Walter Rinder (born June 3rd 1934) is a gay American humanist poet/philosopher/photographer, whose books of inspirational poetry on love were popular in the 1960s and 70s. They featured his photographs of nature and the male nude. When sales declined in the harder-edged culture of the 1980s, and Rinder found it difficult to get his books published, he supplemented his income by selling antiques and collectibles. In the 1990s Rinder's creativity diminished; he stated "my heart lies in the 60's and 70's". His work has been referred to by Reginald Shepherd in Orpheus in the Bronx as not "what could be called real poetry" along with verse of Rod McKuen.
quoted in Morrison, Eleanor S. Human Sexuality: Contemporary Perspectives. Palo Alto, Cal: Mayfield, 1977. p427, as "a sensitive description of conscious love"
This Time Called Life, 1971, 1984
Spectrum of Love, 1973
reissued as Spectrum of love revisited 2001
set to music by Paul Wesley Hofreiter as Spectrum of love : for narrator & orchestra, op. 72
'Follow Your Heart, 1973
Only One Today 1974
The Humanness of You, Vols 1&2, 1973-4
Love is my Reason, 1975
"Will You Share With Me, 1975
Where Will I Be Tomorrow 1976
review in Library Journal, 101: 1326 (1976)
Aura of Love 1978
Friends and Lovers 1978
A Promise of Change 1979
Forever Us 1981
The World I Used to Know 1990
excerpted in Selwood, Mary-Jane. On the Edge of Silence: A Mountain Anthology. Helensburgh: Springbank, 1993.