1282: Third Week of Ramadan by Sahar Romani

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily Episode: 1282: Third Week of Ramadan by Sahar Romani
Release Date: January 28, 2025
Host: Major Jackson
Producer: American Public Media in partnership with The Poetry Foundation

---

Introduction and Personal Reflection

In Episode 1282 of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, host Major Jackson delves deep into themes of mental health, loss, and the enduring power of poetry to navigate life's complexities. This episode is particularly poignant as it intertwines Jackson's personal experience with the impactful work of poet Sahar Romani.

Notable Quote:

"One of my MFA instructors found life difficult. I spent an evening with her just two weeks prior to the event of her passing. That shifted something in me, a desire to find it all endlessly breathtaking."
— Major Jackson [01:15]

Jackson begins by sharing a heartfelt narrative about a beloved MFA instructor who struggled with mental illness and ultimately passed away. This encounter was a catalyst for Jackson, prompting a profound commitment to seeking clarity and understanding the deeper layers of existence beyond superficial interactions.

Notable Quote:

"I remember not wanting to mechanically conduct myself in the hapless fog, instead to see beyond the surface of things."
— Major Jackson [02:45]

Engagement with Mental Health

The episode does not shy away from addressing the painful realities of mental illness. Jackson emphasizes that mental health struggles are genuine diseases that can obscure one's perception of life's richness and abundance.

Notable Quote:

"Mental illnesses are diseases that restrict our ability to see fullness and abundance."
— Major Jackson [04:10]

This candid acknowledgment serves as a bridge to the poem of the day, setting the stage for a reflective exploration of internal and external challenges.

Poem Reading: Third Week of Ramadan by Sahar Romani

Sahar Romani's Third Week of Ramadan is the centerpiece of this episode. The poem encapsulates a sense of stagnation and yearning for movement amidst life's routines and societal expectations.

Key Themes:

• Routine and Monotony: Romani depicts mornings devoid of traditional activities, such as cooking breakfast, highlighting a departure from normalcy.
• Silent Hunger: The poem speaks to a quiet, orderly hunger, symbolizing unmet needs and unexpressed desires.
• Weariness and Isolation: References to feeling weak and unable to keep up with the fast-paced world underscore a profound sense of exhaustion and detachment.
• Desire for Stillness: Despite the underlying fatigue, there's a yearning to remain present and observant amidst chaos.

Notable Excerpts:

"Our hunger turned quiet, orderly, as if we knew what hunger was and what it was never supposed to be."
— Third Week of Ramadan [05:20]

"We didn't want days to dissolve. Unconsciously, we wanted to stand in our faint bodies, upright, awake, watch the city hurry past our shoulders."
— Third Week of Ramadan [05:45]

Jackson interprets the poem as a reflection on the universal human experience, drawing parallels to the purification and renewal practices observed during Ramadan. The Slowdown utilizes this literary piece to encourage listeners to find moments of pause and introspection in their daily lives.

Concluding Reflections

Wrapping up the episode, Jackson ties together her personal narrative with the themes presented in Romani's poem. She underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing mental health challenges while finding solace and strength through poetry.

Notable Quote:

"Today's poem banishes any doubt that this is all a precious journey."
— Major Jackson [06:30]

This sentiment reinforces the episode's overarching message: despite the struggles and moments of darkness, life remains a valuable and meaningful journey, illuminated by the insights and beauty of poetic expression.

---

Final Thoughts

Episode 1282 of The Slowdown serves as a compelling testament to the role of poetry in personal healing and societal reflection. Through Major Jackson's vulnerable storytelling and Sahar Romani's evocative verse, listeners are invited to engage deeply with their own experiences and the world around them. This episode not only honors the memory of those grappling with mental health issues but also celebrates the resilience and transformative power of artistic expression.

---

Connect with The Slowdown:

• Website: slowdownshow.org
• Newsletter Signup: slowdownshow.org/newsletter
• Instagram: @slowdownshow

For daily doses of poetry and reflection, join Major Jackson in creating a serene and thoughtful routine amidst the hustle of everyday life.

Transcript

[A]

If you love your phone but not your carrier, just switch to T Mobile. You can keep your phone, keep your number and we'll help pay it off up to $800 per line. You can also use our savings calculator to compare our plans and streaming benefits against Verizon and AT&T. So switch and keep your phone, keep your number and keep more of your moolah. @t mobile.com up to 4 lines via virtual prepaid card.

[B]

Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device, credit service port in 90 plus days with.

[A]

Device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required.

[B]

Card has no cash access and expires in six months. A note that today's episode engages with suicide and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know needs help, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available by dialing the number 988-24-hours a day I'm Major Jackson and this is the Slowdown. One of my MFA instructors found life difficult. I spent an evening with her just two weeks prior to the event of her passing. That shifted something in me, a desire to find it all endlessly breathtaking. I have not always, but I remember not wanting to mechanically conduct myself in the hapless fog, instead to see beyond the surface of things. She gave a brilliant reading at Bennington College that last night I saw her. I had recently moved to Vermont, newly married, new job and new child. I drove down at her request. She was unaware of the 2 1/2 hour distance I heard, a new direction in her work. The host of the event noticed as well. He spoke of the courage in her new poems with a mutual friend, the other featured reader. The three of us talked politics over beers. We squeezed into the booth of a makeshift bar on campus. The other reader eventually retired to his room. I was happy to have a chance to catch up one on one. But three glasses in, her mood changed. Meanwhile, Steely Dan blasted loudly from a jukebox. A small knot of people flailed playfully in a circle. The spinning disco lights made the mostly empty dance floor even sadder. She confided in me. She leaned in close, spoke in low tones about her difficult winter. Her eyes were drawn. I felt her hurt. I felt her sadness. Eventually she changed the topic to my good fortune. A coveted job in a beautiful part of the country. She said the summer brought new opportunities for her. She planned to house sit for friends and write, to live frugally with her young son. Sitting there, I wished I could get her to see beyond the sources of her pain. She was a talented poet with a great deal to offer the world. She published two books. One of them received a prestigious prize. But mental illness cannot be wished away. Mental illnesses are diseases that restrict our ability to see fullness and abundance. Shortly after hearing the news of her passing, I mourned, then went into my own silence. I made a conscientious commitment to clarity. Today's poem banishes any doubt that this is all a precious journey. It is a poem that points to a holy rite practiced the world over, whose aim is purification and renewal. Third Week of Ramadan by Seher Romani by then we were used to it. Mornings no longer found us in the kitchen, turning on the kettle. Breakfast was something people did on billboards or tv. We leaned less on promises of after dark samosas, scoops of ice cream. Our hunger turned quiet, orderly, as if we knew what hunger was and what it was never supposed to be. A dull cold squeezed our ankles, burned in our ears. Night stunted, we still sleep on bus seats in front of computer screens, hands moved offbeat. Weekends we lay in bed under cream cotton sheets past edges of noon. But we didn't want days to dissolve. Unconsciously, we wanted to stand in our faint bodies, upright, awake, watch the city hurry past our shoulders. We were too weak to keep up. Sometimes this allowed us to see 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 slowdownshow.

[C]

Skipping cold and flu season is Plan A, but if you do get sick, be prepared for Plan B with Kleenex lotion tissues. Kleenex lotion tissues moisturize skin, helping prevent the added discomfort of red, irritated skin on top of your cold and flu symptoms. So this cold and flu season, grab Kleenex lotion tissues. Visit kleenex.com to learn more and buy now. For whatever happens next, grab Kleenex.