1508: Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by Wayne Miller - The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

Summary4 min read

The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily
Episode 1508: Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by Wayne Miller
Host: Maggie Smith
Date: May 5, 2026

Brief Overview

In this episode of The Slowdown, Maggie Smith explores the phenomenon of out-of-body experiences (OBEs) and how they connect to the ways we cope with trauma and discomfort. By introducing Wayne Miller’s poem "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man," Smith offers insight into the interplay between detachment, memory, and the healing (or escape) potential of art. The episode invites listeners to contemplate how we navigate pain through both healthier and destructive means, and how poetry can serve as a mirror and a means of self-discovery.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Nature of Out-of-Body Experiences

[01:35 - 03:10]

Maggie Smith begins by recounting the commonality and intrigue of OBEs:

“Many people have experienced this feeling like they're floating above their body or seeing their body from the outside, or feeling a dreamlike detachment from their body and surroundings. It's called an out-of-body experience.” (Smith, 01:33)
She contextualizes OBEs within folklore, mythology, and science, noting their presence across history and cultures.
Smith connects OBEs to both near-death instances and moments of intense stress, referencing scientific studies which suggest a correlation with childhood trauma:

“Researchers have found high levels of childhood trauma in a study of people who experience OBEs, suggesting that out-of-body experiences may be a response to overwhelming stress or emotional pain.” (Smith, 02:40)
She frames dissociation as a form of the mind seeking distance or escape from distress:

“In this sense, the disconnection is a kind of escape hatch. The present reality is so distressing that it feels safer to exit it, to find a way out psychologically, if not physically.” (Smith, 03:02)

Varieties of Escape Hatches

[03:11 - 03:40]

Smith notes that humans develop many “escape hatches” to survive trauma:
- Destructive: substance abuse, self-harm
- Constructive: art, exercise, meditation
The brain’s adaptability is highlighted: "our brains are savvy and adaptive, and they find ways to protect us." (Smith, 03:30)

Introducing Wayne Miller’s Poem

[03:41 - 03:58]

Smith links the episode’s theme to Miller's poem, suggesting the poem depicts the mind seeking freedom from what the body endures:

“Even when we can escape the physical location of a painful situation, our mind can still try to free itself from what the body remembers.” (Smith, 03:45)

Featured Poem: "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" by Wayne Miller

[03:59 - 05:35]

The full poem is read aloud, centering on themes of displacement, emotional escape, and seeking meaning through art and attention.
Key lines from the poem include:
- "Joseph Brodsky says the I identifies not with the body it belongs to, but with the object of its attention."
- "Wherever I was, it seemed my gaze kept pulling me from myself so I could touch against the world…"
- "I was locked inside a strange interior. I was feeling the walls inch by inch, looking for an exit door."
- "I believed that door was art, but it was, I discovered, time."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the universal need for escape:

“Humans have plenty of escape hatches that help us pull away from our lives and survive trauma. Some are destructive... Others are healthier, like art or exercise or meditation.”
(Maggie Smith, 03:12)
On the relationship between self, body, and attention:

“Joseph Brodsky says the I identifies not with the body it belongs to, but with the object of its attention.”
(Wayne Miller, reading from poem, 04:15)
On seeking escape through art and time:

“I believed that door was art, but it was, I discovered, time.”
(Wayne Miller, poem, 05:25)

Important Timestamps

01:33 – 03:10 – Introduction to out-of-body experiences and dissociation
03:11 – 03:40 – Escape hatches: destructive and constructive responses to trauma
03:41 – 03:58 – Introduction to Miller’s poem and thematic linkage
03:59 – 05:35 – Reading of "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" by Wayne Miller; poetic reflection on disconnection and art
05:36 – End – Closing remarks, resources for more poetry

Tone & Reflection

Maggie Smith’s approach is gentle, inquisitive, and empathetic—she guides listeners to reflect on personal experiences of detachment, the healing or distancing powers of art, and the slow, often poetic journey toward processing pain. The episode encourages mindful observation, recognizing poetry as a potential “escape hatch” and a tool for self-reconnection.

For Further Engagement

To receive a daily poem or connect with fellow listeners: slowdownshow.org
Instagram: @slowdownshow
Produced by American Public Media in partnership with the Poetry Foundation

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Transcript4 lines

[00:01]
A
Anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder. At least half of us will experience a mental illness in our lifetime. In a new series of special reports from Call to Mind, we hear about the mental health impact of stress, climate change, immigration, and more. Tune in for conversations with people managing hardship and experts seeking solutions. Listen to Call to Mind from American Public Media.
[00:30]
B
My name is Mackenzie and I started a GoFundMe for the adoptive mother of a nonverbal autistic child. The mother had lost her job because she wasn't able to find adequate care for this autistic child. So she really needed some help with living expenses, paying some back bills. So I launched a GoFundMe to help support them during this crisis and we raised about $10,000 within just a couple of months. I think that the surprising thing was by telling a clear story and just like really being very clear about what we needed, we had some really generous donations from people who were really moved by the situation that this family was struggling with.
[01:17]
C
GoFundMe is the world's number one fundraising platform, trusted by over 200 million people. Start your GoFundMe today at GoFundMe. GoFundMe.com that's GoFundMe.com GoFundMe.com this podcast is supported by GoFundMe. I'm Maggie Smith and this is the Slowdown. Many people have experienced this feeling like they're floating above their body or seeing their body from the outside, or feeling a dreamlike detachment from their body and surroundings. It's called an out of body experience. Almost as if they move from the first person to the third person physically, in real time. They're part of folklore, mythology and and spirituality in ancient and modern societies. Out of body experiences fascinate me because they are a surreal version of human adaptability. I'd always associated OBEs with near death experiences, but that's not the only time that people experience them. It can happen as you're falling asleep, waking up, or during times of extreme stress or trauma. In fact, researchers have found high levels of childhood trauma in a study of people who experience OBEs, suggesting that out of body experiences may be a response to overwhelming stress or emotional pain. In other words, these experiences may reflect a person's subconscious attempts to dissociate and distance themselves from grief or trauma. In this sense, the disconnection is a kind of escape hatch. The present reality is so distressing that it feels safer to exit it to find a way out psychologically, if not physically. Humans have plenty of escape hatches that help us pull away from our lives and survive trauma. Some are destructive, like substance abuse or self harm. Others are healthier, like art or exercise or meditation. But our brains are savvy and adaptive, and they find ways to protect us. Today's poem shows us that even when we can escape the physical location of a painful situation, our mind can still try to free itself from what the body remembers. Portrait of the Artist as a Young man by Wayne Miller I lived in Spain for one brief summer. I could barely afford it. Joseph Brodsky says the I identifies not with the body it belongs to, but with the object of its attention. I'd read that right before I left America. I was newly single and miserable, just coming to understand my past, which had brought me there. I could barely be inside my body. I smoked for hours in the Plaza de Paja, neglecting my book on the table. Wherever I was, it seemed my gaze kept pulling me from myself so I could touch against the world, so I could catch fragments of it in clear slides of thought. I was locked inside a strange interior. I was feeling the walls inch by inch, looking for an exit door. I believed that door was art, but it was. I discovered time. 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. Find us on Instagram @downdownshow and bluesky slowdownshow.org.
[06:55]
D
Hey, it's Francis Lamb, host of the Splendid Table podcast. Every week on our show we celebrate the intersection of food and life, and this month we're releasing a new series called Culinary Masters. It highlights some of the most iconic people in the food world. And we're revisiting conversations with people who have fundamentally changed how many of us cook and think about food. People like Jacques Pepin, Claudia Rodin and Tony Bourdain, to name a few. You can listen to this special series now. Just search for the Splendid Table in your podcast. Apparently.