Dinosaur Hands
by Emma Atkins
Tiny triceratops, no bigger than a hand. / She traces its stitches, / pulling at green threads until they loosen, / imagines each one a scar from some ancient nightmare beast / the marks of battles barely won. / In this world its horns are mauve felt / and its lungs are full of stuffing. / In her world, its horns are curved ivory / and its roar shakes the trees. / It walks through her hands, / felling forests with every step, / comes to rest on the bedside table. / It’ll keep her safe from the other dinosaurs who come, / bigger than a hand, / to fell the forests of her dreams.
Emma Atkins is a poet and novelist currently studying for her PhD at Middlesex University. She has been writing poetry since 2018. Her poetry has been featured in publications including the Stony Thursday Poetry Book, Amsterdam Quarterly, Stripes Magazine, t’ART Online, StepAway Magazine and others.