[encore] 393: Song In Which We Yet Sidestep Disaster by Tess Taylor

Summary

Summary of "[Encore] 393: Song In Which We Yet Sidestep Disaster by Tess Taylor"

Podcast: The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily
Host: American Public Media (Revisiting Episode Hosted by Tracy K. Smith)
Release Date: July 14, 2025

Introduction

In this special encore episode of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, host Major Jackson invites listeners to delve into the podcast's rich archives. Highlighting the contributions of past hosts, Major presents a memorable episode originally hosted by Tracy K. Smith, a former U.S. Poet Laureate renowned for her profound impact on the series.

Host Reflection and Archival Dive ([00:00] – [00:30])

Major Jackson opens the episode by expressing gratitude for the podcast’s deep reservoir of episodes, emphasizing the importance of revisiting standout moments that have shaped The Slowdown into the beloved daily poetry ritual it is today. He introduces Tracy K. Smith as a pivotal voice whose tenure significantly influenced the show's direction and connection with its audience.

Tracy K. Smith's Presentation of Tess Taylor's Poem ([00:30] – [05:15])

Tracy K. Smith takes the stage to present Tess Taylor’s poignant poem, "Song In Which We Yet Sidestep Disaster." She begins with contemplative reflections on existence and humanity's quest for understanding:

"How can everything be? How is it possible? And how can we know so little of what that everything is and of the why that set it and us into motion?"
— Tracy K. Smith [00:30]

Smith muses on the limitations of human knowledge and the essence of being alive, suggesting that perhaps our existence is about embracing the unknown and fostering love and trust amidst life's vast mysteries.

She introduces Tess Taylor's poem by providing a compelling backdrop:

"For Taylor, even stars are formed by loss. You know, astronomers believe that galaxies are forged out of huge collapsing stars..."
— Tracy K. Smith [02:30]

This introduction bridges the cosmic scale of star formation with personal loss, setting the stage for a deep exploration of themes such as creation, destruction, and emotional resilience.

Poem Recitation and Thematic Exploration

Through her evocative reading, Smith illuminates the intertwining of cosmic phenomena with human experiences:

"Our life is a splattered star or my love we're spun of losses..."
— Tess Taylor via Tracy K. Smith [04:00]

She draws parallels between the life cycle of stars and personal loss, suggesting that just as stars collapse and give birth to new galaxies, human relationships and experiences are shaped by and emerge from loss.

Smith's narration emphasizes the enduring nature of love and memory:

"I haven't lost you yet my love I count the lucky stars I lie rocking on your breath."
— Tess Taylor via Tracy K. Smith [05:00]

This line captures the delicate balance between holding on and letting go, resonating with listeners who navigate the complexities of love and loss.

Key Themes and Insights

• Interconnectedness of Cosmos and Emotion: The poem draws a vivid connection between astronomical events and personal human emotions, highlighting how grand universal processes mirror individual experiences.

• Resilience Through Loss: The imagery of collapsing stars serves as a metaphor for how loss can lead to new beginnings, suggesting that from destruction comes the potential for creation and growth.

• The Nature of Existence: Both the host and Smith ponder the essence of being alive, contemplating the mysteries that surround human existence and the importance of embracing uncertainty.

Conclusion

Major Jackson wraps up the encore episode by acknowledging the enduring value of past hosts like Tracy K. Smith in shaping the narrative and emotional depth of The Slowdown. By featuring Tess Taylor's "Song In Which We Yet Sidestep Disaster," the episode underscores the podcast's commitment to exploring profound themes through the lens of contemporary and classic poetry.

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Note: This summary is crafted to encapsulate the essence of the episode based on the provided transcript. Listeners are encouraged to tune into The Slowdown for the full poetic and reflective experience.

Transcript

[Major]

Hey, there. 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]

I'm Tracy K. Smith, and this is the Slowdown. How can everything be? How is it possible? And how can we know so little of what that everything is and of the why that set it and us into motion? Maybe to be alive is a matter of accepting that such answers do not concern us. Maybe being alive in matter is a matter of learning to hear and see and feel and trust and to love all that is available to us. Do you think the things out beyond us, like the stars or the wind in space or the purpose around which a black hole churns, do you think any of that understands us? If there were more time, if I didn't have to do a job or take care of a family, would I spend my days asking these kinds of questions? Would I stretch my small human mind until it could offer up its own system of logic and belief? Would I tell the story of the mountains and the trees and the night sky the way humans did before mortgages and professional ambition kicked? If there were more time and more freedom, we'd still spend time trying to find ways to name the many different kinds of love we feel. We'd still invent wishes and invoke magic and whisper prayers as ways of protecting the people we love. We'd summon nightmares as containers for our worry. And the true poets among us, maybe the children, would look out at what surrounds us and feel the need to align our species in some way with that wonder. And so the universe once again would be invented. Today's poem is song in which we yet sidestep disaster. By Tess Taylor. For Taylor, even stars are formed by loss. You know, astronomers believe that galaxies are forged out of huge collapsing stars, hollow, imploding on themselves. As stars die, the very charge of their collapse sets matter loose. This lost energy becomes a splatter of elemental goo spinning in space. If this is hard to see, think of a tub, the one our kids play in. Each night, when it drains, the energy that's lost in gravity's huge suck is turned to sound. What lost force becomes sound? The gurgle left behind by entropy. Think collapsing stars forging a galactic paint of elements and energy. Nickel, copper, iron ore of which each new world is made. Our life is a splattered star or my love we're spun of losses Is this why we sit up on the shore and hear the ocean smash the rocks the air rings with lost force we call the waves. Ten years ago I gave my life to you and lost some of the life I had before we marked promises and gave each other mind up core to wear a while minted now as rings guise of permanence to enclose a life. I also know that when I write tonight I only chase the pattern that I hear Something I meant spins farther off but you didn't die that awful year I haven't lost you yet my love I count the lucky stars I lie rocking on your breath.

[Major]

The Slowdown is a production of American Public Media in partnership with the Poetry Foundation. This project is also supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts on the [e-mail] to get a poem delivered to you daily, go to slowdownshow.org and sign up for our newsletter. Find us on Instagram at slowdownshow and blueskylowdownshow.org.

[This Old House Radio Hour Host]

This old house Radio Hour is your new home improvement podcast. In each episode, we answer your questions. Whether you're fixing a leak, refinishing a floor, or restoring a century old house, our roster of experts have the answers to help you get the job done right.

[Tracy K. Smith]

I never thought I'd be saying this to a bunch of people I'm just meeting, but I have a stinky house.

[Major]

Tell us more. I want the details.

[This Old House Radio Hour Host]

Find this Old House Radio Hour in your favorite podcast. Apparently.