Written by Regan Chern in response to a digital artwork by Charlie Nieuwenhuyzen
I lay my mirror down,
Stand over it,
Watch myself in the nude.
I am the better Narcissus
Peering into my pool.
For want of being improved.
I draw a black satin ribbon ‘round
All parts of me,
To amputate.
This produce will be sold.
Hand over the phone.
I can be confectionery if
In the right wrapping.
I ask,
Do you like my mother’s earrings,
My father’s feet, his thighs⎯
Our dowry, if you choose me,
I can give you
Every night.
I’ll sell you this,
Only to never see
Face to face.
Artist Bio’s:
Hi! I’m Charlie (he/him), a 22-year-old trans artist living on Kabi Kabi land (The Sunshine Coast). I’m in my final year of my BFA majoring in Visual Arts, and I’m super excited to be a part of the ScratchThat team for early 2026! If I’m not making something for my studio class, find me absorbed in the pages of a book or listening to the same three artists on my refurbished iPod classic.
Regan is in his final year of a BFA (Creative Writing) at QUT etc.… do you really need to know more than that? You could be reading my work instead, you know. It’s far better than any dry self-aggrandising drivel that I could’ve written for this bio.
If you’d like to contact me, do so through my Instagram: @regancchern