Kewayne Wadley

Kewayne Wadley (born November 5, 1987, in Groton, Connecticut) hails from the soulful city of Memphis, Tennessee. A poetic storyteller at heart, Kewayne’s mission is to spread love and inspiration through the power of words. Though he first drew breath in Connecticut, much of his childhood unfolded in the Deep South in Birmingham, Alabama, Soperton, Georgia and even farther south in Central America. Known for his distinctly amorous lines and sultry undertones, Kewayne’s poetry paints vivid portraits of whirlwind romances and love as steady as placid lakes. The unwavering support of his loved ones, especially his grandmother, continues to be a driving force behind his work. His innate ability to view life through an unconventional lens is evident in his innovative approach to writing. Notably, his books Listening to Songs at Midnight, More Songs to Listen to at Midnight, The Memorandum: An Ode to the Workplace or Something Like That, and Mumbo Jumbo... I Love You have all been cataloged in the Library of Congress, a prestigious honor underscoring his contributions to the arts. His poem Community Garden was featured as an epigraph in Katherine H. Brown’s book A Sweet Folly of Hope. In addition to his literary accomplishments, Kewayne has contributed to the creative world as a producer. Through crowdfunding support, he earned associate producer credits for Good Neighbours (IMDb, 2024), Réservée (IMDb, 2025), and was also credited for Eddie’s Rage and Lost in the Fog in Stanislav Puzdriak’s Silent Hill: A Letter to James (IMDb, 2025). His support has also earned him various acknowledgments and shoutouts in the special thanks sections of films, books, music albums, and websites. In 2025, he sponsored the poem Stranger by Vivian Estelle McMeekin in Strange Horizons, marking his first public contribution to the speculative poetry community through Kickstarter support. Throughout his career, Kewayne’s poems have appeared in a wide range of anthologies and zines, including Collected Whispers (2006), For This Cause Writers Unite (2012), The Poetic Bond IX (2019), The Porter Gulch Review: 36th Edition (2020), and Mingled Voices 6 (2021). His haiku Full of Posies earned him 3rd Place in Dreamers Magazine (2022), and his poem Love Sometimes received Honorable Mention in The Poetic Bond X (2020). He was featured in Blavity’s “Love Poems by Black Poets” slideshow for his poem New Year Comes Twice A Year, celebrating Black voices in poetry. He was also mentioned for submitting a group of poems for Mingled Voices 9 (International Proverse Poetry Prize Anthology, 2024). Kewayne’s creative process is deeply influenced by his diverse upbringing. Growing up in various cultural settings gifted him a unique perspective, infusing his work with rich imagery and emotional depth. Whether drawing from memory, emotion, or environment, he finds beauty in both the mundane and the extraordinary. His writing process blends spontaneity with discipline. Though he doesn’t follow a rigid routine, he remains committed to his craft, allowing ideas to arrive naturally. He believes in the power of words to heal and connect sometimes to reconnect. He often revisits older works to refine or transform them, a process he calls “sampling himself.” This editing often gives birth to entirely new pieces. Through his writing, Kewayne hopes to leave a lasting impact encouraging others to embrace their unique voices and share their stories. He believes every person carries a narrative worth telling. When he isn’t jotting down romantic free verse on whatever surface is nearby, this multi passionate creative can be found drawing, painting, listening to an eclectic range of music, or tending to his plants. Anthologies & Magazines Participated in: Collected Whispers (2006), For This Cause Writers Unite (2012), Where the Mind Dwells (2015), The Poetic Bond V (Willowdown Books) (2015), The Poetic Bond VIII (Willowdown Books) (2018), Best Of 2019: 4th Edition (2019), The Poetic Bond IX (Willowdown Books) (2019), The Poetic Bond X (Willowdown Books) (2020), Honorable Mention for ‘Love Sometimes’, Best Poets of 2020: Quarantine Edition (2020), Porter Gulch Review 2020: 36th Edition (2020), Poet’s Choice: Desires (2021), Human to Human (Willowdown Books) (2021), Who’s Who in American Poetry (2021), DRIP 05/06 (2021 Double Issue) Coffee People Zine, Mingled Voices 6 (International Proverse Poetry Prize Anthology) (2021), Dreamers Haiku Contest: 3rd Place Winner for ‘Full of Posies’ (Dreamers Magazine, 2022), Mingled Voices 7 (International Proverse Poetry Prize Anthology) (2022), Looking in, Looking Out (Willowdown Books) (2023), Poet’s Choice: Ace of Spades (2023), Mingled Voices 8 (International Proverse Poetry Prize Anthology) (awarded one or more places) (2023), Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry (Poetry Soup 2024), Opening Words Closing Lines (Willowdown Books) (2024), Mingled Voices 9 (International Proverse Poetry Prize Anthology) (specifically mentioned for a group of poems) (2024), Swept Away In February (Wingless Dreamer Publishing) (2025), Poet's Choice: A Village With A Poem Rural Poetry (2025), Wildsound Writing Festival (2025), Ink Without Borders (Wingless Dreamer Publishing) (2025) Self-Published Books: Listening to Songs at Midnight (2020), More Songs to Listen to at Midnight (2022), The Memorandum: An Ode to The Workplace or Something Like That (Short Poems & Stories about the Workplace) (2023), Late Nights on Venus (2023), Mumbo Jumbo... I Love You (2023), Vibing With You (2023), A Minute To Yourself (2023), ISLAND BAEcation (2023), Let's Get Out And Do Something (2023), Twelve Midnight (2024).