When she
spreads butter
across toast
she’ll find herself
thinking of jumping
out of a window
paranoid thoughts
fears certain foods
her Nan’s boyfriend
molested her
until she was 9
when he had
the common sense
to take his own life

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Image credit:Eric Ward
Mark Anthony Pearce

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)