when excavating your abandonment
the magpie feathers left crowning
an unmade bed, forget dustpan,
brush, delicate treatment, and effort
my remembering gorging on quills
vitamin supplements of memory
they remind me once in this room
something shiny
—Published 9th of February 2025
About Michael Athey
Michael Athey is a Northumbrian poet and writer who recently completed his Creative Writing (Poetry) MA at UEA. He was awarded Runner Up in the 2024 Young Norwich Creative Awards in the Writing category and was also awarded Highly Commended in the 2023 Terry Kelly Poetry Prize. Find Michael on Instagram here.