"There is not one of you that is not beautiful," writes Ksenija Spasić in her first poetry collection, "the beautiful the bearable." Readers of These Days know Spasić for her observations and odes on becoming and being a parent. In "the beautiful the bearable," she expands upon one's role as mentor, guardian, partner and witness. In a world ever-demanding decision, action and outrage, Spasić encourages us, "Even in the face of the monster, let your mind shape slowly a path."
The book was guest-edited by Sneha Madhavan-Reese, covers handwritten by Ksenija Spasić, and published by, me, Jeff Blackman. I'm excited to finally have it available online. It was available for the Ottawa Small Press Fair in November... which was the day the postal strike began.
There's likely no poet I've published more Ksenija since her three poems in These Days #5 way back in August September 2020. From her translations to her two a.m. confessions, I'm humbled by my role giving home to her words and now, to shift into chapbooks with her first as my first with These Days.
These Days isn't going pure chapbook, don't you worry. Issue 30 drops January 1st, 2025, with 16 contributors, 40 pages of poetry, photography and shit talk. It's going to be outrageous. Until then, check out the beautiful the bearable and order yourself words to warm your heart amid this freeze-thaw era of history.