1240: Mother of the English Language by Nicole Arocho Hernández

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

Episode Title: Mother of the English Language
Host: Micah Kielbaun
Poem Featured: Mother of the English Language by Nicole Arocho Hernández
Release Date: November 15, 2024

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Introduction

In Episode 1240 of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, hosted by Micah Kielbaun, listeners are invited into an intimate exploration of conversation, connection, and the nuanced layers of human interaction through the lens of poetry. This episode delves into the intricate dance between superficial small talk and meaningful dialogue, setting the stage for the featured poem, Mother of the English Language by Nicole Arocho Hernández.

Host’s Reflection on Conversation and Connection

Micah Kielbaun opens the episode by sharing a personal anecdote about his quest to transform mundane conversations into deeper, more engaging exchanges. He recounts his and his friend Sean’s endeavor to perfect "riffing," a conversational technique aimed at turning ordinary dialogue into something resembling a poetic jam session rather than a mere performance.

Notable Quote:
“I came up with an inciting question, something to start a conversation about nothing at all in the best way. Not about what anyone had or what they had done, but how they saw the world and how they received it.”
— Micah Kielbaun [02:15]

This innovative questioning technique was designed to bypass conventional topics like jobs or personal achievements, instead probing the deeper perceptions individuals hold about the world around them. Micah introduces the provocative question: “Are you a vessel or are you a portal?” This question, while seemingly abstract, serves as a catalyst for introspection and meaningful dialogue.

Notable Quote:
“Vessels and portals aren't opposites, nor do they form clear metaphors for any human way of being. It's not about saying there's two kinds of people. It's a way to get people a little riled up.”
— Micah Kielbaun [03:12]

Micah admits that the question often puzzled his conversation partners, leading to a mix of confusion and enthusiastic engagement. He humorously shares an incident where his sister, uncomfortable with the abstract nature of the question, resorted to looking up definitions to navigate the conversation, highlighting the challenges and rewards of such deep conversational probes.

Notable Quote:
“What I forget, under duress or I can't access, is how to be normal, whatever that really is.”
— Micah Kielbaun [04:50]

Through this reflection, Micah emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between depth and normalcy in conversations, especially during challenging times. He suggests that creating personal structures to deviate from the "normal" can foster closer connections and a better understanding of one's emotions and experiences.

Transition to Poetry: Embracing Intimacy Through Weirdness

Micah transitions seamlessly from his conversation insights to the heart of the episode—the featured poem. He remarks on the intimacy that arises from shared vulnerability and the collective embrace of the unconventional.

Notable Quote:
“Today’s poem has that kind of intimacy you only achieve by deciding to be weird together. When we forego a tight grip on meaning, sometimes we get a little closer to the truth of feeling.”
— Micah Kielbaun [05:30]

This sentiment sets the tone for Mother of the English Language, positioning the poem as a medium through which listeners can explore profound emotions and truths by allowing themselves to be open and "weird" together.

Featured Poem: Mother of the English Language by Nicole Arocho Hernández

The episode culminates with the reading of Mother of the English Language, a poem that encapsulates themes of self-recognition, fragility, self-improvement, and existential musings. Through vivid and abstract imagery, the poem invites readers to contemplate their identities and their relationships with the world and themselves.

Poem Excerpt:

A worm is not a worm until it recognizes itself.
Frilly sounds are for the weak hearted.
I build a house of worship for self improvement.
I can be inaccurate, sure, you seem to like to lick splinters.
Tell me why
Something about feeling the edge of time.
Somewhere in this house you are crawling.

Conclusion

Micah Kielbaun wraps up the episode by acknowledging the collaborative efforts behind The Slowdown, crediting the production team and encouraging listeners to engage further through various platforms. He emphasizes the show's mission to provide a daily ritual of calm, inspiration, and learning through poetry, urging the audience to make it a part of their daily routines.

Notable Quote:
“The Slowdown is a production of American Public Media in partnership with the Poetry Foundation. This project is also supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.”
— Micah Kielbaun [06:00]

Listeners are reminded to subscribe and follow the podcast on social media to receive daily poetic reflections and to support the ongoing creation of meaningful literary content.

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Episode Credits:

• Host: Micah Kielbaun
• Producer: Maria Wartell
• Music Composer: Alexis Quadrado
• Engineering: Josh Savcho
• Digital Producer: James Napoli
• Additional Production Help: Susanna Sharpless, Jess Miller, Lauren Humpert
• Executives in Charge: Chandra Kivati, Joanne Griffith

Support & Subscriptions:
Listeners are encouraged to explore The Slowdown's back catalog, featuring episodes by previous hosts such as Tracy K. Smith and Ada Limón, and to gift loved ones with poetry through Poetry Magazine’s gift bundles.

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This episode of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily masterfully intertwines personal narrative with poetic exploration, offering listeners both introspection and aesthetic pleasure. Through Micah Kielbaun's thoughtful hosting and the evocative poem by Nicole Arocho Hernández, the episode underscores the profound impact of poetry in fostering connection and understanding in our daily lives.

Transcript

[Micah Kielbaun]

I won't let my moderate to severe.

[Major Jackson]

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[Unknown]

Serious allergic reactions may occur. Trimphia may increase your risk of infections and lower your ability to fight them. Before treatment, your doctor should check you for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms of infection, including fever, sweats, chills, muscle aches or cough. Tell your doctor if you had a vaccine or plan to emerge.

[Major Jackson]

As you learn more about Tremfya, including important safety information, at tremfya.com or call 1-877-578-3527. Our ad in Food and Wine magazine for patients prescribed tranfia. Cost support may be available.

[Unknown]

Hey, it's major. Today's episode is hosted by our very own Micah Kielbaun. Hang tight and I'll be back on November 25th.

[Micah Kielbaun]

I'm Micah Keelbaun, and this is the Slow A couple of years ago, I got tired of the questions at parties and bars, the so what do you do for work kind of talk. My friend Sean and I were dead set on perfecting what we called riffing, turning conversation into something more like jamming than a performance. So I came up with an inciting question, something to start a conversation about nothing at all in the best way. Not about what anyone had or what they had done, but how they saw the world and how they received it. A slippery, delicious way of talking. Something to access the strangeness, I would ask, are you a vessel or are you a portal? I understand how ridiculous that sounds. It is an imperfect question. By design, vessels and portals aren't opposites, nor do they form clear metaphors for any human way of being. It's not about saying there's two kinds of people. It's a way to get people a little riled up. The question genuinely confused some people. Others were game from the start and would answer with certainty right off the bat. We were at a restaurant when my sister, who was not the kind of person who enjoys this linguistic theoretical play, pulled out her phone and started reading out the definitions of the two words. This pissed me off, but I tried to repress that the definitions had many lettered entries, and those of us at the table turned our ears close and listened. Despite my resistance to the technical approach, I loved the tactile specificity of these definitions. They made the potential metaphors even weirder. Better Are you a tiny blood vessel or a black hole? Do you relate more to a watercraft larger than a dinghy? Or to a door? Do you feel like a drinking glass or a digital academic workspace? I've since retired the question and tried a few more, especially in times where I couldn't stand to answer a basic how are you? I've learned that when times are tough and chaotic, I don't forget how to be silly. I am always down to go deep with strangers or even people that I've known for years. What I forget, under duress or I can't access, is how to be normal, whatever that really is. So I make structures for myself to throw off normal. I never really wanted it anyways. Today's poem has that kind of intimacy you only achieve by deciding to be weird together. When we forego a tight grip on meaning, sometimes we get a little closer to the truth of feeling. Mother of the English Language by Nicole Arocho Hernandez A worm is not a worm until it recognizes itself. Frilly sounds are for the weak hearted. I build a house of worship for self improvement. I can be inaccurate, sure, you seem to like to lick splinters. Tell me why Something about feeling the edge of time. Somewhere in this house you are crawling the Slowdown is a production of American Public Media in partnership with the Poetry Foundation. This project is also supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts on the [e-mail] to get a poem delivered to you daily, go to slowdownshow.org and sign up for our newsletter. Find us on Instagram SlowdownShow this week's episodes of the Slowdown were written by me, Micah Kielbaun. The Slowdown's regular host is Major Jackson. This week's episodes were produced by Maria Wartell with help from me. Our music is composed by Alexis Quadrado, engineering by Josh Savcho. Our digital producer is James Napoli. Additional production help by Susanna Sharpless, Jess Miller, and Lauren Humpert. Our executives in charge of APM Studios are Chandra Kivati and Joanne Griffith.

[Unknown]

Give your loved ones the gift of poetry this year with Poetry Magazine. Poetry's gift bundle includes a one year print and digital subscription to the magazine plus a limited edition tote bag. Your loved ones will receive 10 beautifully curated volumes of contemporary poetry and unlimited digital access through the Poetry Magazine app. It's a gift that lasts all year. Subscribe [e-mail] slow that's poetrymagazine.org slow.