Farm Kittens by Elisabeth Kelly That first time, I found them,a moving lumpbehind the bales,stuffed in a hole. Sounds echoed half cat, half darkcupboards under stairs,I ran.Next time, a week later, you came with your mouth in that I am two years older way,a mother cat, ears flat back, hissed so our insides squirmed. We didn’t look for them again That time,months later, we saw them strugglein the long grass behindthe dairy,one kept falling,a leg shorter,a spine twisted. At teatime, words fell across the table,inbred settled on my tonguemade my mouth feel full.About the Author:Elisabeth Kelly is a mum and a teacher. She lives on a hill farm in the Scottish Borders with her young family and too many animals. She started writing poetry again in 2020 and will or has been published by Dreich Poetry Magazine, Eyeflash Poetry, Foxglove Journal, and Hedgehog Poetry Press in two anthologies. Her debut collection will be published by Hedgehog Poetry Press in 2021. She was shortlisted for the Anthony Cronin International Poetry Award 2020. She loves chocolate puddings and the change of seasons. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Like this:Like Loading... Published by fragmentedvoices A small, independent press based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, and Prague, the Czech Republic View all posts by fragmentedvoices