Salamander Poem by Ray Lucero

It was a cold spring morning.

During a walk at Oxbow Park
I ran across a reddish-brown
salamander in the middle of
the paved road. Reaching down
I touched its tail and it twitched
slightly. It was clear that the
salamander was just chilled
and was moving slow as
cold amphibians do.

I picked up the creature and
carried it to the side of the
road, where I gently placed it
on the ground beneath a Salal shrub.

Walking on I reflected on
what it might be like to be that
salamander sitting in the road.
Being approached by a giant being
that could pick me up and with little
effort, move me to safety.

I must have seemed like
a god to that small salamander.

I further reflected about just how we
humans must look to greater beings
than us. Would we not see them as gods?

In that moment I felt gigantic and minuscule,
all at the same time…


ROTMS