Join us for a reading, discussion and book signing of poet Matthew Henry’s “Promises to Keep.”
About the collection: It’s an old story: a church-going family man receives a violent call to become a prophet. He’s read the source material, knows how this has ended for others. But without a means of running away, he reluctantly accepts a vocation he rightly fears will result in tragedy for his family. While receiving dreams and visions, delivering sermons and prayers, frequenting political protests and police stations, being placed in handcuffs and straitjackets, the prophet attempts to speak truth to power and make it home whole, if there is a home left to return to. Promises to Keep explores the fear and trembling and doubt required to have faith in ourselves, each other, and whatever forces may be guiding our steps. It demands we consider what we devote our lives to, what we say we love, and whether the cost of such devotion is worth it.
About the poet: Matthew E. Henry (MEH) is an educator, essayist, occasional fiction writer, and the author of seven poetry collections, most recently Promises to Keep (Wayfarer Books, 2026). He’s editor-in-chief of The Weight Journal and nonfiction editor at Porcupine Literary. MEH’s publications include Had, Lily Poetry, Massachusetts Review, Mom Egg Review, Pangyrus, Ploughshares, Stone Circle Review, Terrain, Whale Road Review, and The Worcester Review. MEH earned an MFA yet continued to spend money he didn’t have completing an MA in theology and a PhD in education. He writes about education, race, religion, and burning oppressive systems to the ground at www.MEHPoeting.com.