Jean Atkin

Biography

Jean Atkin is a professional poet and educator, based in Shropshire. Her first collection 'Not Lost Since Last Time' is published by Oversteps Books. She has also published five poetry pamphlets and a children’s novel, 'The Crow House'. Her work has won national prizes and is widely published. Her poem ‘What’s Human’ was included in 2014’s Best Scottish Poems, an online selection of 20 best poems by Scottish poets. She has held residencies and worked on projects in both Scotland and England, and was Wenlock Poetry Festival’s Poet in Residence in 2015. She works in schools and care settings and leads a young writers' group for Writing West Midlands. 'this netted house' (audio) was published in Earthlines magazine and was inspired by a photograph of a croft on the island of Lewis, entirely wrapped in fishing nets.

Samples

The Children of Lir His hands were folded. He seemed to be waiting. I saw him lower his eyes to earth as I landed, a brother at each wing tip. Behind us the sea lough tolled with the bell. When it had stopped, he spoke. I remember the coarseness of his robe, his mudstained feet. His voice was narrow as reeds. Rain fell. We heard him out. I searched my brothers’ eyes: and then we spread our wings. I felt the loosening of flight feathers, saw them fall; I watched smooth plumage snow from thinning bones. I folded, for the first time, shriven fingers and with my stranger’s hand I touched - and found skin slack on flesh and desert dry. My hair curved round me long and faint and grey. White down fanned to ground. Shameless, my favourite brother stood and stared into the sky. I saw him lank and naked. His eyes filled. I took his hand. The monk prayed. Rain fell.

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