Summary3 min read

Podcast Summary: The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

Episode 1397: “Palinode” by Lisa Low
Host: Maggie Smith
Date: November 17, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode of The Slowdown, host Maggie Smith explores the concept of changing one’s mind, specifically reframing how we view growth and reconsideration—both personally and in our relationships. The episode centers on the poetic form of the palinode, which involves a poet revising or retracting an earlier stance. Maggie Smith reflects on societal attitudes towards “flip-flopping,” particularly in the political sphere, and introduces Lisa Low’s poem “Palinode” as a meditation on how we portray others (in this case, a mother) in our creative work.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

On Changing One’s Mind

Political Context:
Maggie recalls the 2004 US presidential election, discussing how opponents accused John Kerry of being a “flip-flopper”—a term used to criticize politicians for changing their positions (01:07).
Reflection on Flexibility:
Smith critiques this as an overly simplistic, negative framing:

“What does changing one's mind really demonstrate? I think it takes maturity to reconsider old ideas and opinions and hold them up to scrutiny...” (01:32)
Growth as Strength:
Smith frames evolving perspectives as a sign of intelligence, adaptability, and growth—not a weakness:

“I have fixed core values—honesty, integrity, compassion. But I want to be flexible in my thinking, and I’m trying to raise my kids with all of this in mind too. I want them to know it's okay to grow, change, evolve.” (02:10)

On Palinode and the Power of Retraction

Definition & Context:
Smith explains the literary form of “palinode”—a poem in which the writer retracts or revises previous statements (02:34).
Application to the Poem:
She sees palinode as an artful method for reconsidering representations, especially of family:

“Today’s poem makes us consider how we write about other people. It flip flops in a sense, but it certainly does so in an effective and artful way.” (02:49)

Featured Poem: “Palinode” by Lisa Low (Recited at 02:52–04:00)

The poem presents a nuanced depiction of a mother, questioning which representations are “accurate”—the strict, hardworking immigrant mother, or something more vivid and playful. Throughout, the poet contemplates the ethics of using a loved one’s story, especially when memories are unclear or stereotyped.

Notable Lines:

“Your mother enters the poem with her sadness intact.”
“Your mother enters the poem wearing all her animal print items at once. Laughs holding a leopard print lamp.”
“Shouldn't she be paid for inspiring you?”
“Your mother reads the poem and tells you she isn’t an immigrant — student visa she corrects your language...”
“Pay your mother to display her sadness across the pages of a poem.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Nuance and Growth:

“I think it takes maturity to take in new information, new advice and new experiences and to say, you know what? I used to think X. But I'm older and wiser now... and now I believe Y.” —Maggie Smith (01:42)
On Changing as Human Nature:

“After all, there was a time the earth was believed to be flat. Humanity has since flip flopped on that.” —Maggie Smith (02:29)
On Writing About Others:

“Shouldn't she be paid for inspiring you?” —Lisa Low, via Maggie Smith (03:22)
On Memory and Representation:

“You keep her sadness intact despite the hazy quality of your childhood memory.” —Lisa Low, via Maggie Smith (03:36)

Key Timestamps

01:07–02:29 – Host’s reflection on society’s view of “flip-flopping” and personal growth
02:34–02:49 – Introduction to the palinode form
02:52–04:00 – Recitation of “Palinode” by Lisa Low
Throughout – Emphasis on compassion, honesty, and the dynamic nature of both identity and memory

Episode Takeaways

Re-examining one’s views—and even public “flip-flopping”—can be an expression of maturity, not weakness.
The palinode is a poetic tool for retraction and self-correction, inviting deeper consideration of how we narrate others’ lives, especially family.
The poem “Palinode” interrogates the ethics of writing about loved ones, the fallibility of memory, and the shifting ways we understand our stories.

This episode offers listeners a compassionate, nuanced take on change and invites reflection on both personal growth and the responsibility of storytelling—hallmarks of The Slowdown experience.

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Transcript5 lines

[00:03]
A
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[00:11]
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[00:12]
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[00:29]
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[01:07]
C
I'm Maggie Smith, and this is the Slowdown I remember in 2004 during the Bush Kerry election season, one of the criticisms lobbed against John Kerry was that he was a flip flopper. It was a derogatory term meant to suggest that he was changing his mind for political gain. The attack ads at the time were plentiful, and many of them used the term flip flopper to convince voters that Kerry couldn't be trusted. He might promise one thing and then do another. He might change his mind yet again. Flip flopper sounds impulsive and half baked. And by design. Political strategists know exactly what they're doing when they assemble these rhetorical weapons and deploy them on the public via TV and radio ads. But I remember feeling frustrated by this framing at the time, as someone who is, thanks in large part to poetry, comfortable with nuance and ambiguity, and, yes, even reconsidering one's positions. What does changing one's mind really demonstrate? I think it takes maturity to reconsider old ideas and opinions and hold them up to scrutiny. It takes maturity to take in new information, new advice and new experiences and to say, you know what? I used to think X. But I'm older and wiser now, and I've had some enlightening conversations and now I believe why? I think that shows someone who is intelligent and nimble, not a slave to their earlier opinions. I think that demonstrates growth, and that's a good thing. I've changed my mind about plenty in my life thanks to new experiences and new data. I'm sure I'll keep changing too, and I won't see that as a weakness, but instead as a strength. I have fixed core values honesty, integrity, compassion. But I want to be flexible in my thinking, and I'm trying to raise my kids with all of this in mind too. I want them to know it's okay to grow, change, evolve. After all, there was a time the earth was believed to be flat. Humanity has since flip flopped on that Today's poem is a kind of poem called a Palinode. In a palinode, a writer changes her mind by retracting a viewpoint expressed in one of their earlier pieces of writing. Today's poem makes us consider how we write about other people. It flip flops in a sense, but it certainly does so in an effective and artful way. Palinode by Lisa Lo. Your mother enters the poem with her sadness intact. When your mother enters the poem, should she be a strict, sad, hardworking or immigrant mother? Your mother enters the poem wearing all her animal print items at once. Laughs holding a leopard print lamp. Your mother enters the poem laughing asks for compensation. Shouldn't she be paid for inspiring you? Your mother reads the poem and tells you she isn't an immigrant student visa. She corrects your language. In many places, you keep her sadness intact despite the hazy quality of your childhood memory. Pay your mother to display her sadness across the pages of a poem. The Slowdown is a production of a 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 slowdownshow and blueskylowdownshow.org hi, it's Maggie. The Slowdown is the only poetry podcast in public media. That means your support is vital to keep us going. No matter how much you give, your contribution makes a real difference. Head to SlowdownShow.org donate today to Power More Poems into the Future.