Holdings

In this fifth poetry collection of remarkable poise and penetrating imagination, Egyptian American poet Matthew Shenoda steps into the Egyptian wings of our major museums, reanimating the objects, histories, and ancestral voices they house to consider how culture is made and remade across time—and how the dead continue to speak through what has been taken.

“You look at me, brother, / across the palindrome of time // bending the shackles of centuries / so we can each see the conquest fresh.”

The grain-filled body of a “Corn Mummy,” the turquoise squares of the ancient boardgame “Senet,” the funerary “Mask of Khonsu” that safeguards passage to the afterlife—in Holdings these and other fragments become emissaries from a distant past, inviting us into the worlds of their making. In each relic, Matthew Shenoda listens for the echoes of ritual, labor, and devotion—for the human voice—restoring breath and context to what a display case can only partially hold.

Crafted for ceremony and community, many of these objects now sit far from the landscapes and lineages that once animated them. Shenoda engages this long history of removal and possession through figures like the tomb raiders who did the looting and the tomb attendants who now work in our museums—illuminating questions of return, custodianship, and the futures these pieces might still claim.

In poems of impeccable craft, Shenoda slips between millennia and personae with lyric and imaginative agility. Though present in these galleries—in Giza, London, and New York—the poet remains warmly aloof, retreating, advancing, and shapeshifting as each work demands.

Holdings is a collection of subtle and startling beauty and depth, and a reminder that culture endures not as a static inheritance but as an act of attention, remembrance, and wonder.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs