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After two years, two seasons and 443 episodes, Major Jackson is stepping down from the host chair. 


A Farewell to Major Jackson

To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.


Supported in Part by National Endowment for the Arts

Raising poetry to a more visible and influential position in American culture.


Produced in Partnership With the Poetry Foundation

Announcements

1562: Listening to Vespertine for Twenty Hours Straight by Derrick Austin

Today’s poem is Listening to Vespertine for Twenty Hours Straight by Derrick Austin.


Today’s poem is Listening to Vespertine for Twenty Hours Straight by Derrick Austin.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “If you’re lucky, you have friends who might sense the shift in your emotional weather: the clouds rolling in, the sky darkening. If you’re very lucky, those friends might know what to do without being asked or prompted. They might come over with takeout and offer a listening ear. They might pick you up and take you to the movies or to a concert, to get you out of your bubble. Or maybe they come over and just simply exist with you. Maybe sitting next to you, maybe watching TV, maybe not talking at all, all without expecting you to be cheerful or even sociable. Their presence is calming in itself. Their unconditional love and acceptance, even when you’re not sparkling.” 
This show is supported by gifts from listeners. Support The Slowdown with a donation today.  Slowdownshow.org/donate

The Slowdown

1561: So Much Space for Song by James Crews

Today’s poem is So Much Space for Song by James Crews. 


Today’s poem is So Much Space for Song by James Crews. 
Sharing poetry is a two-way street. So today, you'll be hearing a poem selected by one of our listeners. Today’s selection was submitted by Rekha from Washington, D.C.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Rekha reflects… “Today's poem shows us that we are part of nature. We always tend to think of birds and animals and insects sort of as nature abstracted, but they're just like us.” 
This show is supported by gifts from listeners. Support The Slowdown with a donation and get access to the sponsor-free version of The Slowdown today. Slowdownshow.org/donate

If you’d like to participate in the next round of Community Selections, sign up for our newsletter. We’ll be sending a special Slowdown postcard to new subscribers that sign up this week. Subscribe at slowdownshow.org/newsletter

1560: Gratification to the survivors of daily damnations by Oladejo Abdullah Feranmi

Today’s poem is Gratification to the survivors of daily damnations by Oladejo Abdullah Feranmi. 


Today’s poem is Gratification to the survivors of daily damnations by Oladejo Abdullah Feranmi. 
Sharing poetry is a two-way street. So today, you'll be hearing a poem selected by one of our listeners. Today’s selection was submitted by Abdulmueed from Oyo, Nigeria.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Abdulmueed reflects… “Today's poem is an invitation for you to live more freely. The poem urges us to take a pause in our day-to-day activities to reflect on our lives, to look around us, experience the little things despite all odds.” 
This show is supported by gifts from listeners. Support The Slowdown with a donation and get access to the sponsor-free version of The Slowdown today. Slowdownshow.org/donate

If you’d like to participate in the next round of Community Selections, sign up for our newsletter. We’ll be sending a special Slowdown postcard to new subscribers that sign up this week. Subscribe at slowdownshow.org/newsletter

The Slowdown

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Recent Episodes

1562: Listening to Vespertine for Twenty Hours Straight by Derrick Austin

1561: So Much Space for Song by James Crews

1560: Gratification to the survivors of daily damnations by Oladejo Abdullah Feranmi

Announcements

A Farewell to Major Jackson

Supported in Part by National Endowment for the Arts

Produced in Partnership With the Poetry Foundation

Other APM Podcasts

Truth Be Told

Ripple

The Splendid Table

The Slowdown

Latest Episode

Recent Episodes

1562: Listening to Vespertine for Twenty Hours Straight by Derrick Austin

1561: So Much Space for Song by James Crews

1560: Gratification to the survivors of daily damnations by Oladejo Abdullah Feranmi

Get a poem handpicked by Maggie Smith every weekday. The email includes an abridged version of Maggie’s introduction.

Announcements

A Farewell to Major Jackson

Supported in Part by National Endowment for the Arts

Produced in Partnership With the Poetry Foundation

Other APM Podcasts

Truth Be Told

Ripple

The Splendid Table