Summary of "The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily"

Episode: 1276: To Be Longing by Elizabeth Willis
Host: Major Jackson
Release Date: January 20, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 1276 of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, hosted by Major Jackson, listeners are guided through a contemplative journey centered around Elizabeth Willis's poignant poem, "To Be Longing." The episode delves into the intricate relationship between language, identity, and belonging, offering profound insights into how words shape our perceptions and societal structures.

Host's Anecdote and Exploration of Language

[00:33] Major Jackson begins the episode with a personal anecdote about a conversation with his friend Lori, a fiction writer. He humorously recounts a pun Lori made when he confessed to reading her "corpus," highlighting the dual meaning of the word—both as a body of work and its Latin root implying "body." This leads Jackson to reflect on how language not only conveys an author's demeanor and thoughts but also how it can imprison or liberate meaning.

Notable Quote:
"Corpus is Latin for body. It is the root for many words, including corporeal, corporation, esprit de corps, habeas corpus, etc." [00:45]

Introduction to Elizabeth Willis's Poem

Jackson introduces Elizabeth Willis's poem, emphasizing its exploration of how language can both confine and empower individuals. He outlines the central theme of the poem: the struggle to break free from limiting labels and societal constructs through the power of writing and self-expression.

Key Themes Discussed:

• Secrecy vs. Revelation: The poem contrasts how secrecy can create in-groups and out-groups, while revelation fosters legal and social belonging.
• The Power of Writing: Writing transforms personal experiences into tangible forms, allowing individuals to assert their identities and resist restrictive definitions.
• Language as Law: Words can impose laws that delineate social boundaries, influencing both personal and civic realms.

Detailed Analysis of the Poem

Jackson provides an in-depth analysis of key excerpts from "To Be Longing," highlighting how Willis uses metaphors and imagery to convey complex emotions and societal critiques.

Notable Quotes and Analysis:

1. On Secrecy and Belonging:
   "Secrecy creates members and outsiders. Revelation turns belonging into law." [02:15]

   • Analysis: Willis illustrates how keeping aspects of identity secret can create exclusive groups, while openly revealing them can institutionalize belonging through legal frameworks.

2. On the Physicality of Words:
   "When you write it down, you give it a body and the body takes your name." [03:10]

   • Analysis: This line emphasizes the transformative power of writing, where abstract thoughts gain form and identity through the written word.

3. On Language's Dual Nature:
   "Bound by syntax, a word may yet contain boundlessness. Even God is a word, a gap in the text to show how distance can tear anything apart." [04:50]

   • Analysis: Willis explores the paradox of language being both restrictive and infinite, capable of expressing vast concepts yet limited by its structure.

4. On Societal Constructs:
   "A word like wife or marriage will linger in a courtroom, its legislation sending you to hell or to heaven." [05:40]

   • Analysis: Here, Willis critiques how certain words carry significant legal and moral weight, shaping societal norms and individual destinies.

Insights and Reflections

Jackson reflects on the poem's commentary on identity and the societal implications of language. He discusses how words not only describe but also shape our realities, often enforcing binary oppositions like yes/no or darkness/light. This duality can lead to oversimplified understandings of complex human experiences.

Notable Reflection:
"Like Adam, every writer falls. Word is saving a file called to be raw, infinitive, query, a signal into space. I want to survive. I want to outlast it." [05:25]

• Insight: Jackson interprets this as the universal struggle of writers to preserve their truths and resist the confines imposed by language and societal expectations.

Conclusion

Major Jackson wraps up the episode by reiterating the profound impact of poetry in illuminating the "world’s magnitude" and providing moments of reflection. He underscores the importance of engaging with literature to navigate and understand the complexities of human existence.

Closing Thoughts:
"Everything can be translated into yes and no, darkness and light... I want to survive. I want to outlast it." [05:50]

• Final Reflection: Jackson emphasizes the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of words to express and transcend our deepest longings.

Additional Information

Listeners are encouraged to explore The Slowdown's extensive back catalog, featuring episodes hosted by Tracy K. Smith, Ada Limón, and guest hosts like Jenny Xie and Amanda Gorman. The podcast is produced by APM Studios in partnership with The Poetry Foundation and supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.

For daily poetic reflections, visit slowdownshow.org, sign up for the newsletter, or follow The Slowdown on Instagram at @slowdownshow.