[encore] 377: Moon Pull by Carlina Duan - The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

Summary

Summary of [Encore] 377: "Moon Pull" by Carlina Duan

Podcast Information

Title: The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily
Host/Author: American Public Media
Episode: [Encore] 377: Moon Pull by Carlina Duan
Release Date: June 23, 2025

Introduction In this encore episode of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, hosted by American Public Media, listeners are treated to a poignant exploration of Carlina Duan's poem "Moon Pull." Although Major Jackson is temporarily stepping back, the episode features a revisited segment from former host Tracy K. Smith, providing a rich tapestry of poetic reflection and introspection.

Host’s Introduction and Context Tracy K. Smith opens the episode with a contemplative introduction that sets the stage for Duan's "Moon Pull." She muses on celestial bodies, drawing parallels between planets without moons and those with numerous satellites, emphasizing the emotional and symbolic significance of the moon in human experience.

Tracy K. Smith [01:29]: "The moon is a celestial entity. There are scientific laws which govern it. But when I look at ours, I don't see or understand so much as I feel."

Smith's reflection underscores the moon's role as a muse and a silent companion, highlighting its influence on our emotions and dreams.

Exploration of "Moon Pull" The core of the episode is the intimate reading of Carlina Duan's "Moon Pull." Delivered with heartfelt emotion, the poem delves into themes of longing, connection, and the gravitational pull of the moon both literally and metaphorically.

Key themes and insights from the poem include:

Human Connection to Celestial Bodies: Duan articulates a deep yearning to connect with the moon, symbolizing a desire for companionship and understanding.

"I want to touch the moon on its limp face. Physics won't let me."
The Intersection of Science and Emotion: The poem beautifully marries scientific facts with personal emotions, illustrating how celestial phenomena influence human feelings.

"If the moon's gravity pulls on water to make tides, I want to be pulled too."
Existential Reflection: Duan reflects on existence and the human condition, using the moon as a metaphor for introspection and the search for meaning.

"I am small, small. I am small."
Nature and Human Experience: The imagery of tides, water, and natural elements serves as a backdrop for exploring inner turmoil and the quest for balance.

"Water tastes differently every time I go to a new fountain, a new house."

Host’s Commentary and Insights Following the poem, Tracy K. Smith provides insightful commentary, connecting the poem's themes to broader human experiences and the universal search for meaning and connection.

Tracy K. Smith [05:50]: "Today’s poem is 'Moon Pull' by Carlina Duan. I love the way it lays claim to the moon and all it represents."

Smith emphasizes the poem's ability to evoke a sense of wonder and introspection, encouraging listeners to reflect on their own connections to the world and the cosmos.

Conclusion The episode concludes with Major Jackson's brief sign-off, reminding listeners of the collaborative efforts behind The Slowdown and encouraging engagement through various platforms.

Major [05:50]: "The Slowdown is a production of American Public Media in partnership with the Poetry Foundation."

Final Thoughts This encore episode masterfully encapsulates the essence of The Slowdown by blending heartfelt poetry with thoughtful commentary. Carlina Duan's "Moon Pull," as introduced by Tracy K. Smith, serves as a profound meditation on longing, connection, and the enduring allure of the celestial. For both longtime listeners and newcomers, this episode offers a serene yet powerful moment of reflection, beautifully illustrating how poetry can illuminate the complexities of our inner and outer worlds.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

Tracy K. Smith [01:29]: "The moon is a celestial entity. There are scientific laws which govern it. But when I look at ours, I don't see or understand so much as I feel."
Tracy K. Smith [05:50]: "Today’s poem is 'Moon Pull' by Carlina Duan. I love the way it lays claim to the moon and all it represents."

Key Takeaways

The Slowdown continues to provide a daily sanctuary for poetry lovers, blending classic and contemporary works.
Carlina Duan's "Moon Pull" is a testament to the enduring human fascination with the moon and its symbolic resonance.
Tracy K. Smith's insightful introductions enrich the listening experience, offering deeper layers of meaning and connection.

Listeners are encouraged to explore more episodes, join the community through newsletters and social media, and immerse themselves in the daily ritual of poetic reflection.

Transcript

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Clorox Advertiser (0:34)

And that's commercial break. Nice. Ooh, hear that? My neck cracked. So satisfying. Speaking of satisfying, I just used a Clorox toilet wand. Ooh. With the cleaner already in it. Yes. All in one. The brush just clicks on. Click. Then you swish, swish, swish.

Tracy K. Smith (0:50)

Ah.

Clorox Advertiser (0:51)

And pops right off into the trash. Just click, swish, pop. Clorox. Clean feels good. Clean feels good.

Tracy K. Smith (1:00)

Oh, we're back.

Clorox Advertiser (1:02)

Use as directed.

Major (1:04)

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 (1:29)

I'm Tracy K. Smith, and this is the Slowdown. When I think about planets like Venus with no moons of their own, I feel a pang of sorrow. Has it always been this way? Alone with a night sky full of. Of only faraway stars, I've read that Jupiter might have as many as 79 moons. I'm stymied. All those bright faces up there winking down at what might once have been a planet of lovers and loners and children refusing to sleep. Night on Jupiter must be neon. Bright and wide awake like Times Square. I'm not sure I'm envious, but I'm definitely curious. Because a moon is such a pleasure to claim, such a consolation to see out there, racing along beside your car or peeping out from behind clouds and the branches of trees. For so many of us here on Earth, our one moon is like a confidant, calling to you in your sorrow and your hope, cheering you on in your longings and dreams, low and close in the night sky. The moon is a celestial entity. There are scientific laws which govern it. But when I look at ours, I don't see or understand so much as I feel. Today's poem is Moon Pull by Carlina Dwan. I love the way it lays claim to the moon and all it represents. Moon Pole by Carlina Dwan I don't want to hear the physics behind everything I do. I know it's there, lurking like a greyhound moon in between my toothpaste, my thumbs, the body's scribble. There are skin cells on my genes. There is plurality in the way I leave myself behind. I am gone by the thousands. Saliva, nail stripe of hair see me seeping into the dirt, into the water. The young earth had no moon, all of it a rogue planet caught between diamond and dust. Today the moon pulls our water up into tide and marathon of tide pulls tree SAP puddles my spit. The moon is mysterious and full of a liquid core. It is draining me down every night I am a child when I look at the moon it festers handsomely in the sky. I am small, small. I am small. I want to touch the moon on its limp face. Physics won't let me. I want to be everywhere the moon is. Physics says nothing about drought, what to do about restless bone? Water tastes differently every time I go to a new fountain, a new house, I stay suspended beneath the moon and all its tantrums. The moon quivers, won't look me in the eye. It is the same every day. If the moon's gravity pulls on water to make tides, I want to be pulled too. Every wet slice of me rummaging from moon over my driveway, my window. I want to orbit around my house. The diameter of the moon is too big for me to skim over. Its gravity is only one sixth that of the Earth. The moon glazes its rocks, rotates and pulls, pulls with craters and throats. Every day the light dries out. I am thirsty from below.