Chasing Diamondbacks
Do you remember the one you almost saved?
Turtles have hard shells
and soft backs
***
I watched as they scrambled
Over each other
In that bright red plastic bucket
Canal street vendors
Selling
Turtles
33 to a little bucket
***
I held one
Close
She smelled briny
Her shell was a bit soft
I’ll save one
Not all of them
***
She hardens up
from eating crispy lettuce
***
It turns out
she’s an alligator snapping turtle
***
I’m quite fond of her.
Ferocious beak and all
she can’t retract her head all the way in
***
Defensive player
About the Creator
Michele Nampalli
This space is breath for my sensitivity. The poems come fully formed. I've known for quite some time now that my art is about receiving more than creation...its the most natural way I know to process my inner world. It started when I was 7.
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Comments (1)
This is strangely nostalgic for me. Not the exact scenario, but catching baby turtles and other cute little critters I enjoyed the read