Tom’s debut poetry collection, Advice and Other Absurdities for My Daughter, is forthcoming in late 2026 from Bridge House Publishing. Some of the poems in that collection appear in Janus Head, Otoliths, Indefinite Space, dadakuku and Exacting Clam. He also has recently completed a new chapbook called When I Was Marlon Brando. Some of the poems in that collection appear in e·ratio, Utriculi, M58 and TrashLight.
Audio
I’ve recored readings of a couple my poems that have been published. Please let me know what you think!
Still Life with Self and Red Tablecloth (now with drums!)
(From Advice and Other Absurdities for My Daughter. It originally appeared in dadakuku.)
I am and
aren’t if
are is as
it wasn’t
when it
was and
won’t until
I will when
won’t is
again and
isn’t before
I is or are
and am ever
Bank Run Advice
(From Advice and Other Absurdities for My Daughter. It originally appeared in Otoliths)
Lateral parentheticals forged in successive
missed apprehensions remain highly un-
certain—The curtain calls again and again
Will someone finally pick up the pieces
and provide the maverick right hand with
enough permeable excuses to dribble
out the clock—Take shock and thaw the
events but don’t call it a blackjack clap
back unless you can outgun all the other
kids in their cardiac kicks—If the night is
filled with scholars and soldiers call it
the magic of metallic madness washed
out in the valley of fallen angels glowing
among acres of corroded teardrop campers
