1294: White Peonies by Reginald Dwayne Betts - The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

Summary

Podcast Summary: Episode 1294 – "White Peonies" by Reginald Dwayne Betts

Podcast Information:

Title: The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily
Host/Author: American Public Media
Episode: 1294: White Peonies by Reginald Dwayne Betts
Release Date: February 13, 2025
Guest Host: Poet and Writer Maggie Smith

Introduction

In Episode 1294 of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, guest host Maggie Smith takes the listeners on a contemplative journey centered around the theme of naming and its profound connection to understanding and respecting the natural world. Maggie's thoughtful narration sets the stage for an exploration of Reginald Dwayne Betts' poignant poem, "White Peonies."

Exploring Curiosity and the Power of Naming

Timestamp [00:49]

Maggie Smith opens the episode by sharing her personal passion for identifying the nuances of nature. She expresses her relentless curiosity about the world, from recognizing tree species to identifying different bird calls. Maggie recounts moments with her teenage daughter, who playfully teases her about her meticulous nature. She reflects:

"I believe there is power in naming."

This statement underscores the episode's central theme: naming as a form of respect and recognition, not just for people but for all elements of the natural world.

Reading of "White Peonies" by Reginald Dwayne Betts

Maggie transitions into the reading of Reginald Dwayne Betts' poem "White Peonies," which delves into themes of beauty, sadness, and the significance of naming. The poem narrates the sudden appearance of white peonies in a garden and the speaker's emotional response to their unexpected beauty amidst personal turmoil.

Interpretation and Insights

Timestamp [04:15]

After the poem, Maggie provides a deep analysis, highlighting how the poem intertwines the act of naming with seeking understanding and solace. She notes:

"The speaker of this poem doesn't have all the answers, and he shows us the ways. He is questioning and trying to make sense of his experience."

Maggie draws parallels between the poem's exploration of grief and the broader human experience of finding beauty amidst suffering. She emphasizes the poem's portrayal of naming as a "first kind of prayer," suggesting that giving a name to something beautiful can be an act of reverence and an attempt to find meaning in chaos.

Personal Reflections and Broader Implications

Maggie shares her thoughts on the transformative power of poetry and nature. She believes that poetry, much like the act of naming, allows individuals to pause, reflect, and connect more deeply with their surroundings and emotions. By naming the white peonies, the speaker in the poem not only acknowledges their beauty but also confronts his own grief and search for peace.

Conclusion

Maggie wraps up the episode by reiterating the importance of taking moments to slow down and reflect, much like the daily rituals listeners might have with their morning coffee or evening walks. She invites listeners to engage with poetry as a means to calm, inspire, and connect with both the natural world and their inner selves.

Final Remarks

Produced by APM Studios in partnership with The Poetry Foundation and supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, The Slowdown continues to be a daily sanctuary for poetry enthusiasts. Listeners are encouraged to explore the back catalog featuring previous hosts and guest poets, enriching their daily routines with profound literary insights.

For more content and to receive daily poems, visit slowdownshow.org and subscribe to their newsletter or follow them on Instagram at @slowdownshow.

Notable Quotes:

Maggie Smith [00:49]: "I believe there is power in naming."
Maggie Smith [04:15]: "Naming is the first kind of prayer even as the white flowers turn into scented oil against my skin."

This episode masterfully intertwines personal reflection with literary analysis, offering listeners a rich and engaging experience that underscores the significance of poetry in everyday life.

Transcript

Maggie Smith (0:00)

Hey there, it's major. Today's episode of the Slowdown is guest hosted by the poet and writer Maggie Smith. I'll be back on Monday, February 17th at T Mobile.

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Maggie Smith (0:49)

I'm Maggie Smith and this is the Slowdown. I'm someone who wants to know the names of things I want to know what kind of tree has that bark that peels like strips of paper? What those stripy rows of clouds are called? What bird is making that nearly mechanical sound? The answers, I can tell you from research, are paper Birch Undulatus and European starlings. When I'm on a walk, I take pictures and make recordings so I can later identify what I've seen and heard. If my teenage daughter is with me, as she often is, she teases me when I use the birding app on my phone, or when I take photos of seed pods or leaves or bark so I can identify a plant or a tree. She said once, why can't you just see it and enjoy it? Why do you need to know its name? What can I say? I'm relentlessly curious. But I also think that it's a way of respecting the natural world. When we care about people, we care enough to call them by their names, to pronounce those names correctly, and to use their correct pronouns. Why not treat birds, trees, and clouds with the same respect? I can imagine my daughter rolling her eyes at that idea. You're such a poet, she might say, and we'd laugh. I believe there is power in naming. Today's poem engages with this idea, and it does something else I admire it grapples. The speaker of this poem doesn't have all the answers, and he shows us the ways. He is questioning and trying to make sense of his experience. White Peonies by Reginald Duane Betts this is how it happens one morning the ground is only the ground and then green shoots through the rich brown loam. I learned the word loam when I was starving for something. Fools would call it love and I would say it was a time machine, longing for some days, months, years when the sorrows didn't bloom like this thing from the ground that I can barely name. Tell me how these peonies have migrated from Asia to my garden, have found their way into my line of vision despite prison and all the suffering I don't speak. It all happens so sudden, is what I mean to say when sadness becomes a beauty before your eyes so startling you ask friends what to name the flower before you. I admit I've pretended to be God to give a name to this thing that gives me joy. I called it Sunday and then called it after my firstborn. Have you ever been so rattled by the unexpected that you wanted someone's blessing to name the thing? The peonies are so lovely they frighten me. They grow on thin stems longer than my arms with blooms heavier than the stalks. But isn't it always so, the beauty of the world so hefty we fear the world cannot stand it and yet why would we not want to pray when we notice? Why do we forget that naming is the first kind of prayer even as the white flowers turn into scented oil against my skin? The Slowdown is 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 web@arts.gov to get a poem delivered to you daily, go to slowdownshow.org and sign up for our newsletter. Find us on Instagram slowdownshow.