1298: Earth, Earth by Cyrée Jarelle Johnson

Summary

Summary of Episode 1298: "Earth, Earth" by Cyrée Jarelle Johnson

Podcast Information

• Title: The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily
• Host: Major Jackson
• Producer: American Public Media in partnership with The Poetry Foundation
• Release Date: February 19, 2025

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Introduction and Host’s Reflections

In Episode 1298 of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, host Major Jackson delves into themes of care, compassion, and the urgent need to address both environmental and interpersonal challenges. Jackson emphasizes an ethos of kindness and understanding, asserting that his work—both in educational settings and literary productions—has taken on a heightened urgency in recent times.

Major Jackson begins the episode by reflecting on a recent news segment where a religious leader implored a world leader to embrace kindness. This plea elicited mixed reactions: some deemed it inappropriate, while others hailed it as heroic. Jackson notes the bewildered expressions of the audience, likening the scene to something out of a movie. This incident has led him to reassess his stance on apocalyptic narratives, realizing their underlying significance in contemporary discourse.

“Much of what you hear on the Slowdown is devoted to encouraging us to pay attention to the needs of the planet and each other.”
— Major Jackson [00:36]

Presentation of the Poem: "Earth, Earth"

The centerpiece of the episode is the poignant poem "Earth, Earth" by Saray Jerrell Johnson. Jackson provides a brief introduction to the poem, highlighting its envisioning of a future where children, particularly Black children, become the stewards of the Earth. These young caretakers embody genius, spiritual inheritance, and love, qualities that Jackson believes will safeguard humanity's virtues against extinction.

Analysis and Themes

"Earth, Earth" is a powerful exploration of humanity’s relationship with the planet and each other. The poem personifies Earth, attributing human emotions and characteristics to convey its plight and our collective responsibility.

Key Themes:

1. Imperfection of Love and Humanity:

   • Jackson underscores the poem’s assertion that human love is inherently imperfect, yet the act of trying is itself a form of perfection.

     “For humans, love is never perfect, only trying again. Perhaps the try itself is perfect...”
     — Saray Jerrell Johnson [During the Poem]

2. Environmental Despair and Hope:

   • The poem paints a bleak picture of environmental degradation but juxtaposes this with hope through the envisioned role of children as future caretakers.

     “The Earth herself is human, horny, sad, singular of changing nature, spiteful.”
     — Saray Jerrell Johnson [During the Poem]

3. Intergenerational Responsibility:

   • Emphasizing the importance of passing down wisdom, the poem calls for the younger generation to inherit and heal the Earth’s wounds.

     “They sort out her problems with the fast brilliance endemic to all black children in space.”
     — Saray Jerrell Johnson [During the Poem]

4. Intersectionality of Race and Environmentalism:

   • The poem specifically highlights Black children's unique relationship with the Earth, intertwining racial identity with environmental stewardship.

     “Wise black children who are close to their mother, the black Earth...”
     — Saray Jerrell Johnson [During the Poem]

5. Spiritual and Cosmic Connection:

   • There is an exploration of spiritual ties and cosmic awareness, suggesting that salvation for the Earth might come from unexpected or divine sources.

     “Or Jesus? Surely Jesus cared about the Earth.”
     — Saray Jerrell Johnson [During the Poem]

Major Jackson’s Reflections Post-Poem

After presenting the poem, Major Jackson reflects on its implications and the broader messages conveyed. He emphasizes the importance of empathy and the collective effort required to nurture both the planet and our human connections. Jackson resonates with the poem's call to action, advocating for a future where compassion and proactive care are paramount.

“Earth is dying. That's why I want children. I insist.”
— Saray Jerrell Johnson [During the Poem]

Jackson interprets this as a metaphorical plea for nurturing the next generation to take up the mantle of environmental and social responsibility. He underscores the necessity of imparting values of kindness and stewardship to ensure a sustainable and humane future.

Conclusion

Episode 1298 of The Slowdown serves as a stirring reminder of our collective responsibilities towards the Earth and each other. Through Major Jackson’s insightful introduction and the evocative poetry of Saray Jerrell Johnson, listeners are encouraged to reflect deeply on themes of love, imperfection, and the urgent need for compassionate action. The episode beautifully marries poetic expression with profound societal commentary, urging us to embrace empathy as a fundamental virtue in navigating our shared journey.

For those seeking daily inspiration and reflection through poetry, The Slowdown continues to be a valuable companion in fostering mindfulness and emotional intelligence.

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Transcript

[A]

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[B]

I'm Major Jackson and this is the Slowdown. Lately I have upped my message of abiding by or living an ethos of care and compassion. My work in the classroom and on the page has taken greater urgency. Much of what you hear on the Slowdown is devoted to encouraging us to pay attention to the needs of the planet and each other. On the news I heard a woman of the cloth plea to a world leader to adopt a spirit of kindness. Her words struck some as inappropriate and others as heroic. The footage of bafflement by those in attendance looked like something out of a film. I never took apocalyptic narratives seriously, but I am beginning to better understand their seeds. Today's poem imagines a future where children are our caretakers, whose regard genius, spiritual inheritance, and love will fortify us against extinction not of our bodies, but the virtues that make us human. Earth Earth by Saray Jerrell Johnson if you love someone, tell them the planet is dying. Today I am alone. The sun warps my southern windows. The Earth itself is human, horny, sad, singular of changing nature, spiteful. So our love for her cannot be perfect. That was never the promise. For humans, love is never perfect, only trying again. Perhaps the try itself is perfect, the feathered thing that does not fly a gust back in the attic, never out from it. Today I live in Brooklyn, Baltimore. Yesterday, Savannah, Oakland. Alone in Jack London Square, clutching pink flowers, I pondered prices of spinach too high for money barely gathered in Pride Month. Perhaps the fairest price is five bucks, but the wage it swipes is eternally gone. Today I am in Philadelphia, holding a restraining order, photos of my bitten limbs and the poems torn down to their iambs by hands I once chose to hold me. Now I am buying an eighth for that burnt down memory. I'm walking through a flood in thrifted boots, souls a maze of holes preying on the good of the Earth. The Earth who, if no one else is perfect, Riley says the Earth is dying. That's why I want children. I insist. Wise black children who are close to their mother, the black Earth, who empathize with her bitten limbs, who sort out her problems with the fast brilliance endemic to all black children in space. They'll hover above, see what's to be done. Maybe they won't have to go it alone. Maybe they'll have company in other people's children or aliens or rocks. I've heard they will cry out under certain conditions. What could they be waiting for? Or Jesus? Surely Jesus cared about the Earth. Sure, the desert was a tan blur, but those gilt views? I assume, however, they'll be in space, peeking from round windows overhead. The they'll gaze down at her walls, tracks that stud her wide waist, her vast saline cheeks, just a face in the dark, wild green Afro unpicked since the dawn of time. They'll love her perfectly, save her with archaic words. My elders knew enough to pass to me a great chain sent to heal the Earth, although healing her imperfectly, partially. We straw up oil from each accident, metabolize the soil meant to kill our mothers, send poison through our bloodline, waiting for help. She shouldn't need the Earth looking towards us, indifferent but needful. Tell her you love her. The Earth is dying. 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 web at Arts. To get a poem delivered to you daily, go to slowdownshow.org and sign up for our newsletter. Find us on Instagram at Slowdown show and Bluesky. Slowdownshow.org.

[C]

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