Truth Thomas Books

New collection: Speak Water by Truth Thomas

Coming to Cherry Castle Publishing: June, 2012

Cover design: Deb Dulin

Cover photograph: His Choice of Edens

© 2011 by Thomas Sayers Ellis

(Look for Cherry Castle Publishing, birthed into being in June)

About the book:

“Speak Water speaks to the fluidity of that most ancient ethos: truth. And when you throw in justice, for that matter, you are dealing with Truth, as in Thomas—not doubting or pouting—but like Moses who spoke and split water, castigating the very enemies of righteousness with poems that are riotous and crystal clear as the holiest of waters should be. Speak Water is a testament to Truth Thomas’ commitment to the power of the word. His mastery of ideas, images, syllables and forms puts to rest the stale, obdurate notion that poetry and politics can’t live together to bear witness, to be beautiful and hopeful and true; to tell it like it is and how it ought to be—and make you cry, laugh, scratch your head, and think—like you’re in church, testifying and signifying at all the lying and dying Babylon brings. Here be Truth. Here be Thomas. Hear him speak—and sing.”

—Tony Medina

“Well, I didn’t think Truth Thomas could write a still finer book than A Day of Presence and Bottle of Life, but here he has gone and done it. Writing from the streets of the suffering cities, writing riffs on damn everything from Genesis and Lamentations to Langston and Etheridge, Amiri and Aretha, a soul-singer, a satirist, a born lover and magical metaphor-maker, Truth is his name for a reason. Speak Water is a book that’s deep and wide. You’ll be transformed when you get to the other side.

—Alicia Ostriker

“There is a certain spirituality always in the poetry of Truth Thomas. Speak Water resonates with Thomas’ unique blend of the spirit and the self. He has his own grounded language, and delivery, a cadence that is urban and historical, today, yesterday, tomorrow, but all the time, universal and willing to fight. He is a literary traveler; he goes where the best words are, the best thoughts, he reaches deep into his soul to understand the beauty of people, the songs of those that matter.”

—Brian Gilmore

“Truth Thomas offers powerful verses and insightful reveries, then relieves the ironic pain with reasoned succor—first-aid for the wounded soul. He weaves meanings and codes from biblical notes, personal anecdotes, and political knowledge wielded through experience beyond his years—a mix between Nikki Giovanni at her finest, and Gil Scott-Heron at his sharpest. The poet’s musical cadences and true timing are impeccable, pleasing, charming, and biting. It is truly inspiring to read verses with such lyrical soundings of Black America that are revelatory, romantic, spiritual and political.”

—Dr. Ricardo Guthrie, San Diego Poetry Guild, Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies, Northern Arizona University

“Truth Thomas is a contemporary poet who has obtained international acclaim for his second collection entitled Bottle of Life (2010). His latest work, Speak Water, is predicted to bring a broader audience and more success. Once again, Truth Thomas speaks ‘unconditional truths.’ The words and images flow from the biblical, early passages of ‘Genesis’ on to ‘Revelations.’ This collection is a mystical journey through the African and African-American experience through the ages. Ebbing through the lyrics, Thomas permits the unsung heroes of Black suffrage to obtain a voice. Intermingled with Langston Hughes and Aretha Franklin, all find a voice in this poetical, Black tapestry…. forever afloat in the current of Speak Water.”

—Dr. Rosetta Codling, Literary Critic, Atlanta Books Examiner

Photo by Linda Joy Burke

Previous books by Truth Thomas:

Bottle of Life

Truth Thomas’ Bottle of Life makes us face up to the gun barrel pointed at our head on Bodymore’s mean streets, yet an ocean away,poems like “Holy War” make us try to figure who is really the holy one–the dead Palestinian or dead Israeli lost to violence. The literary canon is referenced in this collection, and equated to a cabbie, driving by as if blinded by the color of a black man’s skin. Also, there are love poems to lesbians in this book, being appreciated from head to toe as a real people. Bottle of Life is worth imbibing for it is life blood–so fragile and precious. It is the poetic draught that keeps us running, and Truth Thomas knows that well.

–Mike Clark, Co-Publisher, Little Patuxent Review

ISBN-10: 0981858422

flipped eye publishing

To order, go to: http://www.flippedeye.net/store/

A Day of Presence

Thomas writes about serious issues, yes, but he also writes about mundane things like the weather, but not in a mundane voice.  Events happening in the world such as the war, Katrina, AIDS, racism can shape poets, can make them want to use poetry as a medium to get these issues heard and Truth Thomas’ A Day of Presence features poems that deal with heavy topics such as these. However, this is not a book that lectures or preaches; instead this is a book that tells it like it is.

–Missy McEwen, Reviewer, Immunization Against Invisibility

ISBN-10: 0981858406

flipped eye publishing

To order, go to: http://www.flippedeye.net/store/

Party of Black 

Party of Black

In Party of Black, fifth in the Mouthmark series, Truth Thomas widens the scope on issues ranging from the war in Iraq and gentrification to homophobia of “GOP Preachers” and the brothers too cool for church.  What’s so ironic about this debut is that Thomas, a child of the church, speaks rather than preaches to the reader. So that this PSA comes out of the voices at every street corner, barbershop and soul food establishment in America. If you are expecting an ordinary book of poems, do not open this collection. There is nothing “safe” about these poems. Especially now, that Papa’s Got a Brand New Pen.

–Alan W. King. author of Drift

ISBN-10: 1905233124

flipped eye publishing

To order, go to: http://www.flippedeye.net/store/