logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2024
6m 26s

[encore] 1117: I Am Waiting by Lawrence ...

American Public Media
About this episode

Today’s poem is I Am Waiting by Lawrence Ferlinghetti.


The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. We’re taking a break this week, so we’re sharing some of our favorite episodes from the archive. This episode was originally released on May 14, 2024.


In this episode, Major writes… “On a Saturday morning group Zoom call, I wore my Philadelphia Phillies cap. A friend almost choked on his coffee, confusing my red hat for a MAGA hat. It made for a funny exchange, where I unapologetically claimed my belief in the ideals of America, but, no . . . I am a different kind of patriot. America is defined by its belief in equality, freedom, liberty, opportunity, and justice, but maybe even more by its betrayal of those principles and then its struggle to recommit to values we hold self-evident.”


Celebrate the power of poems with a gift to The Slowdown today. Every donation makes a difference: https://tinyurl.com/rjm4synp

Up next
Yesterday
1339: Wind-Related Ripple in the Wheatfield by Mikko Harvey
Today’s poem is Wind-Related Ripple in the Wheatfield by Mikko Harvey. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes, “Who might I have been—or with whom, or where—if the timing had been different? Did I arrive too late to certain parts of my life, or t ... Show More
5m 38s
Aug 26
1338: Are you bringing fruits, plants, seeds, by Karen Llagas
Today’s poem is Are you bringing fruits, plants, seeds, by Karen Llagas. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem looks at the anxiety and the absurdity of America: How many people seem fixated on the dangers outside our borders with ... Show More
6m 9s
Aug 25
1337: New York Address by Linda Gregg
Today’s poem is New York Address by Linda Gregg. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem captures that feeling when you’ve just had it—you’ve absolutely hit your limit. But at the same time, you realize that you’re the only person w ... Show More
5m 47s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
Richard Langston — Hill walk
In Richard Langston’s poem “Hill walk,” he proffers a handful of things that move us over the course of a day — words said or read, notes played, the sight of halting steps taken by a sibling. We marvel at the sound of an unfamiliar bird call, but there’s a startling mystery to t ... Show More
12m 18s
Jul 3
150. John Brown - Part I: American Abolitionist
Happy Independence Day! It's July 4th which means that it's the perfect time to talk about some classic American history. I was hoping to get this into one epidoe but alas, there's too much to tell. so join me for Part I of the tale of John Brown, the American Abolitionist,Hosted ... Show More
1h 23m
Nov 2024
194: On Sex and the City: Politically Erect
Today we process the disastrous outcome of the US presidential election and retreat to our safe space: Sex and the City reruns. And this week we’re discussing a truly great episode “Politically Erect”, a.k.a. the episode where Carrie dates a politician with a piss fetish, Stanfor ... Show More
53m 56s
Feb 2025
The Chris Distefano Interview | EP. 101
BUY YOUR TICKETS TO THE "MAN ON WATER" TOUR NOW!https://www.thegeorgejankoshow.com/Watch Chris Distefano Perform at Madison Square Garden's September 11th!https://www.chrisdcomedy.com/Sponsored By:Find CELSIUS near you: https://www.celsius.com/buy-locate/celsiusbrandpartner c ... Show More
1h 14m
May 14
Episode 112: Pre-Islamic Arabic Poetry
Prior to the dawn of Islam, the Arabian Peninsula had a great poetic tradition, with many genres, and many poets who are still celebrated and studied today. Episode 112 Quiz https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-112/ Episode 112 Transcription: https://literatureandhistory.com/epi ... Show More
2h 19m
Apr 2025
Re-release: How to enrich your everyday life with poetry (w/ Sarah Kay)
Roses are red, violets are blue, has poetry ever been intimidating for you? For many people, this art form can feel unapproachable, but poet and educator Sarah Kay, suggests that people who don’t like poetry just maybe haven’t found a poem that really speaks to them. Sarah propos ... Show More
31m 28s
Jun 20
A.O. Scott on the Joy of Close Reading Poetry
On this week's episode, A.O. Scott joins host Gilbert Cruz to talk about the value of close reading poetry. And New York Times Book Review poetry editor Greg Cowles recommends four recently published collections worth reading.Books mentioned in this episode* "New and Collected He ... Show More
33m 55s
Sep 2024
Ep. 1442 - Robin DiAngelo Freaks Out Over 'Am I Racist?' And It's Glorious
Today on the Matt Walsh Show, my new film, "Am I Racist?", premiers in theaters this weekend. But shockingly, some of my co-stars in the film -- the DEI grifters we exposed -- are not happy about the movie. They have come out to denounce it as "Nazi propaganda," among other thing ... Show More
58m 5s
Dec 2024
Taylor Johnson — Pennsylvania Ave. SE
When you look at people who are younger than you — particularly teenagers — does your mind ever take you back to yourself at their age? Taylor Johnson’s poem “Pennsylvania Ave. SE” performs this feat of time travel, going from a glimpse of two boys on bicycles to a haunting sense ... Show More
13m 21s
Apr 2025
Why Creativity Demands Discipline | “Good Bones” Poet Maggie Smith (PT. 1)
The best writing, like the best life, thrives not on the absence of rules but on the right ones. In today’s episode, Ryan sits down with viral poet and bestselling author Maggie Smith to explore the power of restraint, the fine line between hope and cynicism, and why caring deepl ... Show More
44m 4s