Publication

"the patron saint of suicide" in Cola Literary Review

I am proud that my poem “the patron saint of suicide” has been published in Cola Literary Review. You can purcahse a copy here.

This poem is based on the vastly superior poem “Googling the Patron Saint of Suicides” by the amazing Joan Kwon Glass and has a place in my forthcoming chapbook said the Frog to the scorpion from Harbor Editions.

Type Casting in ASP Bulletin

“That’s some white people shit.”

“What?”

“Were all of the people who thought you were gay white?”

“It’s not that they thought I was gay exactly…”

“Not straight. Whatever. Were all of them white?”

“No.” I mentally scroll through faces and races. “Yes?”

“See? You don’t fit their Black-Man stereotype, other than dating white women…”

“Hey…”

“Whatever nigga: you do you. I’m just saying you don’t fit their image of what a Black man is ‘supposed’ to be. You’re not some overly masculine thug, sitting on a stoop, rocking a durag and sipping a 40. A sensitive and educated Black man, who works with kids seems femme to them. So, they assume you’re not straight.”

“No, V. That can’t be it.”

It was.

CLICK BELOW TO READ THE REST OF THE STORY

Two Poems in Cultural Daily

Thanks to Bunkong Tuon for supporting my work with his students at Union College ) and for turning me on to Cultural Daily, which just published two of my poems.

Click to Read “when asked to read a poem for the Black History Month assembly”—which was actually written for a Black History Month assembly— and “thank you, systemic racism”

 

Also check out “an open letter to the white boy from queens who sang the n-word in a song” by Denesha Lafontant, also at Cultural Daily, which pays homage to my poems. #flattered

"Inscrutable": creative nonfiction in Redivider

I am honored that “Inscrutable,” a story I wrote for/about my AAPI students in response to the Atlanta Spa Shootings, was published by Redivider as their inagural Cultural Critique piece.
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Redivider 20.1 | Cover art — Tea Queen by Aaron Norfolk

He knows the myth, but he is the model minority. The all-around A-student: attentive, astute, Asian. He’s good at math and science, but also garners excellent grades and respect in my sophomore honors English class. He’s soft spoken, but thoughtful. So as the others call out, he raises his hand and waits patiently. When I acknowledge that he will be next, he lowers it back to his desk, places the other over a delicate wrist. When he does speak, on an average Wednesday, I will swear in front of a class for the first time in twenty years of teaching.

"when asked what I learned during the ‘community forum’ on the appropriateness of my poem" in Bending Genres.

My poem "when asked what I learned during the ‘community forum’ on the appropriateness of my poem" has been published in Issue 30 of Bending Genres.

It’s not a typical poem. It’s a bingo board: I was trying something new.

Note: You may wish to read “when asked how to avoid being seen as racist” for context.

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“when asked how to avoid being seen as racist” at Identity Theory

"compensation" Appears in Home: A Miracle Monocle Mirco-Anthology

I recently started a new series, something that might turn into a chapbook one day. A series of midrash qatan, or “little midrash” on stories, real and imagined, from the Torah. But, of course, midrash qatan is not a thing. I made it up. It stands in contrast with Midrash Rabbah (“great midrash”) which is a thing.

Regardless, I am glad that the first of these poems— “compensation: midrash qatan on Genesis 4:25-32” has found a home in Miracle Monocle’s mirco-anthology, Home. You can read it below. You might want to read the relevant Bible verses in advance.

And no, the title does not contain a typo.

"when she asks me about courage" published at Lover's Eye Press

Honestly, I really just need to stop writing “love” poems. It only ends with me in trouble with someone for some reason or another no matter what the actual content or context.

But until that happens, I am pleased to announce that my poem “when she asks me about courage” has found a home at Lover’s Eye Press.

It’s from chapbook with a limited run: two copies.

Three sonnets in The Anglican Theological Review

The Anglican Theological Review was among the first publications to take a chance on my work a decade ago when I was still finding my voice. Back then they took one of my poems.

Thus, I am surprised and ecstatic to have three of my theological sonnet in issue the Summer 2022 Edition, Grab a copy of ATR Volume 104 Number 3 to read

[Say a slave triptych composes the heart],

[Say on such legs that were left me—a heart], &

[Say Jesus has been saving a bottle ].

[Say prayer is just a fire alarm] in The Windhover

I'm proud to be published, once again, in The Windhover. This time it’s my theological sonnet [Say prayer is just a fire alar] in the issue 26.2.

Two school poems in Pangyrus Literary Magazine

Two new school poems—

“what i learned during Black History Month” by billy, age 8 (or 18)"

and

"an open letter to the student who will be convicted of rape in the next 3-5 years”—

are now live up at Pangyrus Literary Magazine. Give them a read.

This publication also provides short blurbs from me on the origins of both poems.