[encore] 1045: Sonnet for Ochún by Leslie Sainz

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily Episode: [Encore] 1045: Sonnet for Ochún by Leslie Sainz
Release Date: April 18, 2025
Host: Major Jackson
Produced by: APM Studios in partnership with The Poetry Foundation
Supported by: National Endowment for the Arts

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Introduction and Host Transition [00:59 - 01:41]

In this encore episode, Major Jackson marks his final days as the host of The Slowdown. He expresses heartfelt gratitude for the journey he has shared with listeners, reflecting on the depth and richness of the podcast's archive. As he transitions out, Major hints at revisiting treasured episodes from his tenure to continue inspiring the audience.

Quote:
"As I close my time as host of The Slowdown, I'm grateful for the opportunity I've had to share poetry with you these past few years."
— Major Jackson [00:59]

Reflections on Literary Festivals and the Writer's Journey [01:42 - 06:34]

Major Jackson delves into his experiences attending various book festivals in cities like Portland, Miami, and the Twin Cities to promote his work, Razzle Dazzle. He juxtaposes the vibrant, communal atmosphere of these events with his inherently solitary life as a writer. Major describes the exhilaration of engaging with large groups of readers and the camaraderie shared with fellow poets and authors.

Key Points:

• Community vs. Solitude: Balancing public engagements with personal introspection.
• Supporting Fellow Poets: The importance of mutual support and celebrating each other's achievements.
• Emotional Dichotomy: Navigating the contrast between his public persona and the private emotional landscape that fuels his poetry.
• Modern Challenges: Addressing the demands of a hectic work schedule, parenting, societal frustrations, and the impact of global conflicts on personal well-being.

Notable Quotes:
"At the green room, over cans of sparkling water, we catch up with each other. We applaud each other's achievements and inquire about family and latest projects."
— Major Jackson [04:15]

"Sometimes I find it difficult to navigate my persona as a poet and the very real emotional context out of which my poems emerge."
— Major Jackson [05:10]

Presentation and Interpretation of Sonnet for Oshún by Leslie Sainz [06:35 - 08:03]

The centerpiece of this episode is the poignant Sonnet for Oshún by Leslie Sainz. Major Jackson recites the poem with depth and emotional resonance, inviting listeners to immerse themselves in its introspective narrative. The poem explores themes of memory, loss, and the quest for meaning amidst uncertainty.

Poem Highlights:

• Sensory Imagery: Vivid descriptions such as "I ate ground meat with large crystals of imported salt" evoke a tangible connection to the speaker's experiences.
• Emotional Depth: The poem conveys a shared melancholy and world-weariness, juxtaposed with moments of hope and renewal.
• Personal Struggles: Reflections on personal loss and the challenges of capturing history and emotion in one's actions.

Quote from the Poem:
"I walked my plank of uncertainties and plunged further into uncertainty. Am I capturing all of history in this gesture? I shouted into the future. In the wet air of the future I could have but never appeared. No one was sorry but me."
— Sonnet for Oshún by Leslie Sainz [06:55]

Closing Remarks and Community Engagement [08:04]

While the episode concludes with production credits and a special offer from Poetry Magazine, Major Jackson’s final messages emphasize community engagement and the enduring power of poetry. Although not detailed in the main content, these sections encourage listeners to continue their poetic journeys and stay connected with the literary community.

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Conclusion

This encore episode of The Slowdown serves as both a farewell and a celebration of the poetic voyage shared with Major Jackson. Through his reflections on literary festivals and the intimate recital of Sonnet for Oshún, listeners are invited to contemplate the intricate balance between public recognition and private inspiration. Major’s heartfelt narration underscores the profound impact poetry has on understanding our collective and individual journeys.

Whether you're a long-time listener or new to the podcast, this episode offers a rich tapestry of insights and emotions that resonate deeply with anyone who cherishes the art of poetry.

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Connect with The Slowdown:

• Website: slowdownshow.org
• Newsletter: Sign up for daily poems and updates
• Instagram: @slowdownshow

Supporters:

• Production Team: Micah Kilbon, Alexis Cuadrado, Josh Savageau, Maria Wortel, and others
• Executive Producers: Beth Pearlman, Chandra Kavati, Alex Shaford, and Joanne Griffith

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This summary encapsulates the essence of episode 1045, providing an engaging overview for both regular listeners and newcomers.

Transcript

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[Major Jackson]

Hi, it's major As I close my time as host of the Slowdown, I'm grateful for the opportunity I've had to share poetry with you these past few years. The Slowdown has a deep store of episodes, and for the next few months we're reaching into the archive to bring you some of our favorites. Here's one from my time on the show.

I'm Major Jackson, and this is the Slowdown.

Last year, I traveled to multiple book festivals in Portland, Miami, and the Twin Cities to promote Razzle Dazzle. The climate of live music, food trucks, and books is the far side of my solitary life. At my desk, wherever large numbers of readers gather in one place, I feel the exhilaration of being a writer. Next to independent bookstores shout out to open books in Seattle, Parnassus in Nashville and Northshire Books in Manchester, Vermont. Festivals are where I make the deep plunge to support poets. I hope you do too. I typically pack an extra bag for books I'll purchase and have signed by my favorite authors, and I'm lucky to get to share the stage with a few of them. Last year, I relished soulful conversations with Ross Gay, Jane Hirschfeld, Carrie Miller, Tracy K. Smith, and Matthew Sapruderm. In the green room, over cans of sparkling water, we catch up with each other. We applaud each other's achievements and inquire about family and latest projects. And maybe even more importantly, there is that celebratory atmosphere, gaining insights on a range of topics. The exaltation of books and authors, the thoughtful public conversations feel like democracy at its best. I smile, give hugs, and dance. But then I feel this dissonance between my public self and the me on the page. Sometimes I find it difficult to navigate my Persona as a poet and the very real emotional context out of which my poems emerge a demanding work schedule, the dictates of parenting and being a life partner, my frustration at the headlines, the intensity of war, the impact of conflict on our collective well being, and a rising intolerance for a diversity of public opinions. At the end of a festival day I am exhausted. I try to take advantage of the relaxing environment such trips occasion. If there is any glamour to finding some success as a writer, it is in a spa like tub in a hotel, away from the worries of existence. In today's poem I hear a shared melancholy, a world weariness where the edges of life fail to offer answers. Yet I detect two in the presence of a deity, the transits and rituals of hope and renewal. Sonnet for Oshun by Leslie Saenz after my left arm I washed my right neck, decolletage and navel I ate ground meat with large crystals of imported salt. The women and men who would stroke my hair if I asked, I thought of them fondly. Then sadly at the flea market what I touched with a fingernail was a copper lamp, a mundane painting of mountains, the cashier's hum. I bought nothing I didn't want in the cul de sac I found clouds on leashes, loose roosters, I thought, thoughts ugly as clothespins. Reading a used book I suspected I knew less about death than the last person who held it. I spat into a mirrored sink. I lost my slippers and and face to feel more like water. I drank it before bed. I walked my plank of uncertainties and plunged further into uncertainty. Am I capturing all of history in this gesture? I shouted into the future. In the wet air of the future I could have but never appeared. No one was sorry but me.

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. SlowdownShow the slowdown is written by me, Major Jackson. It is produced by Micah Kilbon. Our music is composed by Alexis Cuadrado, engineering by Josh Savageau. Our associate producer is Maria Wortel. Additional production help by Susanna Sharpless, James Napoli, and Nick Ryan. Our executive producer and editor is Beth Pearlman. Our executives in charge of APM Studios are Chandra Kavati, Alex Shaford and Joanne Griffith.

[Poetry Magazine Representative]

Happy Poetry Month Listeners of the Slowdown are invited to celebrate with a special offer from Poetry Magazine. All April, you can get $5 off a subscription to Poetry, plus a free download to 25 poems for 2025, a selection of the magazine's 25 most read poems of the century, with exclusive commentary from the editors and staff. Subscribe [e-mail] slow to receive this special offer.