Kale Hensley is a poet and visual artist from West Virginia, now a born-again Texan. They are an Assistant Professor of Instruction at Texas State University and a Project Editor at Indirect Books.

Their writing, rooted in queer mysticism, dissent, and a love of southern gothic, has appeared in Gulf Coast, Booth, Evergreen Review, Sonora Review, Epiphany, and other journals, with several nominations for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. They are the recipient of the 2026 Elmer Kelton Prize for Poetry and a finalist for GASHER Press’ 2025 Chapbook Prize.

They are currently at work on their second collection of poetry presently titled stellar candy which explores first and second puberties. Other ongoing projects include research on lady troubadours, translating Old English poetry, and exploring phytography through analog collage.