1318: Desert Sayings by Donovan McAbee

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

Episode: 1318: Desert Sayings by Donovan McAbee
Release Date: March 24, 2025
Host: Major Jackson
Produced by: American Public Media in partnership with The Poetry Foundation
Supported by: National Endowment for the Arts

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Introduction

In Episode 1318 of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, host Major Jackson delves into the profound themes of silence, introspection, and the human need for moments of stillness amidst the chaos of daily life. Through his reflective narrative and the poignant poem "Desert Sayings" by Donovan McAbee, Jackson invites listeners to contemplate the essence of silence and its role in personal and collective journeys.

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Host’s Reflection on Silence and Retreat

Major Jackson opens the episode by pondering the allure of silent retreats as a means of escaping life's incessant chatter. He shares a personal anecdote that sparked his contemplation:

"I am contemplating going on a silent retreat this spring. ... Just as I reached to squeeze an avocado, I recalled a meeting I missed earlier that day. I reached my saturation point."
(00:31)

Jackson expresses a yearning to disconnect from his overly scheduled existence, seeking truths that emerge only in the absence of constant activity:

"I want to wake up to truths that can only be gleaned when I fade out sequentially."
(02:15)

This reflection sets the stage for the exploration of silence as a sanctuary for the soul, free from anger, fear, and loneliness.

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Exploration of "Desert Sayings" by Donovan McAbee

The centerpiece of the episode is Donovan McAbee’s poem "Desert Sayings", which Jackson presents as a meditation on silence and its multifaceted nature. The poem intertwines spiritual wisdom with vivid imagery, depicting silence as both a refuge and a profound communicative force.

Key Themes and Insights:

1. Silence as Creation and Constraint:

   • The poem suggests that silence is an inherent part of creation, yet it often feels elusive:

     "All creation cannot contain silence."
     (02:45)

2. The Nature of Punishment for Words:

   • A monk’s vision of devils wielding whips made of different materials symbolizes the consequences of our words:

     "The first was woven with wooden beads... The most severe was for those who in this life talk too much at dinner parties."
     (03:30)

3. Silence as Healing and Connection:

   • The poem highlights how silence can mend relationships and foster love:

     "Amma Florentia insisted that listening silence is the midwife of love."
     (04:50)

4. Silence as a Deep Listening Practice:

   • It encourages a profound form of listening that transcends spoken language:

     "Abba Yousef used to say to his monks, go into your cell and listen through to the wordless place beyond the reach of all your knowing."
     (05:20)

5. Synesthetic Silence:

   • The poem personifies silence with sensory attributes, adding depth to its portrayal:

     "I'm a synesthesia blind with old age, claimed that the color of silence is lavender."
     (06:00)

Notable Quotes from the Poem:

• "Every duty that impresses upon me as needing to get done."
  (01:50)

• "Each word secretly knows that it is impossible to improve upon silence."
  (04:10)

• "The silence replied."
  (06:25)

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Conclusion and Reflections

Major Jackson concludes the episode by synthesizing the lessons from "Desert Sayings". He emphasizes the importance of carving out personal deserts—spaces of solitude and silence—to reconnect with oneself and the greater mysteries of existence. By doing so, individuals can navigate their journeys with greater clarity and purpose.

Jackson reflects:

"In the longing days, I need to reconnect with myself."
(05:10)

He encourages listeners to embrace moments of silence as opportunities for deep reflection and understanding, aligning with the poem’s essence of finding peace and wisdom in stillness.

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Final Thoughts

Episode 1318 of The Slowdown serves as a compelling invitation to embrace silence as a vital component of personal growth and emotional well-being. Through Major Jackson’s insightful narration and Donovan McAbee’s evocative poetry, listeners are guided to appreciate the profound impact of silence in our hectic lives. The episode underscores the timeless relevance of poetry in illuminating the human experience and fostering moments of meaningful reflection.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Major Jackson: "I want to wake up to truths that can only be gleaned when I fade out sequentially."
  (02:15)

• Poem: "All creation cannot contain silence."
  (02:45)

• Poem: "The first was woven with wooden beads... The most severe was for those who in this life talk too much at dinner parties."
  (03:30)

• Poem: "Amma Florentia insisted that listening silence is the midwife of love."
  (04:50)

• Poem: "Each word secretly knows that it is impossible to improve upon silence."
  (04:10)

• Poem: "I'm a synesthesia blind with old age, claimed that the color of silence is lavender."
  (06:00)

• Major Jackson: "In the longing days, I need to reconnect with myself."
  (05:10)

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The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily continues to be a sanctuary for poetry enthusiasts, offering daily doses of inspiration and contemplation through its carefully curated selections and thoughtful commentary by Major Jackson.

Transcript

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[Major Jackson]

You attending the AWP 2025 conference in LA? Join the Slowdown for a live off site event with me, Major Padraic Otooma and more friends for poetry, conversation and some fun and games. Friday, March 28 at 7pm at the Crawford in Pasadena. Tickets as I'm Major Jackson and this is the Slowdown, I am contemplating going on a silent retreat this spring. Many of my friends have done it. They return to their daily lives distressed. The idea came to me in the produce section of the grocery store. Just as I reached to squeeze an avocado, I recalled a meeting I missed earlier that day. The zoom call was listed on all my calendars, but I reached my saturation point. I plumb forgot. In my head. I suddenly envisioned a retreat with rolling hills and yoga mats, wind chimes and a breeze Beneath my peaceful calm. I shop the produce section. In the longing days, I need to reconnect with myself. Today's uproarious poem makes me want to abandon our life of chatter to throw off our overly scheduled existence. I want to wake up to truths that that can only be gleaned when I fade out sequentially. Every duty that impresses upon me as needing to get done. Desert Sayings by Donovan Maccabee we have indeed to fashion our own desert where we can withdraw. Henri Nouwen, the Way of the Heart Abba Jehoshaphat told Abba Eli that all creation cannot contain silence. A saying of Abba Stephen each word is jealous of the silence it intrudes upon. Amalidia often recalled that the sound of her heart's truest prayer was the echo of silence. A certain monk was walking through the Negev when he had a vision of a devil holding three leather whips, two in his left hand and a third in his right. The first was woven with wooden beads in the leather, the next with beads of glass, and the last with shards of rusted metal. The devil told the monk that each whip was meant for the punishment of souls in hell. The first of wooden beads for those who in this life spoke ill of their enemies the second of glass beads for those who in this life never spoke up on behalf of the poor and the third whip of rusted metal shards. The most severe was for those who in this life talk too much at dinner parties, Amma Constantia, of blessed memory, often told her friends the best words are the ones that, like needle and thread, sew a seam across the tear. In Silence, a saying of Amma Josephina, each word secretly knows that it is impossible to improve upon silence. Abba Yousef used to say to his monks, go into your cell and listen through to the wordless place beyond the reach of all your knowing. And there in the silence abide not angry silence, says Abajan the leper, nor fearful silence, nor even lonely silence, though that is often the door, but silence to beheld, to behold. Abba Mo smacked Abba Larry with a glance. Abba Larry smacked Abba Curly with a scowl. Abba Curly turned to the silence and uttered the sacred syllables. I'm a synesthesia blind with old age, claimed that the color of silence is lavender. Ama Florentia insisted that listening silence is the midwife of love. Abba Patmos said to the silence, speak. And the silence replied. 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 at SlowdownShow and [e-mail].

[Podcast Host]

The sold a 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.

[Educator]

Let me make sure my friends are sitting criss cross applesauce hands in their lap.

[Major Jackson]

I've never had a child that couldn't read.

[Podcast Host]

How did they do it?

[Educator]

When I tell some of my other colleagues that may be at other schools that this is what I do, and they would say, you kidding me?

[Podcast Host]

New episodes of Sold a Story are available now in your podcast. Apparently.