[encore] 282: Waiting for Happiness by Nomi Stone - The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily
Episode [Encore] 282: "Waiting for Happiness" by Nomi Stone
Release Date: April 22, 2025
Host: Tracy K. Smith (Encore)

Introduction

In this special encore episode of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, originally hosted by Tracy K. Smith, listeners are invited to delve into the profound connections between human emotions and the unwavering companionship of dogs. This episode seamlessly weaves reflections on canine loyalty with the evocative poem "Waiting for Happiness" by Nomi Stone, offering a rich tapestry of insights and poetic beauty.

Reflections on Canine Companionship

[01:24] Tracy K. Smith opens the episode by contemplating the unique bond between humans and dogs. She eloquently describes the unconditional love and acceptance that dogs offer, highlighting their role as silent companions who share our lives without judgment or reservation.

"It's a good thing to have a dog. Someone who cares about you. Someone who shares their whole heart with you entirely."
[01:30]

Smith emphasizes the simplicity and depth of a dog's affection, noting their ability to be present in every moment, whether it's a lazy morning with coffee or a peaceful evening at home.

"Dogs don't hold back, they don't keep secrets, and they accept you as you are right now."
[01:35]

She reflects on the subtle yet profound ways dogs influence our daily lives, from encouraging us to engage more with the world to providing comfort during moments of solitude.

"Do you know that feeling after maybe your third or fifth sip of coffee in the morning where you feel that surge of happiness, hope, gratitude? That's the feeling your dog gets just sitting next to you."
[02:10]

Lessons from Our Canine Friends

Smith delves deeper into the life lessons that dogs impart on their human companions. She discusses how dogs teach us to read subtle signs, listen more intently, and engage with the world using all our senses.

"Dogs want us to listen better. Dogs want us to learn to see, not just with our eyes but with our whole bodies."
[03:05]

The host underscores the importance of mindfulness and presence, drawing parallels between a dog's instinctual behaviors—such as sniffing, listening, and watching—and the human capacity for deeper connection and understanding.

Introducing "Waiting for Happiness" by Nomi Stone

Transitioning from reflections on dogs, Tracy K. Smith introduces the featured poem of the episode, "Waiting for Happiness" by Nomi Stone. She sets the stage for the poem by connecting the emotional depth of canine companionship to the universal human experience of seeking happiness.

"Today's poem is 'Waiting for Happiness' by Nomi Stone."
[04:00]

Reading and Interpretation of "Waiting for Happiness"

In the poem, Stone explores themes of longing, anticipation, and the delicate nature of happiness. Smith reads the poem with a nuanced understanding, allowing listeners to immerse themselves in its emotive landscape.

"Dog knows when friend will come home, because each hour friend's smell pales air, paring down the good smell with its little diamond. It means I miss you. Oh, I miss you."
[04:15]

The poem juxtaposes the tangible presence of a dog with the intangible yearning for happiness, illustrating how moments of waiting can be both painful and hopeful.

"How hard it is to wait for my happiness, and how good when it arrives."
[04:30]

Stone’s vivid imagery—describing bodies as "ripe as avocados" and hearts "badly hurt, trying and failing"—captures the complexity of human emotions tied to anticipation and fulfillment.

"Our ankles knotted to our calves by a thread, womb sparking with watermelon seeds we swallowed as children, the heart again badly hurt, trying and failing."
[04:45]

The poem culminates with a return to the present, echoing the dog’s timeless awareness.

"But it is almost five, says the dog. It is almost five."
[05:30]

Concluding Thoughts

Tracy K. Smith wraps up the episode by reflecting on the interplay between waiting and the presence of a faithful companion. She emphasizes the resilience found in both humans and dogs, suggesting that the journey toward happiness is enriched by the connections we nurture.

"This abundance of love inside of you, seeping out, rising above you like steam, always trailing you, all this love coming off on everything you touch."
[05:50]

Smith invites listeners to appreciate the moments of pause and reflection that poetry, much like a dog’s companionship, brings into our lives.

Final Remarks

As the episode concludes, listeners are reminded of the enduring partnership between humans and dogs, and how both poetry and canine companionship offer pathways to deeper understanding and emotional well-being.

Note: This episode is part of The Slowdown series produced by American Public Media in partnership with The Poetry Foundation and supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. While Major Jackson serves as the current host, this encore brings back the insightful and heartfelt presentations from former host Tracy K. Smith.

Transcript

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Major (1:00)

Hi, it's major. The Slowdown is on a break right now, but we'll be back soon with a new host. In the meantime, we're bringing you some of the best episodes from our archives. Today we revisit an episode from Tracy K. Smith's time at the helm. Enjoy.

Tracy K. Smith (1:24)

I'm Tracy K. Smith and this is the Slowdown. It's a good thing to have a dog. Someone who cares about you. Someone who shares their whole heart with you entirely. Dogs don't hold back, they don't keep secrets, and they accept you as you are right now. Maybe your dog sits around imagining what it would be like if you got out more, had more people over to the house. But if you want to lie in bed all day with the peanut butter on the nightstand, your dog is going to be right there with you. Do you know that feeling after maybe your third or fifth sip of coffee in the morning where you feel that surge of happiness, hope, gratitude? That's the feeling your dog gets just sitting next to you. Do you know how it feels when you're the first to wake up and your beloved is still lying next to you, breathing those deep, rhythmic, blissful breaths when you don't want to wake them, but you do want to reach over and touch their arm, or lean over and give them a gentle squeeze, or gather up a huge lungful of the air with that warm, sleepy smell? That's what it feels like all the time being a dog. It's also work being a dog. There are lessons dogs must labor to teach us. Have you ever had a disagreement with your partner in front of the dog? And did you notice the way your canine friend tried to appeal to you to calm down, look at the big picture, and just be happy? Because you're all together, after all. And what else could possibly matter? One of the jobs dogs take on when they live with humans is attention. Dogs are very much invested in teaching us to read signs. Dogs want us to listen better. Dogs want us to learn to see, not just with our eyes but with our whole bodies. In this, they lead by example. Sniff, listen, watch. Dogs are masters of love. They've been trained from before birth to love wholeheartedly, selflessly, and without condition. And they come to us, often at great personal cost, with the higher purpose of imparting this wisdom. It is perhaps a mark of progress to return to the earth having been reincarnated as a dog. The pack, the plaintive howl, collar ball, bowl, that fab dog swag, a tail to wag. And this abundance of love inside of you, seeping out, rising above you like steam, always trailing you, all this love coming off on everything you touch. Today's poem is Waiting for Happiness by Nomi Stone. Dog knows when friend will come home, because each hour friend's smell pales air, paring down the good smell with its little diamond. It means I miss you. Oh, I miss you. How hard it is to wait for my happiness, and how good when it arrives. Here we are in our bodies, ripe as avocados, softer, brightening with latencies like a hot blue core of electricity, Our ankles knotted to our calves by a thread, womb sparking with watermelon seeds we swallowed as children, the heart again badly hurt, trying and failing. But it is almost five, says the dog. It is almost five. The Slowdown is a production of American Public Media in partnership with the Poetry Foundation. This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. On the web@arts.gov.