I was sharing the burden of vulnerability in writing. An exercise in revealing without revealing. Saying something at a slant, through omission, obscured, knowing only some would see the picture clearly. Knowing that those who did see at first glance were able to because of something shared. Something unspoken, but now brought to light.
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.
"an open letter to my well-intentioned white educators: past, present, and future" at Ninth Letter
“an open letter to my well-intentioned white educators: past, present, and future”
This poem was a long time in coming and was one of the first I read, out loud, in front of my current teaching assignment. It had an impact.
And was just published by Ninth Letter.
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
"an open letter to our white friends and supposed allies" at Frontier Poetry
"an open letter to our white friends and supposed allies" rose from a frank conversation with a friend.
It is now being featured as a part of Frontier Poetry’s Types of Burns series.
Feel free to ask your Black friends how true it is if you’re prepared for their honest answer.
Tahoma Literary Review Spotlights "self-evident"
"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.
"an open letter to the gay, racist, Christian republican I once called friend" at Rejection Letters
I wrote this poem a bit ago. Have been shopping it out for a while. Rejection Letters were the only ones brave enough to publish it. For that, they have my thanks.
Read it here.
Dust and Ashes - Chapbook Accepted for Publication by Californios
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.
Interview with NEWPAGES Blog about The Weight Journal
Click image to read
Interview with Lesley University on Race, Education, and Poetry
“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.”
Interview with Doug Holder (Poet to Poet)
[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 in The Boston Globe
There is a short, but powerful review of Teaching While Black in The Boston Globe’s most recent New England Literary News Section.
You can read it online here.
(And you thought I’d first make it into The Globe for other reasons…)
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…
Thus begins a lovely review of my collection from Sundress Publication’s Sundress Reads .
Read the rest here.
"an open letter to (FUCK) you": a Mirco Poem Published in Versification
Some people find my poetry offensive.
I judge them by what they find offensive.
“an open letter to (FUCK) you” is no different.
Thanks to the wonderful people at Versification for highlighting it in their inaugural issue.
“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.”
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
