Salmacis: Becoming Not Quite a Woman

by Elizabeth Train-Brown

As recounted by the Roman poet Ovid, a young nymph, Salmacis, one day spied Hermaphroditus bathing; consumed with passion, she entered the water and, begging the gods to allow them to stay together, the two became one – part man, part woman.

An Eclectic Pagan, for Elizabeth Ovid’s fables are more than fiction, and form a framework for exploring identity. Drawing on the rich mythological history associated with the tale of Salmacis and Hermaphroditus, and re-examining the tale through the lens of metaphor, Salmacis: Becoming Not Quite a Woman is a stirringly relatable and powerful exploration of gender, love and identity.

'this is my lake salmacis, and i am the wild nymph
with a hollow in her belly and nothing between her legs'

Genres: Poetry

64 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 2022

About the author

Elizabeth Train-Brown (she/they) is a twice-shortlisted Poet of the Year and fantasy author. She studies an MA in Creative Writing and English Literature at Lancaster University where she also runs Ravens & Writing Desks: A Writer’s Podcast and a weekly poetry workshop.

Outside of writing, Beth is a fire breather in the circus, competitive aerial performer, and works in Lancaster University’s Widening Participation team to support young people from underrepresented backgrounds into Higher Education.

Reviews

[Linda Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slim volume of 25 poems.

Salmacis: Becoming Not Quite a Woman is an intriguing and often visceral collection that challenges reader perceptions and leaves them thinking long after they’ve read the words.

I found Elizabeth Train-Brown’s language powerful and quite violent with several references to red, blood, screaming and difficult physical experiences so that the raging against patriarchal control as in gods, monsters and complex ptsd, is felt almost physically by the reader. I also discovered on my second reading of the anthology that these works feel even more passionate when they are read aloud.

It was fascinating that there is only one upper case letter in the entire collecting in the very last entry and that it is for ‘Being’, because I thought Salmacis was entirely about being. About being who we are expected or forced to be. About being who or what others expect of us, about being afraid, enraged and lost, and about being ourselves. What Elizabeth Train-Brown does is to make the reader question accepted norms and how the readers perceive themselves, and others around them, with images of blood, moons, seas and the natural world, from mythology from gods to selfies, and cutting, bleeding and knives. Indeed, Salmacis is not an easy read because although there are tender moments, much feels disturbing and and almost displacing.

That displacement is also conveyed by the physical appearance of the poetry, where white space shows hesitation or thought and the lack of full stops in 3 a.m. voice notes in snapchat, for example, illustrates to perfection the very stream of consciousness, the unstoppable flow of poetic ideas, that the author is describing. I loved the gaps in writing is easy as breathing because they show the poet’s own hesitation, they surprise the reader when the line is completed and they engage the reader completely, giving sufficient pause for them to supply their own suggestion mentally before finding what has actually been written. This creates a feeling of connection between poet and reader.

Salmacis is challenging, thought provoking and elusive. I have no idea whether my interpretation matches the writer’s intention and that, for me, makes the collection all the more intriguing. Read Salmacis for yourself to see if you agree. I can guarantee you won’t be left unmoved or unaffected!

[J Fearnley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume of 25 poems is a beautifully presented intensely powerful and impassioned debut collection.

Elizabeth Train-Brown uses her knowledge and love of Ovid’s fables to explore gender, love and identity. Through Elizabeth’s poetry there are recurring thoughts of knives, paper swans, of not belonging, of not being seen or wanting to be seen, of only being seen/heard through another’s voice. Vivid and disturbing images abound seeking to find, to explain, to become, to be.

Of course, when reading poetry it’s subjective our own experience, beliefs, preconceptions, thoughts and feelings intermingle with the words and so what one person takes from a poem or collection of poems will differ in degree from another. Our reactions will differ because we are looking differently. Are one person’s thoughts better, more valid than another? Does the poet mind if what we take from their poetry is something else, something other?

Isn’t it that this volume delights in, fears, needs, wants difference; wants to understand difference, is different, is other as we all are, as we all do? In our seeking we see the similarities – the need for love and for acceptance, the need to give love and be accepting.

I’ve read this volume over several times and on each reading have gained a new ‘favourite’, been moved by a different poem, felt inadequate, felt the passion within this set of poems, smiled at times, had my breath taken away and loved every one of them.

Elizabeth Train-Brown is thought provoking, seeking to understand – being and shouting loudly about it. I hope that they continue to produce such engaging work.

I hope you decide to read salmacis – becoming not quite a woman and enjoy it as much as I have.

Along with the copy of salmacis from Renard Press came a book mark on which there is the following quote: ‘Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful’ William Morris
This beautiful volume will remain in my home because it has brought me to the story of salmacis, from front cover to back with everything in between it is thought provoking, immersive and totally stunning.

My thanks to Will at Renard Press for the invitation to be a part of this wonderful BlogTour for salmacis – becoming not quite a woman by elizabeth train-brown and for providing an ARC copy to read and review.
Blog Tour: Check out the other amazing blogs on the tour before using the link below to get your own copy of this exceptional debut collection.

[eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

beth, i just have to congratulate you for creating such a devourable collection of poems📝i don’t know how you managed it, but there aren’t any skips, and every single one hit me right in the feels💔

the power of your ovid references & discussions of identity, love & sense of self, was simply beautiful🥰 definitely a collection i will be coming back to with regularity🥺

[Eleanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

A really strong collection. Some I completely loved and some felt a bit weaker but that's potentially because I could relate to some over others and therefore it's my subjectivity. Would love to see more from the writer.

[Jennifer Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Salmacis explores the confusion that is felt of been trapped in the wrong body, the issues of being a female and how everyday society and life make her feels as a female. Many do the poems touch upon difficult topics for females and not just for females but for those who don’t feel like they are a female and how much more harder it is when you’re trapped in the wrong body. The author also shows how it felt about been a female and how wrong it felt to her. The author really captured her thoughts and feelings well, allowing the reader to get some insight into the author and it’s shown in a very vividly beautiful way. I felt as though through her poetry that I was able to see inside in her mind.

It’s hard to pick a few from this book but if I to was, We all Watch the Same Gods and As Told in Hair was just a few of my favourite poems from this anthology. But they’re all brilliant in their own way. It’s filled with some beautiful imagery and metaphors and is not only poignant at times but thought provoking and sometimes even funny.

Salmacis is brilliant book about identity for anyone who feels slightly different. This is one of those books that should be on the school’s curriculum. It’s a book that’s really important and vital for society today and hopefully one day, there are more books like this out in the world. If you loved Green Indian Problem or wish to read more books like that one or one that deals with topics such as gender and identity then you should check this one out.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I should say I am Elizabeth’s big sister, so there may well be a natural bias to my review, but I will try to be as balanced as possible.
This is a collection of twenty-five poems. Some are just two verses long, while others go across three pages, so there is a variety of style. They touch on many themes but mainly about being a woman and what that means. The poems are mainly written in the first person, so they feel very personal. We read about being born, periods, breasts, hair, self-harming, violence, death…
Some of the poems are rather disturbing (for example – 3 a.m. voice notes on snapchat) and all of them stand up to repeated readings, where you will find something you missed the first time around. One of my favourite poems here is lessons I almost learned, which is both comedic and horrific, but beautifully observed.

[Thomas Brassington · Rating 4 out of 5]

No idea how to capture my thoughts on poetry. Was a nice way to pass an hour???

[soph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible start to finish! The author uses religious imagery, sensitive topic areas and tools such as triadic phrasing and sibilance incredibly well.. would highly recommend.

[Hayley (Shelflyfe) · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐬.
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Today is my stop on the blogtour for the poetry collection 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐬; 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 by Elizabeth Train-Brown. Thank you to Renard Press for having me along, and for sending me an advanced copy of the book.
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𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐱𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭.
𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 - 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭
𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐬,
𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐢𝐧𝐤.
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I am no expert in poetry (though I'm trying to read more) and because of this I'm sure some of the form, structure, and perhaps emphasis, of Train-Brown's poems are lost on me, but I think Salmacis is a beautiful and powerful collection nonetheless, and I read it back to back several times before writing this review.
There is so much rich imagery and theming throughout the book that speaks to me, covering: gender, identity, womanhood, religion, and mythology/childhood stories that have hidden darknesses within them when viewed as an adult.
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𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬
𝐰𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬
𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦
𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐚 𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧
𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐤
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Elements of Train-Brown's collection definitely captures what it feels like to be a woman, and how the expectations of gender conformance are at war with the rage, defiance, and desire to simply live a life without expectations or violence being thrust upon us. Myths, after all, are full of misogyny and sexual aggression.
The tale of Salmacis and Hermaphroditus is interesting in this regard, in that it is Salmacis herself who is usually seen as the perpetrator of aggression led by desire, though depending on who we listen to and believe (whether Ovid, Lucian of Samosata, or the tale as depicted in the ruins of Helicarnassus) we must make our own minds up about the truth.
After all, it wouldn't be the first time a woman's words were twisted, or a story was falsely depicted to lay blame on a woman. And maybe Hermaphroditus was simply born that way, and didn't view their own body as a curse.
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𝐢 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤
𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐡
𝐢 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

𝐢 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬
𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤.

𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞
𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞.
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Train-Brown's collection also challenges all conformance to gender, and indeed, conformance to being human; we often fail to recognise ourselves as transcendent beings within the cycle of nature, the cosmos, and how this is depicted in history and mythology. We are simply too busy trying to fit ourselves into neat boxes and assign labels of who we are and what we should be.
And often, people are depicted as experiencing a transformation on the back of a trauma or incident; in reality we can transform any aspect of ourselves and our lives as we see fit, on any day, without any specific trigger being required. The symbolism of swans, and the cover art, remind us that we can be shapeshifters, though there is often tragedy interwoven with the shift.
All people with wombs and uteruses go through a transformation of sorts when they hit pubity, and I loved the way Train-Brown depicts this as it's own sort of rebirth; the depiction of women sloughing off their expected appearance and breaking the chains of expectation that bind them, to reveal their true nature, will always be a joy to read.
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𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧
𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬
𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐬

𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐯𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧
𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝
𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐬
𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬

𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟𝐟
𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧-𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐬
𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚
𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡.
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Sometimes it feels dangerous to be a woman, or to be a human who does not conform to expectations.
Throughout history women and people who don't conform have faced persecution. Of course, this isn't something that is relegated to the pages of history - it continues into the modern day, especially for the trans/non-binary community and those who do not conform to their assigned gender. And lets not forget the very recent removal of rights to bodily autonomy.
There are many religious references through Salmacis, and these particularly stood out to me as someone who was raised in a Catholic household, and who felt accused, shamed and judged growing up, for doing nothing more than existing.
Religion, for me, sits perfectly alongside the mythical references throughout the collection; perhaps these stories once intended to have positive meanings or lessons, but in the end the forbidden fruit leaves a better aftertaste than the shame. Seeing god in bathroom mirrors, viewing god as a woman and the oldest god, and reclaiming some of the names initially used to insult and eviscerate women definitely makes Salmacis a very powerful collection.
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𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬
𝐡𝐞𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐞'𝐬
𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐞
𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬.

𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡
𝐭𝐨𝐨
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One thing I love about literature is how every reader can have a different experience in what they take from it. We all have a different lens through which we see the world, and I'm sure that when I reread this collection again I will see different things in it that stand out to me.
I would love to hear whether Train-Brown had any specific intentions in what readers should take from her poems, and I will definitely be rereading this collection again, as well as keeping an eye out for what Train-Brown writes next.

[Emma Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a regular poetry reader, but something drew me into wanting to read this collection. Not since Carol Ann Duffy's The Worlds Wife have I been so absorbed and captivated by a poetry collection. As i was reading each one I kept thinking, thats a favourite, oh and that one, they were all so clever, witty, raw and just "got" it.

Powerful poetry and a collection I know I will return to.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Such a powerful and well-written collection that explores such important themes such as: gender, love and identity. One I would definitely recommend however, unfortunately it just wasn’t for me. But definitely excited to see what this poet writes next.

[travelsalongmybookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of 25 poems drawing on Ovid’s recounting of the myth of Salmacis and Hermaphroditus using it as a framework for exploring identity, love and gender.

The first thing I did before reading this was to go and read the tale of Salmacis and Hermaphroditus as a background to my understanding of these poems. Salmacis, a young nymph, one day spies Hermaphroditus bathing. She is consumed by passion for him, enters the water and begs the gods to allow them to stay together - the two become one - part man, part woman.

I have to admit I found this poetry collection challenging to read. I had to read it more than once to get used to the layout of each poem. Everything is written in lower case, except in the use of the word Being near the end of the collection. This had the effect of slowing my reading down and it made sure I was really reading each word. Space is used within the text to great effect, I felt at times to be able to pause and to breathe and at other to allow the words to flow.

‘i feel like a woman’s words
in a man’s book.
there
but in his voice.’

I found myself almost following instruction in ‘chasing my therapist to a rave in the woods.’
‘Breathe in for 4,
hold for 4,
breathe out for 4,
hold for 4.

I felt the strength of ‘ovid tells it best’:

‘this is my lake salmacis
and i am the wild nymph
with a hollow in her belly
and nothing between her legs.’

The writing is lyrical, yet powerful, with visceral imagery that can evoke strong emotion in the reader. There is blood, there are bodies, pain and beauty. The physicality brought me up sharply as if meant to shock, at other points I could feel the tenderness and touching moments. I don’t know that I entirely understood everything here but it has left me thinking about what I know and believe. It has actually given me a sense of rhythm and peace and I will return to this collection again.

I found this challenging, a very powerful poetry collection
rooted in myth but exploring very modern themes.

[Louise T · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. It felt captivating and haunting.

I read some poetry years ago and wrote off all poetry as something I wouldn’t be able to enjoy. It seemed that it would almost always go over my head and I felt like I was reading the equivalent of my understanding of modern art.

But with this I think i will have to read it again and maybe again after that.

I had never heard of Salmacis prior to this and it was only after I paused to look into this story that I really appreciated this collection.

I found the way dysphoria was captured really interesting, unsettling and at points relatable.

There were really beautiful moments of imagery throughout and there just felt like a proper flow from start to end.

I am sure I don’t have the right words to analyse and digest this collection the way it deserves but it felt eerily enchanting.

I am so glad I happened upon this collection of poems on my recent charity shop haul. I will for sure but looking out for more from Elizabeth Train-Brown.

[Maisie Camille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Salmacis: becoming not quite a woman is Beth Train-Brown’s debut poetry collection, featuring queer mythological poems inspired by the myth of Salmacis and Hermaphroditus. My favourite poem was ‘3 a.m. voice notes on Snapchat,’ followed by ‘the bearers of lightning still weather the storm.’ I recommend this book because it’s interesting to see how the language we use today can be applied to ancient myths. And, as I say time and time again, queer representation is SO important. ‘I have never coaxed poetry from my heart…’

[Dany Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong collection from a local poet!