GROWING: a collection of prose poetry vignettes

by keaton st. james

A mini-collection of prose poetry vignettes styled to look like dictionary entries. Volume 1 is an exploration of growth and learning how to move forward.

You can read the zine for free on Issuu HERE

Genres: Poetry, LGBT, Queer

15 pages, ebook

Published January 1, 2016

Reviews

[ink · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a beautiful piece of art. my favorite quote is:

"the heart inside you silver, wet, wriggling. you have returned. you have returned."

gah

[Lör K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

I am in utter awe. This is beautiful. Thank you Percy for recommending me this! I read this for free here.

James has created such a beautiful short collection of poems in this. I've said before in poetry reviews that I don't really care how poetry is written, as long as I can get into it. I got into this. I read this so quickly, I was shocked when the end came around. This is such a wonderful collection of poems about growing up and evolving. These really spoke to me and touched me to my core. I don't really know what to say about this other than read this . Keaton St. James is definitely one of my favourite poets now, and I cannot wait to read more and see more of his poetry.

[nourhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"you can be a comet tearing open the sky if you want. never say of course. never let them drain the river of your soul."

[Nemo ☠️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"have you let go of the ails that anchor you yet? have you let this marvelous spinning earth pull you into its arms and sweep you off your feet yet?"

keaton st. james is one of the last true Romantics, blending the imagery of keats and shelley with postmodern experimentalism with incredible skill. probably my favourite modern poet of them all, and it's an utter tragedy that he's not more well-known. my rating will be the 11th and my review will be the 3rd. goodreads, get your act together and read this genius.

did i mention the zines are free? (although i bought mine because it's so good, how could i not)

[alex sol (hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

in the right kind of light, we look like sparrows. in the right kind of dark, our hipbones become hollows where angels rest, spread their wings, teach us the secrets of their bones.

and

life shivers, melts, moves on. the pain says, i have came for you. you look upon it and say, yes i've kept you waiting too long, let's embrace as equals.

Keaton St. James is ruining my life. This is a masterpiece.

[Mariella Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sir. Where are the rest of your books.

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

i adore keaton's poetry & just had the pleasure to read some during breakfast. pride the absolute favourite but like,......... ghost,.... grief?? dream?? so gooD!!!!!!1

"your soul a quiet cello hum swept through long, empty hallways. your soul a dizzy, unkempt breeze. your soul a white daisy unbloomed. your soul so soft and full of shuddering"

"in the right kind of light, we look like sparrows. in the right kind of dark, our hipbones become hollows where angels rest, spread their wings, teach us the secret of their bones."

[marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

“you reach for the light. it reaches back”

“have you let go of the ails that anchor you yet? have you let this marvellous spinning earth pull you into its arms and sweep you off your feet yet?”

“they found your bones piled in the dark fern bushes and you’ve never been the same since… an ache deep in the pit of you for anything besides this great, terrible silence born of feeling alive.”

“the heart inside you silver, wet, wriggling. you have returned. you have returned.”

AND SO MANY MORE. this was amazing. keaton st james makes me want to explode in the best way possible.

[meena ! · Rating 5 out of 5]

this collection is absolutely stunning. it deals with grief, growth and nostalgia in a palatable yet still indulgent manner. his poetry makes you feel something— it's relatable yet reflective and what i loved most is how the style of poetry in this collection makes the reader feel seen and addressed. definitely a collection i will reread time and time again.

[✧✧tanja✧✧ · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the format and overall aesthetic were beautiful, I didn't find the words particularly touching or meaningful. The collection was quite incoherent; I would’ve liked if there was a story to follow.

1.5-2 stars

[em_is_reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is!!! so good!!! keaton is possibly my favorite modern poet, and he's an amazing inspiration to me. i'd recommend this to literally anyone (well, unless you don't like poetry. and even then, you should give it a try).

[ayla ౨ৎ ·˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

this was a sweet quick read. i love keaton st james and the format was interesting but wasn’t super blown away. i know he’s an incredible poet i legit curl into the fetal position and die every time i read two boys but! idk didn’t super do it for me. still a nice quick and easy read.

[po's dad · Rating 4 out of 5]

makes me feel like im glowing

[Mukta A · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Oh, how beautiful you are. How incendiary and full of light. Promise me you will always be shining like this.”

[kas · Rating 5 out of 5]

i've been following st. james for years now and he never disappoints. i always look forward to anything he writes.

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love this kind of poetry so much

[tanishka · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty

[Fos and The Thirst · Rating 5 out of 5]

không có chút vần nào, nhưng là loại thơ THƠ nhất mình từng đọc =))))))) những chủ đề được subvert và khai thác theo cách sáng tạo, cũng chẳng lê thê. Đúng là hàng từ tumblr =))))))

[Rose Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

After years of seeing excerpts of this on Pinterest I have finally experienced it myself. oh my.

[Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sparkling and raw, as beautiful as a recovered memory, a realisation on the page. I love it for the moments of vertigo when words fit together just right and they also fit into the space between one's ribs. That 'ah-' moment that is also an 'oh.' "Milk Tooth" and "Grief" are my favourites.