Wishing my penis
could detach itself
and crawl
off somewhere
far away from me
She insists
she understands
how I feel
especially
the moments one
is tempted to snip
it off with a
pair of scissors
or cut it off
with a knife
“You should
not do that”
she orders
“Let it be”
But I tell her
whispering words
of wisdom
isn’t changing anything
“Just trying to help”
she says
Yet
I am the
nowhere man
and
certainly
no paperback writer
“You are published”
she reminds me
“Shame I can’t
speak to you”
I tell her
seems she is
across the universe
No yellow submarine
to get me there
No ticket to ride
“I’m a lesbian”
she concludes

Selected byJordan Trethewey
Image credit:BERTRAND MORITZ

Mark Anthony Pearce lives and works as a Receptionist in Bristol, South West England. He is an author of nine books of Poetry, ‘Perforated By Sirens’ (With Danny D. Ford) (December 2020, Analog Submission Press), ‘Wheelchair Tony’ (March 2021, Between Shadows Press), ‘A Smile As Sad As Sunday’ (October 2021, Between Shadows Press), ‘Three Poets 5’  (With Tohm Bakelas & Danny D. Ford) (December 2021, Hickathrift Press), ‘Happy New Year, Ellsworth Griffin!’ (April 2022, Between Shadows Press), 'She Smells Dead People' (May 2022, Hickathrift Press) ‘Shopping For A New Penis And Other Poems’ (August 2022, Hickathrift Press), ‘The Pleasures of Work’  (March 2023, Between Shadows Press) & ‘Lanyard’ (April 2023, Two Key Customs).

His poetry has been published in University of Essex Poetry Journal, BS Poetry Magazine, haikus nearkus fauxkus fuckyous, Obscure Quarterly, Capgras, Seppuku Quartley, Cotard, online, Inefável, Coronaverses, Winamop, Horror Sleaze Trash, Duane’s PoeTree, Piker Press, Albany Poets, Ten Million Flies, Open Arts Forum, Cacti Fur, Cephalo Press, Punk Noir Magazine & Bold Monkey Review. Mark’s writing has also featured in ‘Anne Bean: Self Etc’ (Autumn 2018, Live Art Development Agency and Intellect Books)