Tuesday poem #536 : Caelan Ernest : THE SWITCHBLADE IN MY GUT COALESCES WITH MY INNER FORM

 

 

THE SWITCHBLADE IN MY GUT COALESCES INTO MATERIAL
MY ENTRAILS SPUTTER INSIDE BEFORE LEAVING
AN IRIDESCENT PEARL THAT SHINES LIKE GASOLINE

THE MOON REFLECTS AGAIN
-ST MY SLICKED UP BODY
HOT OIL RUNS DOWN THE SIDES

YOU CAN’T TOUCH ME THERE
YOU CAN’T HOLD ME
I’VE GOT A KNIFE IN MY GUT

HOT OIL RUNS DOWN THE SIDES
I’M WARNING YOU
YOU WON’T WANT TO TOUCH

 

 

 

 

 

Caelan Ernest is a nonbinary poet and performer living in Brooklyn. They are the author of two collections: night mode (2023) and ICONOCLAST (2024), both from Everybody Press. Most recently, their work has been published in Blush Literature, them., WUSSY, Hayden’s Ferry Review, and elsewhere. They hold an MFA in Writing from Pratt Institute. They are Publicist at Graywolf Press.

the Tuesday poem is curated by rob mclennan