[encore] 311: Listen, by Barbara Crooker - The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

Summary

The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

Episode: [encore] 311: Listen by Barbara Crooker
Release Date: June 2, 2025
Host: Major Jackson (Featuring Former Host Tracy K. Smith)
Producer: American Public Media in partnership with The Poetry Foundation

Introduction to the Episode

In this special encore episode of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, host Major Jackson takes listeners on a nostalgic journey through the podcast's archives. Specifically, he revisits a poignant episode from former host Tracy K. Smith, highlighting the enduring impact of past voices on the show's legacy.

Revisiting the Archives with Tracy K. Smith

At [01:05], Major Jackson introduces the concept of delving into the podcast's "deep well of episodes," emphasizing the significance of former hosts in shaping the essence of The Slowdown. He expresses excitement about reintroducing listeners to memorable moments from Tracy K. Smith, underscoring the episode's value as a "special selection from our archives."

Key Quote:

"Today, we're going into the Vault to bring you an episode from Tracy K. Smith, one of the voices that helped shape the Slowdown into what it is today." — Major Jackson ([01:05])

Tracy K. Smith's Reflection and Introduction of "Listen"

Beginning at [01:34], Tracy K. Smith shares a deeply personal reflection set against the backdrop of a rainy night. Her vivid imagery captures the relentless rhythm of rain, symbolizing both chaos and serenity. Smith contemplates themes of worry, gratitude, and the human desire to find peace amidst turmoil.

She narrates:

"Rain hammers down onto my roof as I write. It's one of my favorite sounds… How can there be so many raindrops? How have they not been exhausted?" ([01:34])

Smith transitions into discussing Barbara Crooker's poem "Listen," highlighting its message of calm and gratitude. She poses reflective questions about living with constant gratitude and the effort required to maintain such a state of being.

Notable Quotes:

"When I feel the urge to cower, I want instead to choose, to rejoice." — Tracy K. Smith ([03:15])

"Today's poem is Listen by Barbara Croker. Its message of calm and gratitude is one I want to learn to offer myself, especially on days when peace feels far away." — Tracy K. Smith ([04:10])

Reading of "Listen" by Barbara Crooker

Tracy K. Smith then gracefully introduces and reads Barbara Crooker's "Listen," a poem that encapsulates the essence of finding joy and gratitude in everyday moments. The poem employs rich natural imagery to evoke sensory experiences and emotional resonance.

Excerpt from the Poem:

"The cardinal's red song dances in your blood. Look, every month the moon blossoms into a peony, then shrinks to a sliver of garlic, and then it blooms again." — Barbara Crooker ([04:45])

Themes Explored:

Gratitude: Emphasizing appreciation for the simple gifts of the world.
Nature's Harmony: Using elements like rain, flowers, and animals to symbolize peace and continuity.
Human Emotion: Balancing feelings of worry with the intentional choice to embrace joy.

Insights and Reflections

Throughout the episode, both hosts delve into the transformative power of poetry as a tool for reflection and emotional grounding. Tracy K. Smith's introduction serves as a bridge between personal introspection and the universal themes presented in Crooker's work.

Key Insights:

The Therapeutic Role of Poetry: Poetry as a means to pause, reflect, and acknowledge life's complexities.
Mindfulness and Presence: Encouraging listeners to "Listen" to their surroundings and inner selves to foster a sense of peace.
Resilience Through Art: Highlighting how engaging with poetry can aid in overcoming feelings of fear and uncertainty.

Closing Reflections by Tracy K. Smith:

"I want to tell you something... Your life is a blue coal, a slice of orange in the mouth, cut hay in the nostrils." ([05:50])

This metaphor underscores the multifaceted nature of existence, suggesting that life's beauty lies in its diverse and vibrant experiences.

Conclusion

This encore episode of The Slowdown serves as a heartfelt homage to the podcast's rich history and the enduring power of poetry. By revisiting Tracy K. Smith's evocative introduction and Barbara Crooker's "Listen," listeners are reminded of the importance of gratitude, mindfulness, and the continual pursuit of peace amidst life's storms.

Final Quote:

"We were made for song." — Barbara Crooker ([05:30])

This closing thought encapsulates the episode's central message: embracing our inherent capacity for joy and expression through the artistry of poetry.

For more daily poetic reflections, visit slowdownshow.org and subscribe to receive your daily poem and moment of calm.

Transcript

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Podcast Host (1:05)

It's major. As we take a look back at the Slowdown's deep well of episodes, we're revisiting some standout moments from past hosts. Today, we're going into the Vault to bring you an episode from Tracy K. Smith, one of the voices that helped shape the Slowdown into what it is today. This is just one of the many special selections from our archives.

Tracy K. Smith (1:34)

I am Tracy K. Smith, and this is the Slowdown. Rain hammers down onto my roof as I write. It's one of my favorite sounds like the night is thrumming its thousand fingers onto my house. How can there be so many raindrops? How have they not been exhausted? If I listen discerningly, I can hear the difference between the droplets hitting my house and those landing in the trees, persistent a blanket of sound covering everything. Tomorrow the ground will turn to mud. More leaves will litter the slick street, but the pines, the laurels, and whatever else has held onto its green will look happy come morning, well rested. My son's piano teacher told me the other day that worrying helps nothing. Does she know me already that well, or was she talking, perhaps to herself? There's time to resolve once more about what to become. When I feel the urge to cower, I want instead to choose, to rejoice. When I feel pitiful, pointless, lost and afraid, I I want to remember tonight's rain racing from however far it's traveled to reach my house, hurling itself onto my roof, calling to me at the top of its voice. Today's poem is Listen by Barbara Croker. Its message of calm and gratitude is one I want to learn to offer myself, especially on days when peace feels far away. Are there people out there who live always with that gratitude, that sense of the world with its simple gifts being all the plenty they seek? I'd like to be one of them for more than just an hour at a time. Can I get there by resolve, by practice, by force? Maybe they are simply people like me who have perfected the work of trying, who've learned to hang on a little longer each day to the thrill of waking. Worrying helps nothing. The rain falls. Then, as a matter of course, it leaps back into the sky. Listen by Barbara Croker I want to tell you something. This morning is bright after all the steady rain, and every iris peony rose opens its mouth, rejoicing. I want to say, wake up, open your eyes. There's a snow covered road ahead, a field of blankness, a sheet of paper, an empty screen. Even the smallest insects are singing, vibrating their entire bodies, tiny violins of longing and desire. We were made for song. I can't tell you what prayer is, but I can take the breath of the meadow into my mouth and I can release it for the leaves green need prayer. I want to tell you your life is a blue coal, a slice of orange in the mouth, cut hay in the nostrils. The cardinal's red song dances in your blood. Look, every month the moon blossoms into a peony, then shrinks to a sliver of garlic, and then it blooms again. The Slowdown is a production of American Public Media in partnership with the Poetry Foundation. To get a poem delivered to you daily by go to slowdownshow.org and sign up for our newsletter.