The Third Renunciation by Matthew E. Henry is a collection of sonnets that presents the theological in a way in which the reader is made to ruminate on their own faith and understanding of the divine, the religious and the unknown. Centered on the exploration of evil, pain and the perceptions that we all hold that demarcate what these conceptions are personally. Henry’s sonnets make sustained use of metaphor both individually and between themselves where an overarching extended metaphor can be seen that begs the reader to ask themselves; “What truth do you hold and is it consistent?”
Perhaps one notion that stays with me the most upon reflecting on Henry’s latest collection is the idea that the divine has lasted throughout human existence. However, it may be that our conception of divinity must truly change for salvation to be found. On Earth or otherwise. …
"Have you heard the one about...?" - New Mirco-chapbook Published!
"The Questions They Ask" (CNF) published in Emerge Literary Journal
my story “The Questions They Ask” has been published by Emerge Literary Journal.
"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.
The Third Renunciation has officially arrived!
My second full-length collection is now live. Click below to get the full rundown and grab a copy.
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.
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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.
Mass Poetry Community Award (2023)
New micro-chapbook coming from Ghost City Press
I am happy to announce that my micro-chapbook have you heard the one about…? will be published this summer as part of Ghost City Press’s Summer Micro-chapbook Series!
More info to come…
[Say pity is not love, is not action] in Presence Journal 2023
I’m proud to, once again, have a poem in the Presence Journal.
Update: Presence Journal has nominated this poem for possible inclusion in Orison Books' annual Best Spiritual Literature anthology!
Note: This poem takes its title from a line in Shūsaku Endō’s novel Silence.
“pop quiz for March 19, 2018” published in Nixes Mate Review
My poem “pop quiz for March 19, 2018” was published in the latest issue of Nixes Mate Review. Read it below.
The Third Renunciation COVER REVEAL!
My second full length collection, The Third Renunciation is dropping this spring from NYQ Books and the cover is now live!
