The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily – Episode 1174: "Separation Wall" by Naomi Shihab Nye

Release Date: July 10, 2025
Host: Major Jackson
Produced by: American Public Media in partnership with The Poetry Foundation
Supported by: National Endowment for the Arts

Introduction: Curating Community Voices (01:02 - 01:27)

The episode begins with Micah Kielbon, the producer of The Slowdown, reflecting on the show's past initiatives. Last year, the community was invited to curate poems that resonate with them amidst a bustling world. Micah shares, “This was one of our favorite weeks of episodes, and we wanted to return to them as we revisit episodes in the archives between seasons.” This episode features a curated selection, emphasizing the collective effort to find poetry that helps listeners pause and reflect.

Community Insight: Maytal Kupfer's Reflection (01:27 - 02:30)

Maytal Kupfer, a community curator from Washington, D.C., offers a profound perspective on the role of poetry in turbulent times. Maytal states:

“Poetry is allowing us in this moment to be expansive with our empathy and our drive to imagine a better world and a better future.”
(01:45)

She delves into the complexities of ongoing conflicts, specifically referencing the long-standing siege on Gaza and Rafah. Maytal emphasizes the importance of understanding historical contexts:

“What started eight months ago has continued for the last 80 years, how we amplify our enemies into unimaginable things that are the opposite of normal.”
(02:10)

Her reflection underscores poetry's ability to humanize statistics and remind us of our shared humanity amidst crises.

Host's Reflection: Major Jackson on Belgrade and Global Conflicts (02:30 - 08:06)

Major Jackson, the host, shares his personal experiences from a summer visit to Belgrade, Serbia. He recounts attending poetry readings, savoring traditional Serbian cuisine, and connecting with local artists. Major highlights the city's vibrant cultural scene juxtaposed with lingering scars from the Yugoslav wars:

“Belgrade is a bustling city with fine cafes and a vibrant artistic community. Throughout my visit, I was reminded of the region's armed conflicts in the 1990s.”
(03:15)

He discusses conversations with a Serbian colleague about deep-rooted ethnic divisions, noting:

“She stressed that I would never understand.”
(04:00)

Major reflects on the inadequacies of political leadership in healing historical wounds:

“We fail to rectify the pains of the past and the horrors of today. It feels like we have no language to counter the drive toward nationalist loyalties, nor to counter the fear mongering by leaders that flood tides of destructive hate.”
(05:30)

Referencing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he underscores the destructive cycle of vengeance:

“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said that this kind of violence destroys communities and makes humanity impossible.”
(06:45)

Major emphasizes the transformative power of poetry in fostering empathy and healing:

“Poetry makes us conscious that we are more than the fabricated narratives that degrade our humanity, more than the compensatory rhetoric of superiority.”
(07:15)

Poem Spotlight: "Separation Wall" by Naomi Shihab Nye (07:30 - 08:00)

The episode features "Separation Wall" by Naomi Shihab Nye, a poignant exploration of division and longing for normalcy. Major Jackson recites key excerpts:

“When milk is sour, it separates. The next time you stop speaking, ask yourself why you were born.”
(07:35)

“I feel like a normal person with fantastic dilemmas. Do I make rounds or sticks? Shall I trim the seeds?”
(07:50)

“I ask my grandmother if there was ever a time she felt like a normal person every day, not in danger, and she thinks for as long as it takes a sun to set and says yes, I always feel like a normal person.”
(08:00)

The poem delves into personal and collective struggles with identity, fear, and the desire for a peaceful existence beyond the metaphorical walls that divide us.

Conclusion: Embracing Humanity Through Poetry

Major Jackson concludes by reiterating the essential role of poetry in bridging divides and nurturing a shared humanity. He reflects on the tender visions poems offer, allowing us to soften our fears and embrace each other more fully. The episode serves as a reminder of poetry's enduring power to inspire empathy, facilitate healing, and encourage reflection in a world often marked by conflict and separation.

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The Slowdown is produced by American Public Media in partnership with The Poetry Foundation and supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.