Transmorphing by Özge Lena

Transmorphing by Özge Lena

Author: Maggie Devers January 7, 2026 Duration: 2:16

Transmorphing

Özge Lena

This Poem was commended for Winged Muse Poetry Competition of Winged Moon Literary Magazine

After Harpy by Valerie Hammond

In seven nights she will burst
into nothing. Now all alone in a cream
coloured void, a wound
like creature, a word hunger like no other.
Soon you will meet her
in the neon gloaming, after the ruby ache
of not writing for a long winter,
frost flowers in your heart. Her low wings
will be closed, sharp claws
pointing down and down, some frozen
sadness on her pale face.
Sunset’s vermilion beams will bleed
into your lungs as you hold
her by hair, unfurl the ribbon to tie it
around your neck, to see your freedom
knotted in its silk, and breathe
life into her mouth. You will watch her
unfold her wings wide, talons
will scratch the soft air when she cloaks
you tight until you morph into
a harpy to write a septet poem in red ink.

More from Özge Lena ↓

  1. @lenaozge on Instagram
  2. You can find her on Substack @lenaozge where she presents her new approach to poetry, Catapoetry. It is a poetic framework about the interwoven and inseparable catastrophes of our age.
  3. You can listen to me read luminous girl lullaby by Özge Lena on Instagram @rembrandts.cure

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


Each day, One Poem Only offers a brief, deliberate pause. Hosted by Maggie Devers, this podcast is built on a simple, consistent premise: a single poem, read aloud, without analysis or introduction. It’s an audio space where the words themselves are the event, a performance meant to be absorbed in the few minutes it takes to hear it. The daily rhythm of the show creates a quiet ritual, a point of reflection woven into a busy life. You might hear a classic sonnet, a piece of modern free verse, or a work from a poet you’ve never encountered. The selection is varied, touching on themes from the natural world to the intricacies of human emotion, always leaving room for your own interpretation. The effect is cumulative; listening regularly becomes a subtle form of education in the sound and scope of poetry, and a small act of self-care. This isn't a lecture or a book club, but a performing art delivered directly to your ears. Maggie’s clear, thoughtful readings provide the only framework needed, allowing each poem to stand entirely on its own. The curtain falls, and the moment passes, but the podcast invites you to return tomorrow when a new piece takes center stage, offering another quiet moment, one poem only.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 355

One Poem Only
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