Five New Poems at Rigorous Magazine

The following five (5) poems were just published at Rigorous Magazine .

  • “Little Africa” ~ a school poem

  • an open letter to the young man on the subway platform, looking back, hurt and disgusted ~ for when “whistling Vivaldi?” isn’t enough

  • honesty in advertising ~ exactly what the title says

  • the conversation with my pastor, after she posted my bail ~ midrash

  • exposure therapy ~ being an ally takes different forms

They seem to like me over there and I’m happy to be featured on their pages again.

Two (Dysfunctional) School Poems at Porcupine Literary

“an open letter to the secretary who asked how i haven’t taken to drink or schedule 1 narcotics like so many of our colleagues”

and

“an open letter to the white girls caught chanting “NIGGER” on Snapchat, again”

have just been published at Porcupine Literary: A journal by and for teachers and can be read here.


Both of these poems have one important thing in common: they are about events after which people said, “you CAN’T write about that,” while others said, “how have you NOT written about that yet?!”

Well here they are. And I’m breaking my own rule: these are 100% accurate to events in schools I’ve worked in over the years. If you know, you know.

#NoChill

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Tahoma Literary Review Spotlights "self-evident"

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"self-evident" by Matthew E. Henry, or MEH, caught my attention with its multiple and powerful layers. Told as an adult memory, it enters the moment when a child is asked to believe their own history isn't real but to focus instead on a cleaner, more inspiring narrative. For me, Henry's poem tackles rock-hard truths with personal experience and simple questions, and in so doing reexamines what we teach our children.

~ Mare Heron Hake, Poetry Editor TLR

See the rest here.

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Dust and Ashes - Chapbook Accepted for Publication by Californios

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My chapbook Dust and Ashes was officially accepted for publication by Californios Press and is scheduled to be released this Fall.

This collection is a series of responses to a variety of visual and literary art, using the Jewish Torah and Christian New Testament as a (rough) backdrop.

I figured I should put my Masters of Arts in Theological Studies (concentration: Hebrew Bible and theology and the arts) to good use this time around.

More information to follow.

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Interview with Lesley University on Race, Education, and Poetry

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“If Dr. Matthew E. Henry’s debut poetry collection, “Teaching While Black,” had been published five years ago, it would still have been relevant, it’s just that fewer people would have realized it.

In a country reckoning with centuries of systematic and internalized racism, Henry’s forthright verse is an important entry into the conversation…”

So begins my interview with the good folks at Lesley University, which is where I earned my PhD.

The title is also very telling:

“Dr. Matthew E. Henry’s unapologetic poetry addresses racism in the classroom: Teaching While Black chronicles 18 years of ‘come to Jesus’ conversations.”

Read the rest here.

The interview also includes a reading of my poem “when asked why ‘all lives’ don’t matter.”

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Interview with Doug Holder (Poet to Poet)

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[Click image for video]

 

My virtual sit-down with Doug Holder of Poet to Poet.

We talk about both teaching while Black (in reality), as well as Teaching While Black (my book). I also read a short selection of poems from the collection at the end.


In this version, we get to see one of my former students (from over a decade ago) popping in and out of his car. : )

June 6, 2020 ~ Doug Holder interviews Matthew E. Henry author of Teaching While Black.


Review of Teaching While Black at Sundress Reads


Teaching While Black is a full collection of confessional poetry from black poet and educator Matthew E. Henry available through Main Street Rag Publishing Company. This book showcases the lack of respect Henry, as a Black teacher, often faces in the public school system and the amount of emotional labor he often carries for his students…

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Thus begins a lovely review of my collection from Sundress Publication’s Sundress Reads .

Read the rest here.

“Condolences On The Passing Of Your confederate Monument”

The Writing Process

  • Step 1. - Be pissed off

  • Step 2. Write

  • Step 3. Submit at 12:30 am

  • Step 4. Have an acceptance letter by 1 am

And such is the tale of the publication of my (brand) new poem “Condolences On The Passing Of Your confederate Monument,” currently up at The New Verse News.

Finding a little bit of dark humor in the midst of utter business as usual bullshit in this country.

“…and who is my neighbor?”

Jesus replied,
“a man was going down from [insert place of work,
convenience store, home, or church] to [insert place of work,
convenience store, home, or church] unarmed,
and fell into the hands of officers, who stopped him for
[insert _____-ing while Black reason]. they shot him,
stood above his leaking body, and left him for dead.

now, by chance, a white man [Evangelical]
was going down his Twitter feed.
and when he saw him, he scrolled quickly past
saying, #BlueLivesMatter.

likewise, a white woman [Presbyterian]
came to the place on her Facebook feed.
she saw him and scrolled quickly past
saying, #AllLivesMatter.

but when [insert the least expected] saw him,
they came near. moved with pity and outrage,
they went to the dead man’s family
to bandage their wounds, pouring action
and appropriate silence as compassion.
they put the burdens on their backs,
addressed them as they were able.

the next day they had not forgotten,
but took two friends and encouraged them
to more than march or hashtag the moment,
saying, ‘we will continue the Work together.
be not afraid: the Lord will repay
whatever social capital we spend.’”

then Jesus asked,
“which of these three was a neighbor
to the man who fell into unholy hands?”
the [insert an asshole “playing devil’s advocate”] said,
“the one who acknowledged his dignity.”

and Jesus replied,
“now go, and do likewise.”

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First published in Poemeleon A Journal of Poetry’s The Truth/y Issue: Volume XI Spring 2020

Two school poems in The Revolution (Relaunch)

I am happy to be a part of the historic The Revolution (Relaunch) with their acceptance of two of my poems.

I’ll let the titles speak for themselves:

  • “an open letter to the white teacher who threw a Black boy out of her class for wearing too much lotion”

    &

  • “an open letter to those wondering why I’ve called this the most racist place I’ve ever worked”


#NoChill

Read them here

On the Cultural Appropriation of the Dead and a New Poem Published

I went to a writing conference shortly after Toni Morrison died. The conference was fine for the most part. Ideas were fleshed out. Writing was done. Some lovely scenery and people.

Click to read

Click to read

But then there was the obligatory panel discussion to lament the passing of a literary icon. All well and good.

Until I looked up at the panel and noticed something strange but, sadly, not surprising.

The poem I wrote in response was published by the good people at Bryant Literary Review .

It’s called “an open letter to the white feminists holding a literary panel on Toni Morrison.”

And you can read it here (pg 65).

"Sai no Kawara" -- New Poem in The Ekphrastic Review

Jizō Bosatsu,1279.Artist in Japan,Wood, lacquer, bronze, gold leaf and crystal.

Jizō Bosatsu,1279.

Artist in Japan,

Wood, lacquer, bronze, gold leaf and crystal.

On a recent visit to the Peabody Essex Museum (Salem, MA), I came across this striking figure on display.

The work alone stirred something within me, but after I read up on his story, I began drafting in earnest. The world being the terribly small place that it is, a week later some of my students gave a presentation on a short story wherein the mythos behind this statue is a key component.

So in a way this poem is three-times ekphrastic: the mythos, the statue, the modern short story.

In any event, the good people at The Ekphrastic Review have seen fit to publish my poem Sai no Kawara.