Shownotes
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 ↓
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.
Mentioned in this episode:
One Poem Only submissions are open.
I’m filling the next chapter of One Poem Only and would love to include your work. Send me the poem you wrote and want the world to hear. New this round: if you’d like to read your own poem on the podcast, you can. No need for a perfect studio recording—just a clear audio file recorded in a quiet space. If you choose this option, you’ll submit your poem and an audio file of you reading it. Submissions close Thursday, July 30. I’ll respond by August 12. Whether I read your poem or you read it yourself, I’d love to hear what you’re ready to share.