A Meeting on Waterways

By MARC VINCENZ

It seems all the light of morning
has descended here where it’s usually dark

and frogs raise their heads in the bulrushes,
where the last sounds swarm among the oaks.

Weighing these few scraps, the things you’ve said
you leapt gardens to procure—there are still

more feathers on this side—hard work,
all that feather versus fodder. Tomorrow—

what a difficult word—interrupted and intercepted;
and tomorrow, all that we imagined.

Careful.

The universe has ears.

 

[Purchase Issue 30 here.]

 

Marc Vincenz is a multilingual translator, poet, fiction writer, journalist, editor, musician, and artist. His recent poetry collections include The Pearl Diver of Irunmani, A Splash of Cave Paint, The King of Prussia is Drunk on Stars, Faery Ecology, and (forthcoming in 2026) No More Animal Poems. He translates from the German, Romanian, French, and Spanish.

From the beginning, The Common has brought you transportive writing and exciting new voices. We are committed to supporting writers and maintaining free, unrestricted access to our website, but we can’t do it without you. Become an integral part of our global community of readers and writers by donating today. No amount is too small. Thank you!

A Meeting on Waterways

Related Posts

coffee with a spoon

If It Wasn’t for Heroin

AMIYA MORETTA
My Umatilla grandfather / who had one leg, lived down the road, / hobbled to her heroin loyally. / That’s how / my mom and dad, neighbors whose parents / were good friends and fellow addicts, / met as kids, played together / on Frieda Street, those mornings

At night my soul leaves 

KAREN CHASE
up it goes into the stars, for / sustenance. I open / my eyes and pray— / You have returned within me, my / soul with compassion. / Modah ani lefaneka melechai / chai vekayam shehehezarta // I get out of bed, / join the revolution. 

Image of a wooden horse

Trojan Horse

M. B. MCLATCHEY
 It was a gold-seal ruse. A double-/ dealing so sublime the gods ordained / it. Settled into their stadium seats, / they wagered on their favorites. Helen, / the imposter bride, circling and circling  / the gifted horse. / Her Central Casting / lines to the shadows inside.