I wrote a eulogy for Matthew E. Henry (Not me. Another one. Sort of.) and it has been published in Had. “Matthew E. Henry of Ohio” can be read through the link below.
Award (almost) announcements
Two close but no cigar announcements:
I.
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.
"...could abash the little bird" in The New Verse Review.
My poem “…could abash the little Bird” was published in the inaugural issue of The New Verse Review.
It’s an ekphrastic poem based on Emily Dickinson’s '“‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers…”., with a MEH twist.
Two poems in Anti-Heroin Chic
I am excited to have two of my “when asked…” poems published in the latest issue of Anti-Heroin Chic:
"when asked why students come to me, ‘the tough teacher, the hard grader’”
and
"when asked why you won’t be invited back to the BBQ"
“memo from the principal of Antonin Scalia High School, Charity, Ok RE: amended Course of Study for the 2024-2025 academic year,” in The New Verse News
I don’t flex my academic accomplishments, but it’s relevant to understand where this poem comes from.
BA in English and Secondary Education (double major), with a minor in Philosophy
Master of Fine Arts in Poetry
Master of Theological Studies in Hebrew Bible and Theology and the Arts
PhD in Educational Leadership, dissertation focused on the history of how the Religion Clauses of the First Amendment are/aren’t taught to pre-service teachers and apply to public school settings
That said, I how could I not write a poem about the biblical nonsense happening in Oklahoma right now?
“memo from the principal of Antonin Scalia High School, Charity, Ok RE: amended Course of Study for the 2024-2025 academic year” was just published in The New Verse News.
Be sure to check the footnotes at the bottom of the poem…
"across the table" published in Rituals
The poems I never read in public (a virtual reading from said the Frog to the scorpion)
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...
Boston Poetry Slam Reading Video
Here’s the video of my September 20, 2023 reading for Boston Poetry Slam (at Starlight) is available on Instagram
1:2:1 Interview and Reading with Cedric Arno
My interview and reading with Cedric “Cedboogie” Arno was filmed in Worcester and streamed on Facebook. You can watch both through the link below:
"Paulie's War" published in Mid-Atlantic Review
After writing and revising for well over a decade, I am happy that my poem “Paulie’s War” has been published in Mid-Atlantic Review.
Review of The Third Renunciation in Presence 2024
"the Blue Envelope Program" published in The New Verse News
I don’t watch or read the news as much as I should. Probably because this is my mind goes when I do. That said, my poem “the Blue Envelope Program” was just published by The New Verse News
For those who want the footnotes I cut out of the poem:
"How to Tell a Pure Rage Story" at Mayday Magazine
I keep writing creative nonfiction and (for some reason) people publish it. “How to Tell a Pure Rage Story” pays homage to Tim O’Brien's “How to Tell a True War Story,” but is a tale all its own.
It's now published in Mayday Magazine.
Short Reading from said the Frog to the scorpion
I read two poems from said the Frog to the scorpion at the open mic of the Pour Me a Poem gathering in Mansfield, MA hosted by Wayne-Daniel Berard and Sara Letourneau on the second Thursday of each month.
Listen to “hevel” and “when asked what it’s like to love Her.”
Poem nominated for a Pushcart Prize by Pensive Journal
My poem "dispatches from the desk of Danel: the self-designated disciple and messianic anger-management translator" was nominated for the Pushcart Prize by Pensive: A Global Journal of Spirituality & the Arts.
And yes, it’s “Danel” in the title, not “Daniel.”
"YHWH breaks the fourth wall" in The Windhover
In seminary, I wrote a narrative about a modern prophet through poems. Hopefully, some version of that collection will see the light of day. Until then, one of those poems— “YHWH breaks the forth wall”— has found at home in the latest issue of The Windhover.
Guest Post for AGFCG Card Talk Series
I have a guest blog post for A Game for Good Christians’ Card Talk series entitled “God Planning Your Pain to Make A Point.” It employs one of my theological sonnets that appears in The Third Renunciation.
I previously had the privilege of editing AGFGC’s literary anthology This Present Former Glory: An Anthology of Honest Spiritual Literature.
If you don’t know A Game for Good Christians, imagine what you get if you crossed Cards Against Humanity with the Bible.
Book launch reading of said the Frog to the scorpion
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.
Interview with Mass Poetry
Check out my interview with Mass Poetry
A five minute reading for Black History Month, Valentine’s Day, and my new collection
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):
Hevel
when asked what it’s like to love Her
at some point