logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2023
5m 33s

1022: Two Shadows

American Public Media
About this episode

Today’s poem is Two Shadows by Maurice Manning.


The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Major writes… “I want someone in my daughter’s life who will sing to her when she is most full of doubts and uncertainties, when storms inevitably arrive. Today’s poem gorgeously anticipates the day ahead when our children will pursue their own loves, and what magic we might model for them.” Celebrate the power of poems with a gift to The Slowdown today. Every donation makes a difference: https://tinyurl.com/rjm4synp

Up next
Yesterday
1371: At Last the New Arriving by Gabrielle Calvocoressi
Today’s poem is At Last the New Arriving by Gabrielle Calvocoressi. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “I don’t know what might happen tomorrow, or the next day, or the next. I can’t know! That can be a source of stress, but it can also be a ... Show More
6m 21s
Oct 9
1370: Soot by Kaveh Akbar
Today’s poem is Soot by Kaveh Akbar. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “My friend, the poet Dana Levin, once said that my poems are “God Curious,” and I loved that description. Part of what I do in my poems is pose existential questions to ... Show More
5m 32s
Oct 8
1369: Six Hours Lost, Land Between the Lakes by Kathleen Driskell
Today’s poem is Six Hours Lost, Land Between the Lakes by Kathleen Driskell. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem tells a story about a tense encounter in the woods. I so admire how this poet unfolds the narrative, then leaves me ... Show More
5m 57s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2023
#14 Face au Chaos, restons lucide, baisons - Yas
Du Chaos naissent les plus belles fleurs ;De ses voyages, elle a fait force ;Mesdames et messieurs Yas est d'une fureur ;Dont les mots brûlent d'un feu féroce... Lis Tes Ratures, Le Podcast Poésie. Aujourd’hui encore, qui sont les gens qui font vivre la Poésie ?Lis Tes Ra ... Show More
57m 57s
Jun 2022
418 "Because I could not stop for Death" by Emily Dickinson
Because Jacke could not stop for the scheduled episode topics, a certain poem kindly stopped for him. Luckily it's one of the greatest poems of all time! It's by the 19th-century American genius Emily Dickinson, and it packs into seven short stanzas a journey through life, death, ... Show More
57m 4s
Jul 2021
Poetry | A Blind Believer
Today’s poem is called A Blind Believer. I will start with some thoughts first and then you will enjoy the poem.Read the poem on https://englishpluspodcast.com/poetry-a-blind-believer/Subscribe to English Plus Podcast Premium on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channe ... Show More
3m 33s
Jul 2021
Poetry | The Snail
Today’s poem is called The Snail. I will start with some thoughts first and then you will enjoy the poem.Read the poem on https://englishpluspodcast.com/poetry-the-snail/Subscribe to English Plus Podcast Premium on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/english-plus ... Show More
3m 3s
Jul 2021
Poetry | Mighty Ulysses
Today’s poem is called Mighty Ulysses. I will start with some thoughts first and then you will enjoy the poem.Read the poem on https://englishpluspodcast.com/poetry-mighty-ulysses/Subscribe to English Plus Podcast Premium on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/en ... Show More
3m 49s
Apr 2022
Poet Ocean Vuong shares his grief in 'Time Is A Mother'
April is National Poetry Month, so to celebrate we are bringing you a conversation with poet Ocean Vuong. His new collection, Time Is A Mother, is about his grief after losing family members. Vuong told Morning Edition's Rachel Martin that time is different now that he has lost h ... Show More
8m 16s
Nov 2021
In a powerful memoir, poet Joy Harjo talks about finding her voice and using it
Poet Laureate Joy Harjo says she loved poetry as a kid, but didn't feel like it belonged to her. "It wasn't until I heard Native poets," she tells NPR's Michel Martin, "that I realized that, wow, this is a powerful tool of understanding and affirmation. And I don't know, I just s ... Show More
8m 41s
Jul 2021
Poetry | The Rain Must Fall
Listen to The Rain Must Fall, a poem by Danny Ballan from English Plus Podcast. I will start with some thoughts on the theme of the poem and then the poem.Read the poem on https://englishpluspodcast.com/poetry-the-rain-must-fall/Subscribe to English Plus Podcast Premium on Apple ... Show More
3m 10s
Jul 2021
Poetry | To A Stranger
To all strangers who are reading or listening to this poem, I salute you. Without you, I could have never called myself a writer. I dedicate this poem to you.Learn more on https://englishpluspodcast.com/poetry-to-a-stranger/Subscribe to English Plus Podcast Premium on Apple Podca ... Show More
3m 6s
Nov 2022
Two poetry collections find beauty in unexpected places
Poet Franny Choi knows that marginalized communities have been facing apocalypses forever. But in her new book, The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On, she uses their survival as a way to look forward. In this episode, she tells NPR's Leila Fadel how understanding that pai ... Show More
20m 21s