The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily
**Episode 1265: "Gorgon Loves Googie's" by Rebecca Morgan Frank
Release Date: December 20, 2024
Host: Major Jackson
Produced by: APM Studios in partnership with The Poetry Foundation
Supported by: National Endowment for the Arts
Introduction
In Episode 1265 of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, host Major Jackson welcomes listeners to another day of poetic exploration and reflection. The episode centers around the evocative poem "Gorgon Loves Googie's" by Rebecca Morgan Frank, delving into themes of desire, mythology, and the interplay between past and future.
Host's Journey and Reflections
Major Jackson opens the episode by sharing a personal anecdote that sets the thematic foundation for the poem. He recounts a family trip to Ireland, where they visited Newgrange, an ancient passage tomb. This experience becomes a metaphor for understanding poetry's role in illuminating the mysteries of existence.
"Each winter solstice, the rising sun lights up a roof box, then follows a path along the chambered passageway that illuminates the entire tomb, light filling a corridor of darkness."
— Major Jackson [01:15]
This imagery serves as a parallel to how poetry and mythology bring light and understanding to the human experience, much like the sunlight reveals the hidden depths of Newgrange.
Introduction to the Poem
Major Jackson then introduces the featured poem, highlighting its exploration of unfulfilled longing and the quest for a desired future intertwined with historical and mythical elements.
"Today's poem intertwines a figure of the past in a vision of the future, expressing the difficulty of attaining desire and the reality of unfulfilled longing."
— Major Jackson [02:30]
Poem: "Gorgon Loves Googie's" by Rebecca Morgan Frank
The poem "Gorgon Loves Googie's" is a rich tapestry of modern and classical references, blending contemporary elements with timeless mythological motifs. It portrays the Gorgon—a figure from Greek mythology—expressing a longing for a future shaped by technology and progress, juxtaposed against enduring human desires.
Excerpt from the Poem:
Gorgon loves Googie's
rockets and rocks
dingbats all night coffee and gas,
ups flying saucers and neon
welcome to Las Vegas
Starburst and still beams
bold upsweeps a future she wants
to be atomic and glass,
Hollywood and Jetsons
Wants a future beyond this past
Constantly hardening in her path
Every time she makes someone's stone
they monument outlast her
and when she looks out of the glass
and watches parking lots filled
with bodies stuck in a day's work
she knows she's not terracotta
but tempered tempted
to make you into her accent wall
hold you in her thrall
but dream someday
we can all push the button
push the button to exit
— Rebecca Morgan Frank, "Gorgon Loves Googie's"
Analysis and Insights
Major Jackson interprets the poem as a dialogue between the old and the new, where the Gorgon symbolizes ancient myths striving to find relevance in a rapidly evolving world dominated by technology and modernity. The longing to "push the button to exit" reflects a desire to transcend current limitations and achieve a utopian vision, yet it's tempered by the recognition of existing constraints.
"Poems sung and stories told last year or even a century ago somehow inform and work their magic on us today."
— Major Jackson [04:45]
He emphasizes the poem's capacity to bridge different eras, illustrating how contemporary issues can be explored through the lens of classical mythology, thereby renewing their significance for today's audience.
Conclusion and Reflection
As the episode concludes, Major Jackson invites listeners to contemplate the enduring power of poetry to connect us across time and space. He underscores the importance of keeping these narratives alive and finding new ways to infuse them with meaning for future generations.
"Yet how do we refresh and unfold long standing tales, figures and voices such that they hold special meaning for us tomorrow?"
— Major Jackson [05:30]
He encourages the audience to engage with poetry not just as a form of art but as a medium for personal and collective reflection, fostering a deeper understanding of our shared human journey.
Behind the Scenes
The Slowdown episode 1265 is a collaborative effort, produced by APM Studios in partnership with The Poetry Foundation. The team behind the scenes includes:
- Lead Producer: Micah Kilbon
- Associate Producer: Maria Wartel
- Composer: Alexis Quadrado
- Engineer: Josh Savageo
- Digital Producer: James Napoli
- Additional Production: Susanna Sharpless, Jess Miller, Lauren Humpert
- Executives in Charge of APM Studios: Chandra Kavati, Joanne Griffith
Listeners are encouraged to support the podcast through donations:
"Contribute today@slowdownshow.org donate or find the link in the show Notes."
— Major Jackson [03:10]
For more content, visit slowdownshow.org and follow them on Instagram at @slowdownshow.
Listen to Episode 1265: Immerse yourself in the poetic journey of "Gorgon Loves Googie's" and explore the rich layers of meaning that The Slowdown offers every weekday.