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Major Jackson’s collection of new and selected poems is now on bookstore  shelves — and he’s hitting the road in support.


Major Jackson's headshot and cover of new book Razzle Dazzle 

Major Jackson's Razzle Dazzle book tour dates

Celebrating RAZZLE DAZZLE!

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


Produced in partnership with the Poetry Foundation

In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa (Full Version)

Today’s poem is In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa by Ada Limón. This is the full version of the interview, only on our website.


Today’s poem is In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa by Ada Limón. This June, the US Poet Laureate and former host of The Slowdown, Ada Limón, unveiled a poem that she wrote for NASA's Europa Clipper, a poem that will be inscribed in her own hand on the side of the spacecraft set for Jupiter's water moon, 1.8 billion miles away. Her work is partnered with the Message in a Bottle project, which invites anyone to have their name etched on the microchip mounted to the outside of the spacecraft. Our producer, Myka Kielbon, met with Ada in the ceremonial offices of the Poet Laureate in the Library of Congress, to connect on this moment that merges science, art and humanity. A shortened version of their conversation is in today’s podcast feed. This is the full version of this interview, only on our website.

Announcements

971: On Mars

Today’s poem is On Mars by Ariana Benson. 


Today’s poem is On Mars by Ariana Benson. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Major writes… “I’ve come to believe our galaxy serves as a destination for our imaginations; it inspires our conjecture about the universe; it is where we land all of our queries about the meaning and origins of life, where we construct narratives that give us solace.” Celebrate the power of poems with a gift to The Slowdown today. Every donation makes a difference: https://tinyurl.com/rjm4synp 

The Slowdown

970: Ungendered 2

Today’s poem is Ungendered 2 by Kwame Sound Daniels.


Today’s poem is Ungendered 2 by Kwame Sound Daniels. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Major writes… “Today’s poem rightly resists labels that limit our lived experiences, and rallies for us setting our own terms for how we are viewed in society.” Celebrate the power of poems with a gift to The Slowdown today. Every donation makes a difference: https://tinyurl.com/rjm4synp 

969: Us

Today’s poem is Us by Zaffar Kunial. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Major writes… “Since moving to the quaint village of Rochester, I come to expect visible signs of welcome everywhere. What matters in life is that space between us, formulated by philosopher Martin Buber as I-Thou. It’s a sacred space of shared existence where we feel each other’s uniqueness and feel our common humanity. Today’s attentive poem fosters a consciousness in which we view our lives as more in relation to each other, as close as two small letters.” Celebrate the power of poems with a gift to The Slowdown today. Every donation makes a difference: https://tinyurl.com/rjm4synp

The Slowdown

Latest Episode

Recent Episodes

971: On Mars

970: Ungendered 2

969: Us

Announcements

Celebrating RAZZLE DAZZLE!

Produced in partnership with the Poetry Foundation

In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa (Full Version)

Other APM Podcasts

Truth Be Told

Don't Ask Tig

The Splendid Table

The Slowdown

Latest Episode

Recent Episodes

971: On Mars

970: Ungendered 2

969: Us

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

Announcements

Celebrating RAZZLE DAZZLE!

Produced in partnership with the Poetry Foundation

In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa (Full Version)

Other APM Podcasts

Truth Be Told

Don't Ask Tig

The Splendid Table