Please Do Not Touch

by Casey Bailey

Born and raised in Nechells, Birmingham, Casey Bailey is a writer, performer and educator. Casey released his debut full collection of 'Adjusted' in 2018 with Verve Poetry Press and has had his play 'GrimeBoy' been commissioned by the Birmingham Rep. Casey's poetry has featured in a number of anthologies and he was commissioned by the BBC to write 'The Ballad of The Peaky Blinders' in 2019. Casey has performed his poetry nationally, and internationally. Casey's contribution as a writer, as an educator and dedicated member of his community have been recognised by the Birmingham Mail's 'Birmingham Live', leading to him being named as one of Birmingham's '30 under 30' of 2018. Casey was also recognised in 2019 when he was made a Fellow of the University of Worcester.

Genres: Poetry

80 pages, Paperback

Published June 3, 2021

Reviews

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent second collection from Birmingham's Poet Laureate.

This one feels heavier than Bailey's first; grief is prominent throughout.

My favourites, surprisingly, were the love poems. Two Swings is a delicately evocative tale of teen love, and Soup is a beautifully banal rendering of domestic tenderness.

[Mark Dickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tremendous way with words. Evocative in a way that cuts through to the point and leaves your heart damaged on the way.

The tender poems shine through the darkness, with incredible imagery and powerful rhetoric across the board.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving and insightful, this feels like a really important collection, and I'm grateful to Casey Bailey for giving it to the world.

[Kitt Noir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast, furious, clever & heartbreaking. Urban poetry at its sharpest