach through the compassionate actions of each of us. This poem was inspired by a conversation with a man who is able to tap into a reality that most cannot fathom. Forms of oppression will appear in cycles if we don’t heed the learnings of history.

Ren and Mark, artists, vending at a booth outside with zines and prints

June 2024 Events!

By: renskstudio June 1, 2024February 25, 2025

Eventsart, Events, festivals, free verse poetry, indianapolis, Poetry, zine, zine fest, zinesLeave a Comment

June is packed with exciting events in Indianapolis, including markets, poetry conferences, and film screenings! Come say hi!

Becoming Lake Erie

By: renskstudio January 29, 2024February 25, 2025

Poetrydownriver, free form poetry, free verse poetry, photography, plant art, queer artist, wildlife art

I wrote this poem for an upcoming zine themed on “place”. Downriver, Michigan is a place that is a part of me. I am always in awe of its beauty and neglect.

sketch of the rocky mountains in black ink outlines and colored with mint gouache, cropped in on the top of the mountain and pines

5′ Mountain

Back into writing poetry after a long hiatus… again. This piece was written in response to a Long Covid flare-up and the lessons learned from places I’ve met.

Hand painted patch of a raccoon jaw bone and teeth in flowering moss on rust colored denim.

MOSS CLOUDS

By: renskstudio March 13, 2023February 25, 2025

Poetryanimal art, bones, flowers, free verse poetry, moss, painted patches, patches, plant art, punk art, queer artist, raccoon, river, sewing, wildlife artLeave a Comment

Back into writing poetry after a long hiatus, or at least back to sharing these words the world. Also announcing my new hand-painted patch project!

Desk with sketchbook open, colored pencils, brushes and palette. Sketchbook is open to a drawing of two budgies in red, blue, orange and pink.

SUMMER SOLSTICE

By: renskstudio July 12, 2021February 25, 2025

Poetryanimal art, birds, brush lettering, calligraphy, colored pencil, companion animals, free verse poetry, ink, Poetry, summer solstice, toned paper, watercolorLeave a Comment

The summer solstice occurred about a month ago and now we’re in the thick of the season. I want to make sure I post this poem before I forget!

I AM HERE I AM

By: renskstudio June 7, 2021February 25, 2025

Poetryanimal art, brood x, brush lettering, cicada, colored pencil, free verse poetry, gouache, hand lettering, ink, queer artist, sketchbook, toned paper, watercolor, wildlife artLeave a Comment

Brood x cicadas are arriving! Observing them around metro Detroit inspired me to create this sketch and poem.

Close up of an abstract painting of space with a pressed strawberry flower. EMPTINESS is written around it in silver metallic ink.

The Laborers Are Free

By: renskstudio May 18, 2021February 25, 2025

Poetryabstract art, brush lettering, free verse poetry, hand lettering, ink, pandemic, pressed flowers, queer artist, sumi inkLeave a Comment

‘The Laborers Are Free’: take a look at a new painting based upon a poem I wrote at the onset of the pandemic.

Cropped image of abstract circular illustration of covid-19 virus in blue, teal and ochre. B117 written around it.

B117

By: renskstudio April 26, 2021February 25, 2025

Poetryabstract art, brush lettering, covid, free verse poetry, hand lettering, ink, pandemic, queer artist, watercolorLeave a Comment

Had fun with a compass while illustrating an abstract COVID-19 virus. Check out this piece and my free-verse poem ‘B117’.

Sketchbook open to a drawing of a bird skull with moss growing on it, text behind says "SHOULD BE A GOOD AWAKENING"

Should Be A Good Awakening

By: renskstudio April 19, 2021February 25, 2025

Poetrybirds, colored pencil, complementary colors, free verse poetry, gouache, hand lettering, moss, queer artist, sketchbook, toned paper, watercolor, wildlife artLeave a Comment

Read my new poem “A Good Awakening” with an original mossy illustration!

Featured cropping of the illustration of two robins singing with speach bubbles that say 'Robin's Song'

Robin’s Song

By: renskstudio April 14, 2021February 25, 2025

Poetrybirds, brush lettering, colored pencil, free verse poetry, gouache, hand lettering, ink, Poetry, queer artist, robin, watercolor, wildlife artLeave a Comment

Check out my newest painting and poem featuring the iconic bringers of spring, American Robins!

Sketchbook open to a drawing of four garner snakes in colored pencil and ink. Hand-lettering over it in transparent ochre ink says "PANDEMIVERSARY"

PANDEMIVERSARY

By: renskstudio April 5, 2021February 25, 2025

Poetrybrush lettering, colored pencil, free verse poetry, garner snakes, hand lettering, ink, pandemic, Poetry, queer artist, sketchbook, snakes, toned paper, watercolor, wildlife artLeave a Comment

A poem to mark the full year of the pandemic and a sketchbook illustration featuring four garner snakes.