LETTERS FROM MAX

Milkweed Editions

Letters from Max tells the story of the relationship between a young poet diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma and a celebrated playwright who began as his teacher and became, over the course of an extended correspondence, his friend, and finally, his student.

In the collection’s introduction, Ruhl writes:
“Max had a heart as vast as that rare of all things—a real poet’s. At some point our roles of teacher and student were reversed, and Max became my teacher. I offer these letters in the spirit of giving Max’s teachings to more people. His words speak for themselves.”

THE FINAL VOICEMAILS

Milkweed Editions

Max's second poetry collection was curated and edited by Louise Gluck. It will be published by Milkweed Editions in September 2018. 

Milkweed editions describes this collection:
“Including many previously unpublished poems, The Final Voicemails is a collection of early and late poems combining Max’s distinctive emotional intensity with the linguistic brilliance and rich allusiveness that marked Four Reincarnations. The Final Voicemails is edited and introduced by Louise Glück”.

FOUR REINCARNATIONS

Milkweed Editions

Max's debut collection of poems, Four Reincarnations, was published by Milkweed Editions in September 2016. Louise Glück refers to it as "one of the most original and ambitious first books in [her] experience."

AEONS

Winner of the 2014 PSA Chapbook Fellowship

"Some poets have wisdom without writing work that is interesting. Max Ritvo's intuitive poetry is not only wise, it has a fascinating playfulness...

Let me end by saying what we always want to say to a person of genius: Thank you, Max Ritvo!"

- JEAN VALENTINE, EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION TO AEONS