Jennifer Acker's Blog, page 13
January 9, 2025
Grey Dumplings
GRZEGORZ KASDEPKE
The outcome of the battle over my stomach (one way to my heart) was a foregone conclusion. Granny deployed sophisticated weapons. Tomato soup, for example, cherry compote, or a special open sandwich (the People’s Republic equivalent of bruschetta al pomodoro): fresh bread, proper butter, fragrant tomatoes sliced into strips.
The outcome of the battle over my stomach (one way to my heart) was a foregone conclusion. Granny deployed sophisticated weapons. Tomato soup, for example, cherry compote, or a special open sandwich (the People’s Republic equivalent of bruschetta al pomodoro): fresh bread, proper butter, fragrant tomatoes sliced into strips.
January 8, 2025
Water Shrine
ANGELA SUCICH
Everywhere, those half-full bottles, the real offering. / Dusty, or clear and bright, transparent skin flashing / sunlight. A monument heavy with water. A shrine / to reclaim the disposable.
Everywhere, those half-full bottles, the real offering. / Dusty, or clear and bright, transparent skin flashing / sunlight. A monument heavy with water. A shrine / to reclaim the disposable.
December 27, 2024
December 2024 Poetry Feature #2: New Work from our Contributors
PETER FILKINS
All night long / it bucked and surged / past the window // and my breath / fogging the glass, / a yellow moon // headlamping / through mist, / the tunnel of sleep, // towns racing past. // Down at the crossroads, / warning in the bell, / beams lowering // on traffic before / the whomp of air / followed by the zing // and clack-ety-clack / of hammered rails
All night long / it bucked and surged / past the window // and my breath / fogging the glass, / a yellow moon // headlamping / through mist, / the tunnel of sleep, // towns racing past. // Down at the crossroads, / warning in the bell, / beams lowering // on traffic before / the whomp of air / followed by the zing // and clack-ety-clack / of hammered rails
December 21, 2024
The Most-Read Pieces of 2024
THE COMMON
The Common published over 175 stories, essays, poems, interviews, and features online and in print in 2024. Browse a list of the ten most-read pieces of 2024 to get a taste of what left an impact on readers.
The Common published over 175 stories, essays, poems, interviews, and features online and in print in 2024. Browse a list of the ten most-read pieces of 2024 to get a taste of what left an impact on readers.
December 19, 2024
Review: Kittentits
OLGA ZILBERBOURG
Wilson’s novel, too, is a carnivalesque feast. It offers a constant spectacle of death and renewal in exuberant, entirely over-the-top settings. Most characters have a tragic death story attached to them. There are deaths in car crashes, fires, several forms of cancer, and an epileptic girl who dies from an attack of epilepsy that happens when she’s in prison.
Wilson’s novel, too, is a carnivalesque feast. It offers a constant spectacle of death and renewal in exuberant, entirely over-the-top settings. Most characters have a tragic death story attached to them. There are deaths in car crashes, fires, several forms of cancer, and an epileptic girl who dies from an attack of epilepsy that happens when she’s in prison.
December 17, 2024
Weekly Writes Volume 9 is here to keep you accountable!
Weekly Writes is a ten-week program designed to help you create original place-based writing and stay accountable to your practice in the new year, beginning January 27.
Holiday Reads 2024
HOLIDAY READS
Exploring migration from the perspective of plants; mystical historical fiction that will transport you from New England to Haiti; and one woman’s chance to do life over again. We revisited our community’s favorite reads from throughout the year and compiled a list of memoirs, essay collections, novels, and creative nonfiction works to inspire a diverse holiday reading list, or kick off your reading plans for the new year.
Exploring migration from the perspective of plants; mystical historical fiction that will transport you from New England to Haiti; and one woman’s chance to do life over again. We revisited our community’s favorite reads from throughout the year and compiled a list of memoirs, essay collections, novels, and creative nonfiction works to inspire a diverse holiday reading list, or kick off your reading plans for the new year.
December 13, 2024
What We’re Reading: December 2024
OLENA JENNINGS
I feel connected to Mong’s act of viewing from within the comfort of family life. We traverse museums, landscapes, and galaxies. Lines like the “wound of our love” that is “red of rare steak, gray like smudged lace” compose the lace of the poems, a beautiful lattice of words that draws me into the book and asks me to weave in my own experiences.
I feel connected to Mong’s act of viewing from within the comfort of family life. We traverse museums, landscapes, and galaxies. Lines like the “wound of our love” that is “red of rare steak, gray like smudged lace” compose the lace of the poems, a beautiful lattice of words that draws me into the book and asks me to weave in my own experiences.
December 12, 2024
December 2024 Poetry Feature #1: New Work from our Contributors
JEN JABAILY-BLACKBURN
What do I know / about us? One of us / was called Velvel, / little wolf. One of us / raised horses. Someone / was in grain. Six sisters / threw potatoes across / a river in Pennsylvania. / Once at a fair, I met / a horse performing / simple equations / with large dice. / Sure, it was a trick, / but being charmed / costs so little.
What do I know / about us? One of us / was called Velvel, / little wolf. One of us / raised horses. Someone / was in grain. Six sisters / threw potatoes across / a river in Pennsylvania. / Once at a fair, I met / a horse performing / simple equations / with large dice. / Sure, it was a trick, / but being charmed / costs so little.
December 11, 2024
The Laws of Time and Physics
JESSICA PETROW-COHEN
My necklace has a thin silver chain and a pendant made of sapphires. My mommy says she knew that my mama was ready to die when she gave away her jewelry. I can see it all so vividly. It’s happening now, in June, not then, in June, time is collapsing, June is June is June.
My necklace has a thin silver chain and a pendant made of sapphires. My mommy says she knew that my mama was ready to die when she gave away her jewelry. I can see it all so vividly. It’s happening now, in June, not then, in June, time is collapsing, June is June is June.
