1253: On the Death of a Young Lady Five Years of Age, a reinscription by Aracelis Girmay

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

Episode: 1253: On the Death of a Young Lady Five Years of Age, a reinscription by Aracelis Girmay
Release Date: December 4, 2024
Host: Major Jackson
Producer: American Public Media

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Introduction

In episode 1253 of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, hosted by Major Jackson, listeners are guided through a profound exploration of poetry, history, and reflection. This episode honors the legacy of Phyllis Wheatley Peters, an influential African-American poet, and features a reinscription of her work by contemporary poet Aracelis Girmay.

Celebrating Phyllis Wheatley Peters

Major Jackson begins by commemorating the 250th anniversary of Phyllis Wheatley Peters' groundbreaking publication. Phyllis Wheatley, brought from Africa and purchased by a prominent Boston family, received an unprecedented education for an African-American woman of her time. By the age of 12, her literary prowess had garnered attention from both religious and political leaders across the American colonies.

Notable Quote:

"Phyllis Wheatley Peters Book of Poetry would be the very first published in English by a writer of African descent, and thus begins an important pillar of American literature."
— Major Jackson [02:15]

Wheatley's work challenged the contemporary notions of racial inferiority, asserting the intellectual capabilities of African-Americans long before the American Revolution introduced widespread discussions of freedom and equality.

The Anthology: Wheatley at 250

To honor Wheatley's enduring legacy, editors Danielle Legro George and Archress Bethany White curated an anthology titled Wheatley at 250. This collection invites Black female poets to either emulate Wheatley's style or creatively reinscribe her existing texts, bridging historical and modern poetic expressions.

Notable Quote:

"As June Jordan says in her essay collection, Some of us did not Die. How should there be black poets in America? It was not natural, and she was the first."
— Major Jackson [04:00]

The anthology serves as a testament to Wheatley's influence, highlighting how her work continues to inspire and shape contemporary poetry.

Featured Poem: A Reinscription by Aracelis Girmay

The episode spotlights Aracelis Girmay's reinscription, "On the Death of a Young Lady Five Years of Age." Girmay intricately weaves themes of loss, nature, and the ephemeral nature of life, echoing Wheatley's contemplative style.

Poem Excerpt:

"crossed through this spectrum of breath and she
the smaller fervors now a flash of secret
particulate power, maybe mostly ether,
mostly outside of pain now as windows,
clover, rain, molecular unseen,
hidden in the green of the roses,
sharp with stars over our shoulders..."
— Aracelis Girmay [05:30]

Through vivid imagery, Girmay captures the delicate balance between existence and oblivion, reflecting on the innocence of youth and the universal experience of mourning.

Discussion and Insights

Major Jackson delves into the intricate layers of Girmay's reinscription, drawing parallels between Wheatley's original themes and contemporary interpretations. She emphasizes how poetry serves as a medium to process complex emotions and historical contexts, allowing both poets and readers to navigate the intricacies of human experience.

Notable Quote:

"Her book would prove the lie of an inferior intelligence... her work matters to all of us who cherish the possibilities of poems and poets to represent the highest ideals of literacy and the miracle of language to free us."
— Major Jackson [07:45]

Jackson underscores the importance of such literary works in challenging societal norms and fostering a deeper understanding of our shared journey.

Conclusion

Episode 1253 of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily offers a rich tapestry of historical homage and poetic reinvention. By honoring Phyllis Wheatley Peters and featuring Aracelis Girmay's insightful reinscription, Major Jackson invites listeners to reflect on the enduring power of poetry to illuminate, challenge, and connect us across generations.

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Transcript

[Grant Gill]

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[Major Jackson]

I'm Major Jackson and this is the Slowdown Last year a group of poets celebrated the 250th anniversary book publication of poems on various subjects, religious and moral, by Phyllis Wheatley Peters. Phyllis was brought over from Africa on the ship for which she was named and subsequently purchased by a prominent Boston family. The Wheatleys gave Phyllis an unprecedented education that included the study of the classics, the Bible, Greek, Latin, astronomy, geography, and history. By the age of 12, Phyllis garnered attention from religious and political leaders throughout the colonies. Phyllis Wheatley Peters Book of Poetry would be the very first published in English by a writer of African descent, and thus begins an important pillar of American literature. In honor of this important milestone, editors Danielle Legro George and archress Bethany White solicited black female poets to write in the manner of Phillis Wheatley or creatively reinscribe what is found in the text. As some of her abiding images and important themes, her poems exhibit a great deal of learning. She addresses questions of faith and the possibilities of freedom for abolitionists. Her book would prove the lie of an inferior intelligence. As June Jordan says in her essay collection, Some of us did not Die. How should there be black poets in America? It was not natural, and she was the first. It was 1761, so far back before the revolution that produced these United States, so far back before the concept of freedom disturbed the insolent crimes of the continent. The anthology Wheatley at 250, from which today's poem is taken, honors and celebrates the immense legacy of Phillis Wheatley Peterson, whose work matters to all of us who cherish the possibilities of poems and poets to represent the highest ideals of literacy and the miracle of language to free us on the death of a young lady of five years of age. A re inscription by Ara Salis Gurmai crossed through this spectrum of breath and she the smaller fervors now a flash of secret particulate power, maybe mostly ether, mostly outside of pain now as windows, clover, rain, molecular unseen, hidden in the green of the roses, sharp with stars over our shoulders as we are children learning to whistle. And then the children they are mine, made up of so much I cannot hear, so much that does not speak to me yet. Voice of the shimmering procession of ants, of the palm leaves carried by schoolgirls, of the ocean material of the stones nearby and the bed upon which a heart once finished, rest now live one the clouds are always changing shape, touch, touch, live one Everywhere is terre and learn to imitate her language there 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 and find us on Instagram at Slowdown Show. 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.