[encore] 1175: Hunger by Kelli Russell Agodon - The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily Episode: [encore] 1175: Hunger by Kelli Russell Agodon
Release Date: July 11, 2025
Host: Major Jackson
Produced by: APM Studios in partnership with The Poetry Foundation
Supported by: National Endowment for the Arts

Introduction to the Episode

In this encore episode of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, host Major Jackson delves into the intricacies of love, deception, and self-discovery through the evocative poem "Hunger" by Kelli Russell Agodon. This episode not only presents the poem but also incorporates community reflections, enriching the listener's experience with diverse perspectives.

Community Submissions and Reflections

Producer Micah Keelvan opens the episode by reminiscing about previous collaborations and inviting the community to share poems that have resonated with them. At [00:46], Micah expresses gratitude for the community's involvement:

"The Slowdown team and I asked you to help us select for the podcast to send in poems that have helped you slow yourself down. It was such a beautiful way to connect with our community..."

This initiative led to the inclusion of a heartfelt reflection from Janine Hall.

Janine Hall, from Woodinville, Washington, shares her personal connection to the poem, emphasizing its depth and layered meanings. At [01:10], Janine states:

"This poem really fits the Slowdown because it's dark and funny the first time you read it... But the more you go back and read it and think about it, like it really has these dark, twisty turns..."

She highlights how the poem transforms upon repeated readings, revealing deeper insights into love and its potential pains:

"...Love can hurt. You're like, oh, that's sort of innocuous. Then you're like, is it an innocuous what do we do for love?"

Janine's reflection sets the stage for a profound exploration of the poem's themes, capturing the essence of The Slowdown's mission to foster introspection through poetry.

Deep Dive into "Hunger" by Kelli Russell Agodon

Major Jackson takes the listeners on an emotional journey as he unpacks "Hunger." Starting at [01:49], he shares a poignant narrative that intertwines personal anecdotes with the poem's themes:

"What is it about this stage of dating that has us turn off the radar, render us blind to the red flags, to what we hope our instincts should catch?"

He reflects on the complexities of relationships, deception, and the longing for genuine connection. Jackson paints a vivid picture of a relationship's rise and fall, marked by both tender moments and underlying tensions. At [05:30], he poignantly remarks:

"Sometimes love hurts. Sometimes the lost dog doesn't want to be found."

This line encapsulates the bittersweet nature of love and loss, resonating deeply with listeners who have experienced similar emotional turmoils.

"Hunger" weaves allegorical elements, comparing love and relationships to wild animals and unexpected intrusions:

"Once I brought home a coyote and told my lover we had a new pet until it ate our chickens, our ducks, and our cat."

This metaphor underscores the unpredictability and potential chaos that can arise in relationships, emphasizing the delicate balance between care and control.

The poem also delves into the human tendency to rationalize mistakes and the blurred lines between intention and consequence:

"Sometimes we make mistakes and call them coincidences. We hold open the door, then wonder how, how the stranger ended up in our home."

Through these verses, Agodon explores the internal conflicts and external manifestations of unmet emotional needs, portraying a landscape where love's demands can lead to both creation and destruction.

Themes and Insights

The episode masterfully navigates several intertwined themes:

Love and Deception: The poem illustrates how love can be both nurturing and, at times, deceptive. The metaphor of a "wolf in sheep's clothing" reflects the duality of appearances versus reality in relationships.
Self-Discovery: As listeners engage with the poem, they are invited to reflect on their own experiences and emotions, fostering a deeper understanding of themselves through the poetic narrative.
Impermanence and Loss: The transient nature of relationships and the inevitable pain of loss are poignant reminders of the fleeting moments that shape our emotional landscapes.
Human Vulnerability: The poem and the accompanying discussions highlight the innate vulnerability in seeking love and the inherent risks of emotional investment.

Conclusion

In this episode of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, Major Jackson successfully intertwines personal anecdotes, community insights, and the rich layers of Kelli Russell Agodon's "Hunger" to create a tapestry of reflection and emotional depth. The episode not only showcases the power of poetry to convey complex emotions but also emphasizes the importance of community in sharing and interpreting these universal experiences.

Listeners are left with a profound appreciation for the nuanced ways in which love, loss, and self-awareness intersect, all within the comforting and contemplative framework that The Slowdown consistently provides.

Production Credits:

Written by: Major Jackson
Lead Producer: Micah Keelvan
Associate Producer: Maria Wartel
Music Composer: Alexis Cuadrado
Engineering: Eric Romani, Josh Savageau
Digital Producer: James Napoli
Additional Production: Charlotte Traver, Susanna Sharpless, Jess Miller, Lauren Humpert
Executives in Charge of APM Studios: Chandra Kavati, Joanne Griffith

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

Transcript

Uncle (0:00)

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Nephew (0:01)

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Micah Keelvan (0:02)

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Uncle (0:04)

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Nephew (0:08)

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Uncle (0:09)

It's the return of something great.

Nephew (0:11)

Snack wrap is back.

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Micah Keelvan (0:46)

Hey, it's producer Micah Keelvan. Thanks for staying tuned as we get ready to return with a new host. Last spring, the Slowdown team and I asked you to help us select for the podcast to send in poems that have helped you slow yourself down. It was such a beautiful way to connect with our community that we wanted to reshare these episodes. Here's one of our community curators to share what's special about their submission.

Janine Hall (1:10)

My name is Janine Hall. Hal Gailey. I live in Woodinville, Washington. This poem really fits the Slowdown because it's dark and funny the first time you read it. You can understand everything it says and you can understand it at a certain level. But the more you go back and read it and think about it, like it really has these dark, twisty turns that you're like, oh, what was that poem really about? Which is something I love. Love can hurt. You're like, oh, that's sort of innocuous. Then you're like, is it an innocuous what do we do for love?

Major Jackson (1:39)

Good depression.

Nephew (1:49)

I'm Major Jackson, and this is the Slowdown. My friend once said to me, I no longer think of Wolf Girl. Wolf Girl, I replied. She clarified, oh, that's the name I've given my ex. You know, wolf in sheep's clothing. We laughed. I heard a lightness in her voice where before for over a year, I heard pain and resentment. This person's deception and abandonment of my friend cut deep. She lost a serious amount of weight and became reclusive. It seemed she could only muster enough energy to care for her cat and just barely herself. During their early days together. I recall my friend floating above ground in joy. In the beginning to get closer to her. She learned all of her favorite teams, their players, their stats. As long as I knew my friend, she had disavowed sports in the relationship. She never let an occasion go by to make this person feel cherished. Birthdays, yes, but even her pet's adoption day. She showed up with specially wrapped treats and toys. She cleaned out a section of her closet for when her partner visited. She practically built a temple to her by placing pictures everywhere around her apartment. Her family thought she was dating a narcissist with governing tendencies. Her closest girlfriends tried to sound the alarm. But some life moments have to play out to their gory end. Sometimes our only intervention is a loving attentiveness, a willingness to listen and comfort when the time comes. What is it about this stage of dating that has us turn off the radar, render us blind to the red flags, to what we hope our instincts should catch? We become wild in our desperation to present ourselves as worthy of love. Our passionate hearts render us prey to the lost souls who present facades of well being. Today's allegorical poem captures the staggering wisdom of finding and losing love. As we learn about another, we learn as much about ourselves and the dialectical role of endings. Hunger By Kelly Russell Agadon if we never have enough love, we have more than most. We have lost dogs in our neighborhood and wild coyotes, and sometimes we can't tell them apart. Sometimes we don't want to. Once I brought home a coyote and told my lover we had a new pet until it ate our chickens, our ducks, and our cat. Sometimes we make mistakes and call them coincidences. We hold open the door, then wonder how, how the stranger ended up in our home. There is a woman on our block who thinks she is feeding bunnies, but they are large rats without tails. Remember the farmer's wife? Remember the carving knife? We are all trying to change what we fear into something beautiful. But even rats need to eat. Even rats and coyotes and the bones on the trail could be the bones on our plates. I ordered cornish hen. I ordered duck. Sometimes love hurts. Sometimes the lost dog doesn't want to be found. The Slowdown is a production of American Public Media in partnership with the Poetry Family Foundation. This project is also supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. On the web@arts.gov to get a poem delivered to you daily, go to slowdownshow.org and sign up for our newsletter and find us on Instagram at slowdownshow. The Slowdown is written by me, Major Jackson. Our lead producer is Micah Kilbon and our associate producer is Maria Wartel. Our music is composed by Alexis Cuadrado, engineering by Eric Romani and Josh Savageau. Our digital producer is James Napoli. Additional production help by Charlotte Traver, Susanna Sharpless, Jess Miller, and Lauren Humpert. Our executives in charge of APM Studios are Chandra Kavati and Joanne Griffith.