Ryan Reid Illustration + Design

I draw stories.

I make comics, draw illustrations, and write about a miscellany of things.

Good Bones

May 24, 2025 | Miscellany

Life is short, though I keep this from my children.

Life is short, and I’ve shortened mine

in a thousand delicious, ill-advised ways,

a thousand deliciously ill-advised ways

I’ll keep from my children. The world is at least

fifty percent terrible, and that’s a conservative

estimate, though I keep this from my children.

For every bird there is a stone thrown at a bird.

For every loved child, a child broken, bagged,

sunk in a lake. Life is short and the world

is at least half terrible, and for every kind

stranger, there is one who would break you,

though I keep this from my children. I am trying

to sell them the world. Any decent realtor,

walking you through a real shithole, chirps on

about good bones: This place could be beautiful,

right? You could make this place beautiful.

Maggie Smith

This poem came across my feed this week, and my first thought was “Maggie Smith the actress?” to which The Poetry Foundation responded “Not that Maggie Smith.” And so I have been elevated a small bit from my tiny culture bubble, and I’m all the better for it.

I love the balance of light and dark imagery she uses to sell her thesis. The entire thing is beautiful.

The Poetry Foundation has more on Maggie Smith.

More:

Previously

Zora Neale Hurston on stories

Zora Neale Hurston on stories

May 17, 2025 | Miscellany

Zora Neale Hurston understood the burden of stories, and I understand the burden of sweets before bed. It’s basically the same thing.

Read more

Elevator of mystery

Elevator of mystery

April 7, 2025 | Miscellany

Yesterday on the 13th floor the door to elevator A was open all morning. I walked past it several times, and each time I felt the urge to step inside.

Read more

Plan for stops

Plan for stops

March 30, 2025 | Miscellany

As a mid-century man it has become obvious that knowing where the public washrooms are on any given route I am required to take through the city is a necessity.

Read more