diff --git a/pollen/private/command.rkt b/pollen/private/command.rkt
index aef485f..8c4b4eb 100644
--- a/pollen/private/command.rkt
+++ b/pollen/private/command.rkt
@@ -80,14 +80,15 @@ version                print the version" (current-server-port) (make-publish-di
 
 (define (handle-render)
   (define render-target-wanted (make-parameter (current-poly-target)))
-  (define render-recursively? (make-parameter #f))
+  (define render-with-subdirs? (make-parameter #f))
   (define parsed-args (command-line #:program "raco pollen render"
                                     #:argv (vector-drop (current-command-line-arguments) 1) ; snip the 'render' from the front
                                     #:once-each
                                     [("-t" "--target") target-arg "Render target for poly sources"
                                                        (render-target-wanted (->symbol target-arg))]
-                                    [("-r" "--recursive") "Render subdirectories"
-                                                          (render-recursively? #t)]
+                                    [("-r" "--recursive") "Render subdirectories recursively"
+                                                          (render-with-subdirs? 'recursive)]
+                                    [("-s" "--subdir") "Render subdirectories nonrecursively" (render-with-subdirs? 'include)]
                                     #:args other-args
                                     other-args))  
   (define path-args (if (empty? parsed-args)
@@ -95,11 +96,13 @@ version                print the version" (current-server-port) (make-publish-di
                         parsed-args))
   (parameterize ([current-directory (current-project-root)]
                  [current-poly-target (render-target-wanted)])
-    (define first-path-or-path-string (car path-args))
-    (if (directory-exists? first-path-or-path-string)
-        (let render-one-dir ([dir (->complete-path first-path-or-path-string)])
+    ;; special case: one directory as argument
+    (if (and (= 1 (length path-args)) (directory-exists? (car path-args)))
+        (let render-one-dir ([dir (->complete-path (car path-args))])
           (parameterize ([current-directory dir]
-                         [current-project-root dir])
+                         [current-project-root (case (render-with-subdirs?)
+                                                 [(recursive) dir]
+                                                 [else (current-project-root)])])
             (define dirlist (directory-list dir))
             (define preprocs (filter preproc-source? dirlist))
             (define static-pagetrees (filter pagetree-source? dirlist))
@@ -115,12 +118,12 @@ version                print the version" (current-server-port) (make-publish-di
                       (displayln (format "rendering preproc & pagetree files in directory ~a" dir))
                       (append preprocs static-pagetrees)])))
             (apply render-batch batch-to-render)
-            (when (render-recursively?)
+            (when (render-with-subdirs?)
               (for ([path (in-list dirlist)]
                     #:when (and (directory-exists? path)
                                 (not (omitted-path? path))))
                    (render-one-dir (->complete-path path))))))
-        (begin ; first arg is a file
+        (begin
           (displayln (format "rendering ~a" (string-join (map ->string path-args) " ")))
           (apply render-batch path-args)))))
 
diff --git a/pollen/private/ts.rktd b/pollen/private/ts.rktd
index 2b91395..eb47904 100644
--- a/pollen/private/ts.rktd
+++ b/pollen/private/ts.rktd
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1519949495
+1520460708
diff --git a/pollen/scribblings/raco.scrbl b/pollen/scribblings/raco.scrbl
index c723f3b..0bdf38c 100644
--- a/pollen/scribblings/raco.scrbl
+++ b/pollen/scribblings/raco.scrbl
@@ -74,15 +74,9 @@ Adding the optional @exec{--local} switch will restrict the project server to re
 
 @section{@exec{raco pollen render}}
 
-Render all preprocessor source files and then all pagetree files found in the current directory. If none of these files are found, a pagetree will be generated for the directory (which will include all source files) and then rendered.
+This command can be invoked two ways: in source mode or directory mode.
 
-This command can be invoked with extra arguments.
-
-@racket[raco pollen render _directory] will perform the render described above, but in the specified directory. By default, only files in the immediate directory are rendered. 
-
-Adding the optional @exec{-r} or @exec{--recursive} switch will also render subdirectories recursively. Certain directories are automatically omitted from recursive renders, including Pollen caches and source-control directories (like @tt{.git} and @tt{.svn}). You can omit other paths by overriding @racket[default-omitted-path?]. You can override these omissions — that is, force a path to be included in a recursive render — by overriding @racket[default-extra-path?].
-
-Alternatively, the command can take a variable number of path arguments. @racket[raco pollen render _path ...] will render only the paths specified in @racket[_path ...]. Consistent with the usual command-line idiom, this can be a single path, a list of paths, or a pattern:
+@bold{Source mode}: @racket[raco pollen render _source ...] will render only the source paths specified in @racket[_source ...]. Consistent with the usual command-line idiom, this can be a single path, a list of paths, or a pattern:
 
 @terminal{
 > raco pollen render foo.html.pm
@@ -103,7 +97,21 @@ The optional @exec{-t} or @exec{--target} switch specifies the render target for
 
 See also @seclink["raco-pollen-render-poly"].
 
-@bold{Warning}: In all cases, the newly rendered output file will overwrite any previous output file.
+@italic{Warning}: In all cases, the newly rendered output file will overwrite any previous output file.
+
+
+@bold{Directory mode}: @racket[raco pollen render _directory] renders all preprocessor source files and then all pagetree files found in the specified directory. If none of these files are found, a pagetree will be generated for the directory (which will include all source files) and then rendered. If the @racket[_directory] argument is omitted, the command defaults to the current directory.
+
+In directory mode, this command can be invoked with two other optional arguments (in addition to the @exec{--target} switch mentioned above):
+
+The @exec{--subdir} or @exec{-s} switch also renders subdirectories. @racket[current-project-root] remains fixed at the initial directory, just as it would be in the project server after invoking @racket[raco pollen start]. 
+
+Certain subdirectories are automatically ignored, including Racket and Pollen private directories (like @tt{compiled}) and source-control directories (like @tt{.git} and @tt{.svn}). You can omit other paths by overriding @racket[default-omitted-path?]. You can override these omissions — that is, force a path to be included in a recursive render — by overriding @racket[default-extra-path?].
+
+The @exec{--recursive} or @exec{-r} switch renders subdirectories recursively. Meaning, each subdirectory is treated like an independent subproject, and @racket[current-project-root] moves around accordingly. In many projects, there won't be any difference between the @exec{-s} and @exec{-r} switches. But if the difference matters in your project, you have them both.
+
+
+
 
 @section{@exec{raco pollen publish}}