Author: James D. Casey IV

James D. Casey IV is the author of seven full-length collections of poetry: Metaphorically Esoteric, Dark Days Inside the Light While Drunk on Wine, Tin Foil Hats & Hadacol Coins, Owls in Hot Rods with Pink Elephants and Dead Bats, Isomorphic, Death & Love/Love & Death, and Unwritten Words That Slide Down The Wall. He is also the founder and editor-in-chief of Cajun Mutt Press. James is a southern poet with roots in Louisiana & Mississippi, currently residing in Illinois with his beautiful Muse, their retarded dog, and two black cats. Mr. Casey's poetry touches on a wide range of topics including personal experiences, love, hate, religion, politics, dreams, addiction, sex, parallel dimensions, and many more. His work has been published in print and online by several literary magazines and small press venues including Triadæ Magazine, Medusa's Kitchen, The Rye Whiskey Review, Under The Bleachers, Alien Buddha Press, The Abyss, Midnight Magazine, Boozehound Reviews, Dope Fiend Daily, Academy of the Heart and Mind, Ariel Chart, Piker Press, Madness Muse Press, Runcible Spoon, Expat Press, Walking Is Still Honest(W.I.S.H.)Press, Degenerate Literature, Gathering Stories, Constellate Literary Journal, IT-International Times, Visual Verse, The Blue Nib, Pink Litter, In Between Hangovers, Indiana Voice Journal, Poetry Breakfast, Beatnik Cowboy, Dissident Voice, Scarlet Leaf Review, Horror Sleaze Trash, Mad Swirl, Zombie Logic Review, Whispers, Your One Phone Call, I am not a Silent Poet, Tuck Magazine, Terror House Magazine, Outlaw Poetry, Inquietudes Literary Journal, Duane's PoeTree, High On Poems, Synchronized Chaos, Love Booklet, The Wombwell Rainbow, Bottom Shelf Whiskey, Story Mirror, Stanzaic Stylings, Spillwords Press, The Micropoets Society, Leaves of Ink, PPP Ezine, Poetry Life & Times, Realistic Poetry International, Writing Nights Press, Eber & Wein, and several others. James spends most of his time writing, but also enjoys practicing magick, creating artwork, and cooking Cajun cuisine.

Cajun Mutt Press Featured Writer 10/15/21

October 15, 2021 James D. Casey IV

Today I Saw My Other Self

The self
who had abandoned me
while I was trying to split
myself open
and separate
my head from my soul
because the head is smart
but the soul longs for a thing
that the head cannot provide

I wanted the sweet smelling pick tails
the shiny patent Maryjane’s
I didn’t want to walk around dirty
(meaning unwashed and unclean)
I wanted good teeth
a good guy
good job
all of this was my soul

Time blossomed
my boobs and ass
(my head remained unchanged)
while the self that I attempted so many times
to disconnect with
became a raging fire

My sad soul
meek and tired of listening
to wild rants
settled down into the dirt
that it formed from

Donna Dallas studied Creative Writing and Philosophy at NYU’s Gallatin School and was lucky enough to study under William Packard, founder and editor of the New York Quarterly. Lately, her work can be found in Horror Sleaze Trash, Beatnik Cowboy and Zombie Logic among many other publications. She recently published a novel, Death Sisters, with Alien Buddha Press. She also currently serves on the editorial team for Red Fez.

Now Available From Cajun Mutt Press

October 15, 2021 James D. Casey IV

Good morning/afternoon/night! Whatever time it may be in your corner of the world, I wanted to let everyone know The Adventures of Brain Man by Ron Whitehead is now available! I’ll post today’s Featured Writer for y’all in a little while as well, putting it together now.

Write On,
JDCIV
🤟💀

Ron Whitehead takes you on a journey across lands and through mindscapes in The Adventures of Brain Man. Searching for his “Other” brother, The Brain Man, who left home at seventeen for Oxford on an academic scholarship never to be seen again. Only heard about in news reports, magazine articles, and the occasional poem in various publications. After finding a mysterious and scathing letter about a book Brain had written in a secret part of the attic, Ron sets off to find his brother for answers. Ultimately finding himself in the end.

Cover Art: “Allfather” by Ryan Case
Ink, acrylic paint on watercolor paper.

Cajun Mutt Press Featured Writer 10/13/21

October 13, 2021 James D. Casey IV

Cold Open Window

Those invincible jackets, saviour of the universe
Cracking salted jokes on the idle, aside
The circular references catching the burn
Spoiling one’s duty through a comatose breeze
Behaving strangely on ordinary time.

Embarrassed for a spell, reaping the hurricane
Feeling entitled for want of a better stance
Being honest at a cost, secrets gone explosive
The anaesthetic of television wherever seen
Watered, left to dry, too advanced for some.

Higher hair, closer to God. Wishing to be used
The bizarre record sleeves go forth infinitely
Closer to a saviour to pick up and go.
Seated outside to scrag the multitudes medicine
Sucking carbohydrates through a napkin dearly.

The convenient public, surveying more than necessary
Given ultimate shocks catching in full view,
Burning entitlement where most gone before
Lapping up design under a broken sign
Sleeping until Christmas a favourite pastime.

Drizzled into a cul-de-sac, turned around spite,
Working into cemeteries a typical forthcoming
Never giving up on beloveds, laughed at,
Seated and entertained like always before
The glorious hypocrisy of staying sane.

Patricia Walsh was born in the parish of Mourneabbey, in north Co Cork,and educated at University College Cork, graduating with an MA in Archaeology in 2000. Her poetry has been published in Stony Thursday; Southword; Too Well Away Journal; New Wasteland Magazine; Quail Bell Magazine; The Poetry Collective; Quiver Review; Blazevox Magazine; and The Rational Creature. She has already published a chapbook, titled Continuity Errors in 2010, and a novel, The Quest for Lost Éire, in 2014. She was the featured poet in the inaugural edition of Fishbowl Magazine, and a further novel, In The Days of Ford Cortina will be published in late 2021.

Cajun Mutt Press Featured Writer 10/11/21

October 11, 2021 James D. Casey IV

Another fight in the street, who’s winning?

I slip out the side door of the bar.
Into a slurry less than grand commotion.

Having arrived mid-punch.
Missing all the silly foreplay.

Another fight in the street, who’s winning?
A raft of loudmouths gathered round.
All sold on the loud cluck.

The veiny one on steroids getting the better
of his shorter, less veiny steroid friend.

The girls on the walk screeching for fresh blood.
With their phones out so that I have to push past.

Then a fight between a couple of the girls
breaks out.

They don’t call this the entertainment district
for nothing.

Ryan Quinn Flanagan is a Canadian-born author residing in Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada with his wife and many bears that rifle through his garbage. His work can be found both in print and online in such places as: Evergreen Review, The New York Quarterly, Cajun Mutt Press, Outlaw Poetry Network, Red Fez, and The Oklahoma Review.

Available Oct. 15th: The Adventures of Brain Man by Ron Whitehead

October 10, 2021 James D. Casey IV

Holy hell—this book is absolutely gorgeous! I just got the proof copy of The Adventures of Brain Man by Ron Whitehead, and somehow it turned out even better than I expected!!

Cover art by The Art of Ryan Case, premium color interior on heavy white paper, typewriter font, ravens around the titles, skulls above the numbers, it is just incredible. I dig it.

Y’all keep your eyes peeled, the release date is October 15th. This is definitely a book you want to add to your collection. Actually, I can’t wait until it’s published so I can order one for MYSELF!!

Write On,
J.D.C.IV
🤟💀