My new collection of poetry said the Frog to the scorpion is forthcoming in early 2024 from Harbor Editions. Cover art by CR Resetarits
Slant Books Review of The Third Renunciation
Brian Volk wrote a review of The Third Renunciation for Slant Books. It’s a mind-blowing honor to be considered alongside the new work of B.H. Fairchild and Scott Cairns.
A Boston Tea Party poem in The New Verse News
Today is the 250th anniversary of The Boston Tea Party. My poem, “on watching a reenactment of the boston tea party” was published in The New Verse News.
New poem in Pensive Journal
My poem “dispatches from the desk of Danel: the self-designated disciple and messianic anger-management translator” was published in the latest issue of Pensive Journal out of Northeastern University. Click on the link below and turn to page #77.
Have you watched the Key & Peele sketches involving President Obama's anger translator Luther? That’s the vibe here.
Note: Here are the passages the speaker is … “interpreting”
Pushcart Nomination from Porcupine Literary
I was nominated for a Pushcart Prize for one of my favorite pieces, “Being Present,” by Porcupine Literary! Read it below.
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Pushcart Nomination from The Elevation Review
My poem “on the morning I was cancelled by the CRT karens” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize by The Elevation Review.
Two 'Letters to America' in Terrain.org
Demien DineYazhi’s My Ancestors Will Not Let Me Forget This, 2020. Letterpress Print
Terrain.org has published both "when asked what might finally lead me to drink or abuse schedule 1 narcotics" & "white History Month" as a part of their Letter to America series.
Both are accompanied by a “dramatic reading.” Click below to read/listen.
Pushcart Prize Nomination from The Worcester Review
My poem “curriculum development” was nominated by The Worcester Review for a Pushcart Prize!
"self-evident" @ Holler Salon
My reading of “self-evident” at Sundress Academy of the Art’s Holler Salon at Firefly Farm (TN). October 28th 2023.
"Invisible Man (Two Views)” - Alan Squire Publishing Annual Poetry Contest
My poem "Invisible Man (Two Views)” was shortlisted in Alan Squire Publishing Annual Poetry Contest and is now in ASP Bulliten’s latest issue.
Invisible Man, Glenn Ligon
This is a doubly ekphrastic poem, inspired by Glenn Ligon’s canvases (by the same name), who in turn took his inspiration from Ralph Ellison’s novel of the same name. Both Ligon and my work represents the opening paragraphs of Ellison’s work to great effect.
So I’m standing on the shoulders of giants. Black excellence.
Best Spiritual Literature anthology nomination
Presence Journal is nominating my poem [Say pity is not action, is not love] for possible inclusion in Orison Books' annual Best Spiritual Literature anthology!
This is a first for me and I’m honored.
"Inscrutable" Nominated for a Best of the Net Award
My creative nonfiction essay “Inscrutable” was nominated by Redivder for a Best of the Net Award.
This is my first time being nominated for my prose.
"American Civics: 2056" published in River Heron Review
My poem “American Civics: 2056” was published in River Heron Review’s Poems, For Now issue.
This is an erasure poem from American Civics: A Text Book for High Schools, Normal Schools, and Academies (1906), employing the only mentions of Blacks (“Negroes” or “slaves”) in the whole textbook.
It’s pretty much what you would think and has implications for our collective future.
Housatonic Book Awards Finalist
the Colored page has been named a finalist for the 2023 Housatonic Book Awards!
"curriculum development" in The Worcester Review
Once again faculty meetings can be a source of inspiration. This time the intersection of fire drills and school shootings. A big thank you to The Worcester Review for publishing my poem “curriculum development.”
New position at Rise Up Review
A quick post to announce that I am now an associate editor at Rise Up Review!
"reason #3785291 that this might not work out" in Molecule
My tiny little poem "reason #3785291 that this might not work out" is in issue #9 of Molecule: A Tiny Lit Mag.
Read the whole issue below (my poem is on page #52)
Muttology Book Launch Reading Video
CLICK TO PURCHASE
I had the pleasure of being a guest reader along with Shareen K. Murayama for the virtual book launch of Maurya Kerr’s new collection MUTTOLOGY
Click the link below for the full reading
Time stamps:
Shareen K. Murayama: 1:14
MEH: 8:23
Maurya Kerr: 20:20
Being Present published in Porcupine Literary
My creative nonfiction piece “Being Present” was just published in Porcupine Literary. It stands on the shoulders, pays homage to Jamaica Kincaid (and Maurice Carlos Ruffin).
Functionally, it’s a love letter to my kids: past, present, future.
Fevers of the Mind Poetry Showcase
As a few people are aware, one of the projects I'm currently working (yes, I said “one of…"“) is a collection of ekphrastic poems: I’m expanding Dust & Ashes into a full-length collection.
To that end, I've spent a good part of the summer visiting a bunch of art museums in three different states (so far) to balance the literary art responses with some visual art. Some fruits of that labor were published today in Fevers of the Mind. Here is the link to the poems:
Below are the links to the works they are based on (each opens in a new window).