1288: A Drink in the Night by Deborah Garrison

Summary

Episode Summary: "A Drink in the Night" by Deborah Garrison The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily – Episode 1288

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Introduction

In Episode 1288 of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, hosted by Major Jackson and produced by American Public Media in partnership with The Poetry Foundation, listener Maggie Smith delves into the profound simplicity of Deborah Garrison’s poem, “A Drink in the Night.” Released on February 5, 2025, this episode invites listeners to explore the delicate interplay between everyday moments and transcendent experiences through the lens of poetry.

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Host’s Engagement with Poetry in Education

Maggie Smith begins the episode by recounting a rewarding experience from nearly a decade ago, where she visited second-grade classrooms to share the beauty of poetry with young students. She reflects on the educational materials provided by the teachers, highlighting the concept of "poet’s eyes"—a metaphor for the innate ability poets have to perceive the world with wonder and depth.

[01:07] Maggie Smith: “We all have poets eyes. We are all born with them. We all have the ability to see the world around us with wonder.”

Smith emphasizes that children possess a "beginner's mind," naturally attuned to discovering and expressing the marvels of their surroundings without the barriers of cynicism or preconceived notions. This openness makes poetry not just accessible but inherent to their way of being.

[02:30] Maggie Smith: “With very young children, there's no irony, no cynicism, no detachment, no coolness, just experience and feeling. I find that so refreshing.”

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Insights on Poetry and the Human Experience

Drawing parallels between writing poetry and living a meaningful life, Smith articulates that both require:

• Attentiveness: Being present and observant in the moment.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
• Sense of Wonder: Maintaining curiosity and appreciation for the world.

She posits that wonder is closely linked to gratitude, suggesting that marveling at something is a profound form of appreciation.

[03:15] Maggie Smith: “They both require attentiveness and empathy and a sense of wonder. And isn't wonder a cousin of gratitude?”

Smith appreciates how poetry serves as a bridge where the mundane and the extraordinary coexist seamlessly, reflecting real life where moments of wonder can be found even in the most ordinary circumstances.

[04:50] Maggie Smith: “I love that poems are a place where the everyday and the transcendent can live side by side, because they live side by side.”

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Analysis of “A Drink in the Night”

“A Drink in the Night” by Deborah Garrison is a poignant portrayal of a tender moment between a parent and child. The poem captures the essence of care, curiosity, and the simple yet profound interactions that define their relationship.

Poem Excerpt:

My eyes opened at once for you were standing by my side.

You'd padded in to ask for a drink in the night.

The cup was where fallen down behind churning in the dishwater downstairs, too tired to care,

I cupped my hand and tipped it to you.

You stared, gulped some cold down your chin, whispered again, oh wonder.

You'd no idea I could make a cup.

You've no idea what I can do for you or hope to.

You watched, curious and cool,

as I cupped some up to my own lips too, then asked, why does it taste better?

Smith interprets the poem as a reflection of how everyday acts of kindness can feel both familiar and miraculous. The simplicity of offering a drink becomes a moment of connection and discovery, highlighting the innate curiosity and appreciation children have.

[05:30] Maggie Smith: “We just have to open our eyes to see it or, as this poem suggests, open our mouths to taste it.”

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Key Takeaways

1. Intrinsic Poetic Vision: Everyone possesses the innate ability to perceive the world poetically, a trait most evident in the uninhibited perception of children.
2. Intersection of Poetry and Life: Both require a deep engagement with the present moment, empathy towards others, and a persistent sense of wonder.
3. Value in Everyday Moments: Poetry can illuminate the extraordinary within the ordinary, encouraging us to find gratitude and marvel in daily interactions.
4. Parent-Child Dynamics: Simple gestures in relationships can carry profound emotional weight and offer opportunities for mutual understanding and appreciation.

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Conclusion

Maggie Smith’s exploration of Deborah Garrison’s “A Drink in the Night” serves as a gentle reminder to embrace the wonder in our everyday lives. By nurturing our poet’s eyes and valuing the small, seemingly insignificant moments, we can cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude and connection with those around us. This episode not only highlights the beauty of poetry but also underscores its relevance in fostering meaningful reflections on our shared human journey.

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Further Engagement

Listeners are encouraged to visit slowdownshow.org to access the podcast’s back catalog, subscribe to the newsletter, and follow on Instagram @slowdownshow for daily poetic inspirations and reflections.

Transcript

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[Maggie Smith]

I'm Maggie Smith and this is the slowdown almost 10 years ago, over the course of several weeks, I visited the second grade classrooms at our local elementary school. I had been invited to talk to the students about poetry. The teachers gave me the language arts textbook they were using in preparation for my visit. I noticed that in the poetry unit, the textbook authors wrote that poets have a special ability to see the world in a poetic way. They called this having poets eyes. They even suggested that teachers decorate an oversized pair of silly plastic glasses so they could put on their poet's eyes during lessons. On my first day with each class, I sat down at the front of the room in a small chair and the children all gathered in front of me on the rug. One of the first things I told the students was we all have poets eyes. We are all born with them. We all have the ability to see the world around us with wonder. Children naturally have beginner's mind. The world is new to them, so poetry comes naturally. Watching my own children encounter the world for the first time has been eye opening and inspiring. It's as if they are reading the world like a book they've opened for the first time, and it's fascinating to see them seeing it. They're surprised by what they find because they don't have so many expectations yet. With very young children there's no irony, no cynicism, no detachment, no coolness, just experience and feeling. I find that so refreshing. Sure enough, those seven and eight year old students came up with metaphors and images that astonished me. Working with them reinforced something I've believed for a long that writing poems and living require many of the same things. They both require attentiveness and empathy and a sense of wonder. And isn't wonder a cousin of gratitude? To marvel at something is to deeply appreciate it. Today's poem captures a scene between a parent and child that feels both familiar and miraculous. I love that poems are a place where the everyday and the transcendent can live side by side, because they live side by side. In life, too, there's wonder everywhere, even in the tiniest, most banal moments. We just have to open our eyes to see it or, as this poem suggests, open our mouths to taste it. A Drink in the Night by Deborah Garrison My eyes opened at once for you were standing by my side. You'd padded in to ask for a drink in the night. The cup was where fallen down behind churning in the dishwater downstairs, too tired to care, I cupped my hand and tipped it to you. You stared, gulped some cold down your chin, whispered again, oh wonder. You'd no idea I could make a cup. You've no idea what I can do for you or hope to. You watched, curious and cool, as I cupped some up to my own lips too, then asked, why does it taste better? 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 lodownshow.

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