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

Swan Dive by Maia von Maltzahn

Maia von Maltzahn

It’s the kind of hot

afternoon in August

where the sun cracks

your mouth open

so you can take

a big gulp of

life

Chin tucked

wind-up lanky-limbs

bare browned

shoulders hum

in the heat

running warm

wooden dock

beneath your feet, step

one, two, and

Leap…

gravity

greets

you

like a pinky-promise

in the lake

water answers

with a laughing splash

you elegant creature

here, you belong.

More from Maia von Maltzahn ↓

1. @maiaelizabethwrites on Instagram

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Mentioned in this episode:

Write After: National Poetry Month with One Poem Only

Write After is a way to encourage poets to listen and write, and use National Poetry Month to highlight how listening to poetry makes us better poets. I know I write the best when I’m surrounded by beautiful poetry–it’s part of the reason I created this podcast, and I want to encourage others to share this practice. We'll get started in April. You can share to #WriteAfterOPO.

#WriteAfterOPO