andy, andy, where have you been
there's a war in the hall
of hell on earth
i used your golden telephone
to alert our lonesome god
the call
could not be completed
as dialed
it got disconnected
when you left the scene
i think it was the first time
when the bullets hit their mark
but failed to put you down for good
you only died a little and
you dug the corset anyway
andy, andy, do come back home
tell god we need you here
i can't get him
on the line
soulnap basquiat
while you're at it
Bio: James D. Casey IV is an artist, award-winning poet, author of seven poetry collections, and founder/editor-in-chief of Cajun Mutt Press. His work has been published in print and online by several small press venues and literary magazines internationally.
La Voce dei Poeti, La Catena della Pace international poetry contest gave "Warriors of the Rainbow" by J.D.C.IV a critic's choice award in 2016, and his poem "That'll do Pig" was nominated for a Pushcart Prize by New Pop Lit in 2019.
James was born in Colorado, grew up in Louisiana/Mississippi, and currently resides in Illinois.
Founder/Editor-in-chief of Cajun Mutt Press.
A Fevers of the Mind Quick-9 Interview with J.D. Casey IV from Cajun Mutt PressEIC: David L O’Nan is the Saturday Feature on Cajun Mutt Press with old storytelling poetryhttps://cajunmuttpress.wordpress.com/2021/10/15/now-available-from-cajun-mutt-press-12/
Q1: When did you start writing and first influences?
J.D. I entered a Halloween poem contest in grade school, won first prize, and that really fanned the flames.
My earliest influences were writers like Poe and Frost; as I got older I started getting into the beat poets. Then I discovered Hunter S. Thompson, and that’s when my passion for writing really sank in. All literary genres. not just poetry.
Q2: Who are your biggest influences today?
J.D. : Ron Whitehead, hands down, that man is a powerhouse of poetic energy. Not many people have dedicated their lives to the craft the way he has. He went all in, and I love that. That’s where I strive to be in the future.
Q3: Where did you grow up and how did that influence your writing? Have any travels away from home influence your work?
J.D.: I was born in Colorado, grew up in Louisiana/Mississippi, moved up to Illinois a few years ago, and I’ve done my fair share of traveling. Mostly by bus and train. It’s most definitely an influence on my poetry and art. I love to draw and paint as well as write.
Q4: What do you consider the most meaningful work that you’ve done creatively so far?
J.D.: Cajun Mutt Press. Literature is extremely important to me. I like to believe I’m doing it justice by getting the words out into the world. I publish featured writers on our website every Mon/Wed/Fri, and full-length poetry collections in paperback.
Q5: Any pivotal moment when you knew you wanted to be a writer?
J.D.: When it saved my life. I got in a bad accident at work in 2008. Broke C2 in my neck and T3-T4 in my back. Then on top of several other things that were piling up, my mom passed of cancer in 2009. That put me in a tailspin of self-destruction. Eventually, I had to enter rehab. Once my mind was clear the poetry and art started pouring out like never before and I realized this is what I wanted to do in life. It brought me out of the dark.
Q6: Favorite activities to relax?
J.D.: I like to collect things. Books, bones, crystals, toys that I grew up with. Stuff like that. And I always like to have music playing. I’m a huge Deadhead but I love all music. I have pretty eclectic taste.
Q7: Any recent or forthcoming projects that you’d like to promote?
J.D.:
I Hear Your Music Night and Day by Dave O’Leary was recently published by Cajun Mutt Press in May, and I have a few more books lined up before the end of the year.
“Poetry and short prose about the musical life and the lost words of youth, about the places where love might be found or misplaced and dreams not quite made and celebrity encounters and being short on funds and the necessity of bus rides and bus stops and homes and the small moments that resonate and, of course, cats.”
Manuscript submissions are currently CLOSED, but if you’d like to submit some work to be considered as a Featured Writer send 1-3 poems to cajunmuttpress@gmail.com along with a bio and author photo. All unpublished work, no simultaneous submissions. Please be patient for a response. I get a ton of emails.
Q8: What is a favorite line/stanza from a poem of yours or others?
J.D.:
Well, it isn’t a single line, but this is one of my personal favorites that I’ve written…
A Shortlist of Things I Learned by my Late-30s
god has tits jesus was black the only race is human
life after death? we’ll all know eventually
. . . or we won’t
anger and hatred is a cancer you gotta let that shit go
we’re labeled men and women but we can be what we want including something else entirely
love who the fuck you love
cats are assholes but cooler than dogs –
okay, that one is just an opinion
the world fucking sucks sometimes but it can also be pretty cool so it balances itself out
friends come and go you’ll know the real ones they stick around or find their way back
money comes and goes spend that shit can’t take it with but you CAN be buried with it
. . . because fuck ’em right?
when you reach a certain age you start writing dumb lists to put things into perspective
J.D.: My Beautiful Muse, Raissa. She’s my proofreader. I show her everything, and she’s always honest. Tells me if a line sounds wrong or suggests little edits here and there. She’s usually right.
BIO: James D. Casey IV is an artist, award-winning poet, author of seven poetry collections, and founder/editor-in-chief of Cajun Mutt Press. His work has been published in print and online by several small press venues and literary magazines internationally.
Fevers of the Mind 