Summary4 min read

The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

Episode 1332: “Tea” by Leila Chatti
Host: Maggie Smith
Date: August 18, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Maggie Smith invites listeners to reflect on the concept of self-care through the lens of poetry. Today’s featured poem, “Tea” by Leila Chatti, offers a meditation on seemingly simple rituals, like making tea, as acts of compassion and devotion toward oneself, especially in the absence of external affirmation. Maggie discusses how self-care can transcend routine and become a sacred ritual—a kind of prayer—for those navigating stress, loneliness, and the search for self-acceptance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Maggie Smith’s Opening Reflection on Self-Care

Explores how “self-care” has become a buzzword, losing meaning through overuse and commercialization.
Invites listeners to rethink self-care by stripping it down to its essence: “the respect, the tenderness and the grace you extend to others...to love yourself the way you love others.” (00:30 - 01:00)
Frames “self-directed kindness” as potentially the ultimate self-care.

Introduction to the Poem

Highlights how today's poem, “Tea”, recasts self-care as a sacred, almost ritualistic act, akin to prayer.

Reading of “Tea” by Leila Chatti (01:15 - 04:57)

Ritual & Repetition:
The speaker creates warmth and comfort for herself by making tea five times a day, paralleling religious rituals:
- “Five times a day I make tea. I do this because I like the warmth in my hands, like the feeling of self directed kindness.”
Self-Affirmation and Loneliness:
The act of preparing tea becomes a means of self-reminder and grounding—affirming personal existence and bodily presence.
- “I must remind myself I am here and do so by noticing myself. My feet are cold inside my socks. They touch the ground. My stomach churns, my heart stutters. In my hands I hold a warmth I make.”
Cultural Heritage:
Draws connections between daily tea rituals and religious practices in her cultural heritage.
- “I come from a people who pray five times a day and make tea. I admire the way they do both...”
Self-Doubt vs. Self-Devotion:
Self-care is likened to an act of faith, performed even when the self is hard to love or believe in.
- “I think to care for the self is a kind of prayer. It is a gesture of devotion toward what is not always beloved or believed. I do not always believe in myself or love myself.”
Hospitality and Tradition:
Tea as a symbol of communal kindness, even against the backdrop of colonization:
- “If you were to visit, a woman would bring you a tray of tea at any time of day. My people loved tea so much it was once considered a sickness. Their colonizers tried, as with any joy, to snuff it out.”
Perseverance via Ritual:
In darkness or apathy, the act of making tea remains a small means of survival and joy.
- “Most days I can barely get out of bed, so I make tea... I do the small thing I know how to do to care for myself. I am trying to notice joy, which means survive. I do this all day and then the next.”

Maggie Smith’s Closing Reflection

Echoes the poem’s message: in tough times, small rituals and acts of attention can help us find “our footing in an uncertain world.” (04:58 - 05:15)
Encourages listeners to see poetry and self-kindness as tools for creativity, compassion, and hope.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Maggie Smith (on self-care):
“Maybe the ultimate self care is learning to give yourself the respect, the tenderness and the grace you extend to others.” (00:40)
Leila Chatti (from the poem):
“I think to care for the self is a kind of prayer. It is a gesture of devotion toward what is not always beloved or believed. I do not always believe in myself or love myself.” (03:10)
Leila Chatti (on resilience through ritual):
“Most days I can barely get out of bed, so I make tea. I stand at the window while I wait...I do the small thing I know how to do to care for myself. I am trying to notice joy, which means survive.” (04:10 - 04:40)
Maggie Smith (on the power of poetry):
“Listening to and reading poetry helps us find our footing in an uncertain world, especially during challenging times.” (05:00)

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:30 – 01:10: Maggie Smith on redefining self-care.
01:15 – 04:57: Full reading of “Tea” by Leila Chatti.
03:00 – 03:30: Poem discusses self-belief and acts of devotion.
04:00 – 04:40: Poem explores resilience through simple rituals.
04:58 – 05:15: Maggie’s closing encouragement on poetry, self-attention, and hope.

Summary

This episode uses Leila Chatti’s poem to reclaim the concept of self-care, turning it from a commercialized buzzword into a personal and sacred ritual of tenderness. Rooted in everyday action and cultural reminiscence, “Tea” becomes an emblem of survival, small joy, and devotion to the self—especially in moments when self-love is hardest. Maggie Smith’s gentle reflections and the poem’s vivid honesty serve as reminders that both poetry and ritual can help us weather uncertainty, find meaning, and make space for hope in daily life.

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Transcript4 lines

[00:00]
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[00:09]
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[00:10]
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[00:30]
B
Foreign I'm Maggie Smith and this is the Slowdown Self care as a buzzword is so overused it's nearly lost its meaning. I know it looks like different things to different people. A massage, a yoga class, an afternoon off work to do something fun. But as the idea pops up again and again, I try to let go of those associations and focus on the words themselves. Self care. It's how we take care of ourselves, especially when life feels particularly stressful and challenging. Maybe the ultimate self care is learning to give yourself the respect, the tenderness and the grace you extend to others. To love yourself the way you love others. Today's poem made me think about self care in a new way. It shows us how self directed kindness can be a sacred ritual like prayer. Tea by Leila Shutty Five times a day I make tea. I do this because I like the warmth in my hands, like the feeling of self directed kindness. I'm not used to it, warmth and kindness both, so I create my own when I can. It's easy. You just pour water into a kettle and turn the knob and listen for the scream. I do this five times a day. Sometimes when I'm pleased, I let out a little sound. A poet noticed this and it made me feel I might one day properly be loved. Because no one is here to love me. I make tea for myself and leave the radio playing. I must remind myself I am here and do so by noticing myself. My feet are cold inside my socks. They touch the ground. My stomach churns, my heart stutters. In my hands I hold a warmth I make. I come from a people who pray five times a day and make tea. I admire the way they do both, how they drop to the ground wherever they are, drop pine nuts and mint sprigs in a glass. I think to care for the self is a kind of prayer. It is a gesture of devotion toward what is not always beloved or believed. I do not always believe in myself or love myself. I am sure there are times I am bad or gone or lying in another's mouth. T often means gossip, but sometimes means truth. Despite the trope, in my experience, my people do not lie for pleasure or when they should, even when it might be a gesture of kindness. But they are kind. If you were to visit, a woman would bring you a tray of tea at any time of day. My people loved tea so much it was once considered a sickness. Their colonizers tried, as with any joy, to snuff it out. They feared a love so strong one might sell or kill their other loves for leaves and sugar. Tea ism sounds like a kind of faith I'd buy into a God I wouldn't fear. I think now I truly believe. I wouldn't kill anyone for love, not even myself. Most days I can barely get out of bed, so I make tea. I stand at the window while I wait. My feet are cold and the radio plays its little sounds. I do the small thing I know how to do to care for myself. I am trying to notice joy, which means survive. I do this all day and then the next. The Slowdown is a production of American Public Media in partnership with the Poetry Foundation. 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 Maggie here, host of the Slowdown Listening to and reading poetry helps us find our footing in an uncertain world, especially during challenging times. You can help keep these moments of poetry and reflection going by making a gift today. Visit slowdownshow.org donate.