A November (2023) Update from MEH

Nov 05, 2023

While working on a prompt for a journal’s call for submissions last week, I accidentally wrote a happy poem. So of course I blew off a doctor’s appointment, assuming they would tell me I’m dying. So this might be my last newsletter. But probably not. The experience has led me down a path of listening to old song ideas saved on my phone, and thinking of only working on the ones that stem from or might bring a smile to my or someone else’s face. I’m contemplating the idea of writing only from a place of joy, or at least wistfulness. But like formal poetry, this might be a beast built for other backs, and I’m okay with that. Linda Pastan’s poem “Why Are Your Poems so Dark?” is the background on my laptop. It is my reminder that while I can/do journey outside my “normal” writing niche/voice, I don’t have to because other people are asking for something different. In the immortal words of the bard, “I’m not going to write you a love song…”. At least for now.
Once again, if you are a teacher, parent, or random adult who knows high school aged creative writers, have them check out The Weight Journal, where we are publishing some great work by the future of this art form.
Poetry Collections I’ve Recently Read
- Quintin Collins ~ Claim Tickets for Stolen People
- Carolyn Oliver ~ Inside the Storm I Want to Touch the Tremble
- Maya Williams ~ Refused a Second Date

My creative nonfiction piece “Inscrutable,” a story written for/about my AAPI students in the aftermath of the Atlanta Spa Shootings, was nominated by Redivider for a Best of the Net Award! You can read the story here. It contains the first time I ever swore in class.
Presence Journal has nominated my poem [Say pity is not action, is not love] for inclusion in Orison Books' annual Best Spiritual Literature anthology! Honestly, I never thought I would ever get a nomination to be included in this anthology, so I’m an 80’s kid using the phrase “pretty psyched right now.”

“American Civics: 2056” was published in River Heron Review (Poems, For Now). It’s an erasure poem from a 1906 textbook. I wonder if race might play a role…?
My poem "Invisible Man (Two Views)” was shortlisted in Alan Squire Publishing Annual Poetry Contest and is now in ASP Bulletin’s latest issue. 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.
I have recent poetry acceptances from Terrain.org, Vita Poetica Journal, and The Windhover.

Travelling a bit to do readings at Bookshop of Beverly Farm (Beverly, MA), Gibson's Bookstore for the Poetry Society of New Hampshire (Concord, NH) , and with the Holler Salon for Sundress Academy for the Arts (Knoxville, TN).

For November (so far…)

November 9th – 10th ~ Springfield College as a part of the William Simpson Fine Arts Series
November 13, 2023 ~ Reading at Merrimack College

Matthew E. Henry (MEH)'s Substack