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While I rescue roses
from endless rains
that leave their heads
waterlogged, drooping,
petals wilting,
delicate scent rotting,
the fire-bellied newt,
a rare little creature
no larger than the palm
of your hand
was swept to the Black Sea
where it cannot survive
in the saline water.
149 were found dead,
and laid in rows,
their scarlet bellies stunning
with their two rows of black spots
as if still warning
a predator,
their four-toed feet splayed
as if still looking
for purchase,
their tails curled and twisted
as if still swimming,
up to the sky.
Only 55 survived.
In the flooded houses,
the water recedes,
leaving no survivors.
June 20, 2023
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