One Poem Only is a daily ritual: one poem, center stage, just for now.

To Be a Salamander

Rachel Turney

I want to be like you. I crave your regenerative abilities.

Does the heart count as a limb? If so, I could regrow the

part that is now missing, rebuild sinuous tissues and

the fat of my epicardium.

I want to wallow in the petrichor and muddy places. I

want to glide between the fallen leaves and tadpoles.

My skin would breathe, my lips smell, my world would

be trickling water in this moss forest.

I would darn socks for my four toes. One tiny bit of

wool to cover each one so that I might step with ease

from chilled rock to frozen ground as winter comes.

More from Rachel Turney ↓

• @turneytalks on Instagram
• Rachel Turney on Substack
• Her book, Women Making Soup Together, is out now with Vinegar Press

Support + Stay Connected to OPO

If you’d like to support the show, Substack and Patreon members receive a copy of my book, For My Daughter, along with episodes from the audiobook.

Feed yourself poetry every day.