No Destination

Tohm's words brim with life in all its extraordinary multitudes. It made me laugh out loud a great deal and provoked much thought. This is a very brave and beautiful book. - Mark Anthony Pearce: poet







Tohm Bakelas is a lonesome poet: Tohm is on the edge, his work has devoured and consumed the edges with a thundering and hopeful scope: Tohm is lonesome because he is fucking streets ahead in the present small press scene: his unique resonance is felt, known and respected for its poetic artistic delivery: he is holy and intoxicated with the muse make no mistake: this collection brings together eight previous long sold out chapbooks as well as over 30 new poems: he has hammered and nailed the duende into a mirror that looks across and ensnares this life in all its beauty and sorrow, Tohm Bakelas is lyrical, he is honest, he is master of the craft of forging words that rise and plummets, words that give the reader a compelling insight into the crevices and cliffs of humanity: Tohm Bakelas is a quality poet who does not turn away but faces, head-on the laughter of diablo and the songs of compassion and he never misses: he is one of the very few poets writing today that I truly admire and who never fails to inspire: so don't be a fucking fool and miss out on this luxurious literary voyage. - John D. Robinson: poet, novelist, publisher, painter





From my own experiences, I know that this life is full of fucked up, full of mishaps and mistakes, full of monsters, and full of madness. I hug my children tightly every day to show them that despite all the fucked up, this life is also full of great things, full of beauty, full of gentle moments, and full of better days. After reading this collection of poems, I can certainly say that Tohm Bakelas is a man who has been traveling down a crooked path of similar experiences. No Destination is page after page of keen intellect and crafted juxtaposition of what is truly fucked up and what is truly beautiful. Sure, many people have traveled an alike path and tried to tell the stories, but Tohm, Tohm has perfected it! - Victor Clevenger: author of Disordered Portion







"Most poetry is shit. But every so often, I'll find the perfect poem like the proverbial needle and I'll be hooked on that poet for life. As I find myself following their trail, seeking out any publication, chapbook, or collection they may have. For me Tohm is one of these poets. Over the years, I've got to know Tohm through drunken correspondences, publishing and of course when we've exchanged poems. This collection is a perfect starting point for anyone unfamiliar with Tohm's poetry and an essential edition for any Tohm Bakelas collection. These poems are raw, beautiful, grabbed from many fleeting moments, funny and sometimes tragic. Through psychiatric wards, barrooms and suburban New Jersey you'll see Tohm at his most vulnerable, strong and dangerous. These are perfect poems for a perfect collection." - Gwil James Thomas: poet, novelist and inept musician.