When I wrote the following poem nearly 24 years ago, I had never even seen a salamander. Still, it instantly became one of my favorites, so you can imagine how excited I was to discover salamanders in our back yard when we moved to North Carolina back in 2001. Both Amelia and Riley have grown up catching and loving them, too. Enjoy!
by Roger Darnell
sal•a•man•der n. a mythological reptile resembling the lizard, that was said to live in fire.
To bring an end to their dismay;
To offer their undaunted pander:
One Alexander Salamander.
On stones and trees they gathered ‘round
To see this One they’d chosen crowned.
It was His charge to quell desire
By marching right straight through the fire.
And by so seeing faith — alive —
In this cool world they could then thrive…
Removed from need to prove The Myth
By He adorning the monolith.
His head held high, no fear at all,
He took a breath and heard their call.
Their eyes beheld His stern, strong gander —
Brave Alexander Salamander!
Pursuing fate, He neared the bush
That burned so hot; His slight legs pushed
Him on to death or certain glory.
As they watched, He wrote the story
Of the great Messiah, alone,
Marching into that vast unknown;
Inspiring all to quench their thirst
With this prophetic, magical first.
He ‘woke to see His unsinged hide —
He’d plunged through to the other side!
His head, it swooned, His legs meandered —
Great Alexander Salamander!
He knew they sang to see Him back,
Yet bore upon His present track.
He chose to live and not retire —
To feed their faith, on through the fire.
(Copyright 2011 Roger Darnell, All Rights Reserved.)
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