Siobhan Atkins – 3 poems

LESS THAN

In mathematics we are taught
the symbol < is easily remembered
for the letter “L” it resembles
Less than

Already thick wet vipers of doubt
have leapt from the tree to confront you
hissing unkindness directly below your temple
< good < capable < enough

And what of the opposing symbol
how should we recall it?
Here, employ no mnemonic or clever rhyme
just remember you are > ALL
connected by golden threads above
and snail silver below
the disembodied envy you
you are alive, you are electric
you are greater than you know
Remember this.

I liked kissing best

Messing about with your mouth
I’d try lifting your lip and crashing my teeth on yours
To see the sparks
And break the illusion
That we were not the same person

Later you’d enjoy taking photos on your phone
Funny candid shots
Me relaxing with my belly
Or with my legs too far apart
That’s when I hid myself
We were two persons after all.

A Haiku

Milk, the first kindness
Some potent promise until
the last kindness, death.

Siobhan Atkins lives in the Sperrins in Northern Ireland with two boys, two goats, two dogs and a scattering of hens. Her passion is poetry and conservation, however Elvis and Sci-Fi are also rated highly. She has featured asemic pieces here bnw-mag.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/siobhan-elvis-atkins-five-asemic-pieces.html and poetry here thebear-review.com/siobhan-atkins among other published work.