“All The Ways I Mangled My Hands Waiting,” “Green Onions,” and “Making Dinner” by Alexis Kruckeberg appeared in Issue 31 and can be found here.
We’d love to hear more about this set of poetry.
I don’t have many poems that feel like they should be prose poems, but “Green Onions” is one that always felt at home in that form. I also really love onions so to be able to write a little ode to both onions and love is something I’m proud of.
What was the most difficult part of this set?
Both “Green Onions” and “Making Dinner” have been through numerous rounds of revision. At this point they are each at least 4 or 5 years past the first draft. In contrast, “All the Ways” was written entirely and in its final form while a caramel apple pie baked and I watched the news coverage. The hardest part is always managing expectations and being patient.
Recommend a book for us which was published within the last decade.
Bright Dead Things by Ada Limón is a collection I go back to when I feel like I don’t remember what a poem should be. It’s a collection with a little bit of everything, is accessible to all readers, and it’s beautiful.
If you could have a drink with any living author, who would it be? Why?
I have been a fan of Stephen King since I was too young to be reading his books. Coffee, dinner, cheesecake – we can eat or drink whatever as long as we can talk about movies and dogs. I’ll even cook.
What are you working on now? What’s next?
I’m working on my book-length poetry manuscript, Building Fires, and a script for a thriller.
Our thanks to Alexis for taking the time to answer a few questions and share these poems. Read “All The Ways I Mangled My Hands Waiting,” “Green Onions,” and “Making Dinner” here: https://www.sequestrum.org/poetry-of-alexis-kruckeberg.
Alexis Kruckeberg received her M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She tends to cook more food than is necessary and daydreams about traveling to Mexico. Her poetry has appeared in Barely South Review, Qu Literary Magazine, CALYX, and others. Alexis’ chapbook received first runner-up in the Chestnut Review 2021 Poetry Chapbook contest.