1309: 5 A.M. by Michael Ondaatje

Summary

The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily
Episode 1309: "5 A.M." by Michael Ondaatje
Release Date: March 7, 2025
Host: Ajah Jackson

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Introduction

In Episode 1309 of The Slowdown, hosted by Ajah Jackson, listeners are invited to embark on a journey of reflection and poetic exploration. This episode centers around Michael Ondaatje's poem, "5 A.M.," offering a deep dive into its themes and personal significance to the host.

Host's Tribute and Reflections (00:35 – 02:30)

Ajah Jackson begins the episode with a heartfelt tribute to Danielle Lagrose George, a cherished member of the Dark Room Collective, a writing group to which Jackson belongs. Danielle, remembered for her "transatlantic imagination" and "fiercely committed to a purposeful literature," recently passed away, prompting Jackson to reflect on their shared history and the enduring bonds within the collective.

"Danielle possessed a transatlantic imagination that was fiercely committed to a purposeful literature. She was kind beyond possibility."
— Ajah Jackson (00:35)

Jackson reminisces about the vibrant moments shared with fellow writers, highlighting the blend of personal relationships and artistic passion that defined their interactions. From late-night debates over literature in Soho bars to joyful gatherings in various cities, these memories underscore the collective's unwavering dedication to their craft.

"The nature of my youth was one in which my passion for art lived out in my passion for life."
— Ajah Jackson (03:10)

Exploration of "5 A.M." by Michael Ondaatje (02:31 – 04:30)

Transitioning to the featured poem, Ajah Jackson delves into the layers of "5 A.M.," authored by Michael Ondaatje. The poem serves as a tribute to Stan Draglan and Chris Coleman, evoking the raw emotions and vivid memories of youth spent in wilderness settings and shared experiences.

"'5 A.M. by Michael Ondaatje For Stan Draglan and for Chris Coleman, the wilderness of our youth an empty barn dancing with friends into the small hours.'"
— Ajah Jackson (03:50)

Jackson interprets the poem as a meditation on time, memory, and the spontaneous moments that shape our lives. She highlights how Ondaatje captures the essence of fleeting experiences and the bittersweet nature of nostalgia.

"The poem is not just a recollection but a 'gift from forgetfulness,' emphasizing how desires and memories can awaken us unexpectedly."
— Ajah Jackson (04:10)

The subtle shift to slow motion, triggered by a friend's camera accident, symbolizes the way certain moments are crystallized in our memories, allowing us to "remember the rest of our shadows as we danced."

"I can speak to you the way we once sang farewells out of our cars late at night, when those goodbyes remembered everything."
— Ajah Jackson (04:25)

Conclusion and Final Thoughts (04:31 – 04:45)

As the episode draws to a close, Jackson ties together the themes of the poem with the enduring spirit of the Dark Room Collective. She emphasizes the resilience and passion of artists in their relationships, their perception of time, and their unwavering commitment to creating meaningful art.

"Today's poem reminds me how the artist's relentless, indomitable spirit is lived out in their relationships, in their relationship to time, in their art."
— Ajah Jackson (04:35)

Key Takeaways

• Personal Connection: Ajah Jackson’s tribute to Danielle Lagrose George adds a layer of personal connection to the episode, highlighting the interplay between personal loss and artistic inspiration.

• Themes of Time and Memory: "5 A.M." serves as a contemplative piece on how moments in time can have lasting impacts, capturing the essence of youth, friendship, and the passage of time.

• Artistic Resilience: The episode underscores the enduring spirit of artists, emphasizing how their commitment to art shapes their relationships and perceptions.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "Danielle possessed a transatlantic imagination that was fiercely committed to a purposeful literature. She was kind beyond possibility."
  — Ajah Jackson (00:35)

• "The nature of my youth was one in which my passion for art lived out in my passion for life."
  — Ajah Jackson (03:10)

• "'5 A.M. by Michael Ondaatje For Stan Draglan and for Chris Coleman, the wilderness of our youth an empty barn dancing with friends into the small hours.'"
  — Ajah Jackson (03:50)

• "I can speak to you the way we once sang farewells out of our cars late at night, when those goodbyes remembered everything."
  — Ajah Jackson (04:25)

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Produced by: APM Studios in partnership with The Poetry Foundation
Support: National Endowment for the Arts

For more episodes, visit slowdownshow.org and follow on Instagram @downdownshow.

Transcript

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[Ajah Jackson]

I'm Ajah Jackson, and this is the Slowdown. I belong to a group of writers called the Dark Room Collective. Lately I am intensely nostalgic because one of our members recently passed, Danielle lagrose George, was decidedly one of the most brilliant people I've known. Her poem, a Dominican poem, was featured on the Slowdown last year. She possessed a transatlantic imagination that was fiercely committed to a purposeful literature. She was kind beyond possibility. Danielle and I went long jags without seeing each other, but recently had connected at least once a year, either in her hometown of Boston or at writers conferences. Her passing took me to unbox some early photographs of the Darkroom Collective and thus back to all the memories when we first saw Futures. As writers. I contemplate the journey of the lives of the Darkroom Collective and am moved by the steadfastness of each person's vision and commitment to their art. I thought, too, about the bonds created away from our desk and books and poems. I particularly recall all those moments we communed our parties, our nights at restaurants, our dancing, our cutting a rug, Kevin in Charlottesville at Fred's and Rita's, then later at a club downtown, Sharon in Maine, Natasha at Breadloaf, Tisa and John K. In Philadelphia, Tracy K. In Bennington, Bethany in Tampa, Elizabeth in South beach, doing the Nene twirling beneath the rafters at Nick's Barn party. But the nature of my youth was one in which my passion for art lived out in my passion for life. At times there was a recklessness about it, like Greg Koresh and me spilling out of a soho bar at first light, having debated literature and writers with a seriousness that felt like life mattered, truly mattered. Today's poem reminds me how the artist's relentless, indomitable spirit is lived out in their relationships, in their relationship to time, in their art. 5am by Michael Ondaatje For Stan Draglan and for Chris Coleman, the wilderness of our youth an empty barn dancing with friends into the small hours. Then daylight and the car is swerving away, wordless into the dawn. It arrives all at once tonight, not as memory, but like a gift from forgetfulness, as a desire can wake you. Or this poem based on the accidental change of speed in a friend's camera into slow motion. So now I remember the rest of our shadows as we danced, all our heartbeats under the thunder and I can speak to you the way we once sang farewells out of our cars late at night, when those goodbyes remembered everything.

[Major Jackson]

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 @downdownshow and bluesky.downdownshow.org the slowdown is written by me, Major Jackson. Our lead producer is Micah Kilbon and our associate producer is Maria Wartel. Our music is composed by Alexis Cuadrado, engineering by Josh Savageau. Our digital producer is James Napoli. Additional production help by Susannah Sharpless, Rebecca Rand and Lauren Humphert. Our executives in charge of APM Studios are Chandra Kavati and Joanne Griffith.

[Soul to Story Host]

The Soul to Story podcast is about how teaching kids to read went wrong. But now we have a story about a school district where things are going very right.

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