Charlie Baylis
pink mink
“i have nothing to say to marianne moore and she has nothing to say to me!”
chelsey minnis
that is to say: razorblades and sequins swirling in sewage
coated in pink mink cut a line of coke by the
rink cut a triple axle to cat’s
double footed landing, ouch
*
ouch, that is to say: is she the girl from the internet?
drake on rollerblades? undress men – it’s chiffon babe
undress me i am prince soaked by viagra falls
unlace my gown nail me good fuck me hard with your shoe
*
that is to say: double screening wrestling w german commentary
double axle to sunburnt face i’ve nothing better to double
than championship playoffs i don’t care for either team
but i do wonder which players i would
*
that is to say: canary blood rushing the wolves throat
lana del rey singing “my pussy tastes like pepsi cola”
does the doctor have pepper spray i wonder
who has had my burnt pizza?
*
that is to say: i am in a state of perpetual decay
i can’t stomach you anymore than i can stand you
and i can’t stand me even one bit
my stomach knots with snakes
*
that is to say: poetry is a bitch it takes me
round the park like a poodle on a chain of lace
hey that’s chiffon babe drink liquid zinc or tie a leather belt
around my throat and yank it
ouch, ouch, you got me, or to say:
your poetry is so pretty i want to lick your ear
celebrate by peeing in leather trousers from a great height
onto your wedding cake
*
that is to say: this has all been terribly dull
my friends are a bunch of cunts
jesus doesn’t want you for a subway
and i’m not that kind of girl
w else can i tell you about mermaids u don’t already know
a voice in white that you can’t really hear
coming up for air whispering invisibly
i like you but i am not sure
we share very little move closer
(the title is from an interview with luna miguel
i just bought her book about mermaids
after not being sure for a long time
whether or not i would like her book about mermaids
if someone is very popular or part of a movement
it is easy to doubt their sincerity)
i would say you are worth many florins
you go swimming in the pools of famous gardens
you arrive home late and then go to sleep
i have so many questions for you
Charlie Baylis is from Nottingham, England. He is the Editor of Anthropocene and the Chief Editorial Advisor of Broken Sleep Books. His poetry has been nominated twice for the Pushcart Prize and once for the Forward Prize, he has also been shortlisted for a Saboteur Award for Best Reviewer of Literature. His most recent publication is Santa Lucía (Invisible Hand Press). He spends his spare time completely adrift of reality.