Update

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Review of Promises to Keep from New England Literary News

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Faith, love, and anger in Matthew E. Henry’s new collection

“The day of reckoning / has arrived,” writes Matthew E. Henry in his new collection, Promises To Keep (Wayfarer). That day is each day, and this book serves as a reckoning itself, with the contradictions, the inequity, the many and varied iterations of violence and hate. Wrath and love hold hands in these poems, many of them voiced by a man who’s been called to be a prophet. …

Read the rest of Nina MacLaughlin’s lovely review of Promises to Keep in New England Literary News through the link below!

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“Digging up Poetry With Matthew E. Henry” - The Cypress, Brookline High School

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“Digging up poetry with Matthew E. Henry”

Sophia Neer, Staff Writer • February 3, 2026

For Poet Matthew E. Henry, inspiration comes from every aspect of his life. Whether it’s a couple arguing in a restaurant, people watching at Cafe Nero, or visiting art galleries across Massachusetts, he harnesses his creativity everywhere, including from other poems.

Henry visited the high school’s Craft of Writing class on Jan. 8 in Rm. 371. During his PTO-sponsored visit, Henry shared some examples of Golden Shovel poetry. In a Golden Shovel poem, the last word of each line can be strung together to form a line from an existing piece. Additionally, he spoke about his work, creative process and inspiration and how he encourages students to harness their own creativity wherever they see fit…

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"…it is not the stones, / But the child’s mound—” nominated for a Pushcart Prize

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Earlier this year, Flight: A Literary Sampler published my golden shovel “…it is not the stones, / But the child’s mound—” in their inaugural issue. Now they have nominated it for a Pushcart alongside some amazing writers, which is very cool.

Read it Here
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"Stage Proxemics" nominated for a Pushcart Prize

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I'm honored to announce that my creative nonfiction piece “Stage Proxemics” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize by Pangyrus.

My brother is a fucking badass. Always has been. Even before he was my brother. I learned how to walk trying to keep up at Afrocentric art shows, poetry readings, dramatic performances, rallies, and protests. He taught me that Black Lives Mattered before the proto-progressives in Boston had heard of George Floyd or Rodney King. I tell people I’m on at least five government watchlists. Between lessons about IRA activities in local catholic parishes and revolutionaries smoking cigars with Fidel Castro, at least one of those lists is definitely his fault.

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New Creative Nonfiction Editor at Porcupine Literary!

I’m the new CNF Editor at Porcupine Literary, a journal for and by educators. Yes, you read that right: CNF, not poetry editor. It’s a strange world. But I’m starting to embrace the whole “I write prose, specifically CNF a lot these days” aspect of my (writing)life.

Send your stuff our way!

Submit
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Award (almost) announcements

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Two close but no cigar announcements:

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Selections from Selling the World (my ekphrastic manuscript in progress") was longlisted for the Kinsman Avenue Publishing African Diaspora Award. My poems “Adoration of the Magi,” “Bust of Akhenaten,” “homegoing,” “The Moorish Chief,” & “Quilt” will all published in a forthcoming anthology.

II.

The Third Renunciation was a finalist for the New England Poetry Club Sheila Margaret Motton Book Prize. This is the second time I’ve been a finalist for this prize.

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The poems I never read in public (a virtual reading from said the Frog to the scorpion)

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I don’t read longer poems at poetry readings. However, I composed some of my longest poems in said the Frog to the scorpion. Months ago, I made an intention to record these poems because I slaved over them and wanted my physical voice attached to them as they are to the poems I read aloud regularly.

So here is a 13 min reading of longer poems from said the Frog to the scorpion

Poems:

1. "when asked why I believed Her"

2. "who She is" (I screwed up the title in the video)

3. “when asked about toxic amnesia”

4. “take your pick”

5. “when asked why I won't”

And yes, there are a lot of squirrels behind me...

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Book launch reading of said the Frog to the scorpion

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The book launch of said the Frog to the scorpion (Harbor Editions, 2024) was a special event.

I was honored to have Kai Coggin and Maya Williams read their amazing poetry as a part of the night. You can watch the recording through the link below.

Watch here
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A five minute reading for Black History Month, Valentine’s Day, and my new collection

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In honor of Black History Month, Valentine’s Day, and the publication of my new collection, here is a five minute reading from said the Frog to the scorpion and one other poem.

Poems read in the video (the first four appear in said the Frog to the scorpion):

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Fare Forward’s The Editors’ Best of 2023 - The Third Renunciation

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In a year filled with mass shootings, hate crimes, and wars, I craved a book on theodicy. But I wasn’t going to find the book I personally needed on a systematic theology shelf. Instead, I reread Henry’s poems.

Read Here