The language of these poems is at once precise and given to mystery. This is pannarrativity, the world writ large. Things are named and made new—given new meaning for both poet and reader. These are poems that see the world as one great narration. This is logoclasody, poetry as discourse—where the reader is a conscious participant in the breaking out of signification. Where, as Carey Scott Wilkerson writes in his foreword, “knowledge and experience . . . show their metaphysical hand.”


Labor Day

is for
and louder than our own

among and above all the steps
in order to

are needed, see
or

in that fashion
to part company

increased and further drawn
to give,

and say no more
drawn,

or cannot go
to let or do or say

are ramp
and see and at an end

a fold or band
the tuft and wear

“St. Thomasino seeks the origin of words, the space that exists before the word is uttered or known, a practice which has occupied male poets and philosophers over the centuries.  He is aware, however, that women poets now attempt the same.  And this might be the meaning of his poem, ‘Janes.’

Janes

Jane is taking that which cannot be opened

Jane, that uses no words

this is taking Jane into the nameless

and, into the naming of Adam and the earth.

“I highly recommend, The Valise, by Gregory Vincent St. Thomasino, for any poet who longs to reach the realm beyond the physical.  In a sense, his poems are a valise, a carrying item for meaning.”  —Mary Ann Sullivan

“Gregory Vincent St Thomasino writes with a philosopher’s precision. Perhaps he is a refugee from paradox, finding asylum in these two-line stanzas so spare and direct. Fastidious in gathering particulars he makes statements when statements are needed and knows the time and place for a fragment. This, this and this: these poems are a lesson in ostensive definition. What St Thomasino keeps in his valise calls out in a restrained but singular voice for undivided attention.” —Alan Halsey

Gregory Vincent St. Thomasino was born in Greenwich Village, New York, and was raised in both the city and in the country across the Hudson River in New Jersey. He was educated at home, eventually to enter Fordham University where he received a degree in philosophy. In 2009 he received the Distinguished Scholar Award from the Doctor of Arts in Leadership program at Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire. His poetry and prose have appeared in OCHO, Barrow Street, jubilat, New York Tyrant (v3.3), Verse Wisconsin, In Posse Review, Big Bridge, Cordite Poetry Review, The Germ, Onedit, Pindeldyboz, Xcp: Cross-Cultural Poetics, Rattapallax, Empty Mirror, GAMMM and EOAGH and in various anthologies including the Georgia anthology Stone, River, Sky (Negative Capability Press, 2015) and the language art anthology The Dark Would (Apple Pie Editions, 2013). His digital poetry has been anthologized in the Brazilian book Poesia Eletrônica: negociações com os processos digitais [Electronic Poetry: negotiations with digital processes] (Jorge Luiz Antonio, 2008). His e-chaps include The Logoclasody Manifesto, Six Comets Are Coming and The Galloping Man (Eratio Editions 2008, 2009, 2010).

If you would like to purchase a copy of The Valise, you can via paypal.me/GregoryStThomasino. Copies are $20 and that is including postage within the USA.

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