Mandarins
by and published in Edition One of Pomegranate
He bit into the fruit
wrapped you in metal violin-string notes
which taste of batteries
Sizzling pips and pith spat like hot mercury
and he laid in your hand the waxy peel
joined in a perfect spiral
With glittering citrus kisses
he dropped the word, perfectly formed
into your mouth like a seed
Martha Sprackland
Martha Sprackland has been writing for more than ten years, and was twice a winner of the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award. She is (finally) about to graduate from Lancaster University where she reads English Literature and Creative Writing. She has had her work published in Iota, Brittle Star, Agenda, Magma and the Cadaverine, and is editor of Cake magazine.