[encore] 448: Telephone of the Wind by Eddie Kim

Summary

Summary of "The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily" Episode [Encore] 448: "Telephone of the Wind" by Eddie Kim

Release Date: June 24, 2025

In this special encore episode of The Slowdown, hosted by Major Jackson and produced by American Public Media in partnership with The Poetry Foundation, listeners are treated to a nostalgic and introspective journey through the art of poetry and reflection. This episode features a memorable rendition of Eddie Kim's poem "Telephone of the Wind," presented by former host Tracy K. Smith. Below is a detailed exploration of the episode's key points, discussions, insights, and conclusions.

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1. Introduction: Revisiting the Archives

At the beginning of the episode ([01:04]), Major Jackson introduces the concept of airing a standout moment from the show's rich history. Highlighting the contributions of previous hosts, Major emphasizes the significance of revisiting past episodes to appreciate the depth and evolution of The Slowdown. This particular episode showcases Tracy K. Smith, a former host whose voice has left a lasting impact on the show's legacy.

2. Tracy K. Smith’s Reflection on Telephones and Communication

Tracy K. Smith begins her segment ([01:28]) with a heartfelt reflection on the evolution of telephones, contrasting the bygone era of bulky, colorful desk phones with today's sleek, multifunctional smartphones. She nostalgically describes the physical presence and the emotional weight that traditional telephones carried:

"Telephones were so much more dramatic, so full of seriousness and tragedy back when they were big and heavy and came in colors like black, mustard yellow, beige, avocado green or fire engine red." ([01:28])

Smith delves into the disciplined nature of using old telephones, recalling how the physical act of dialing and holding the receiver created a more deliberate and meaningful communication experience. She juxtaposes this with the current trend of using phones as tools for information and entertainment, often at the expense of genuine human connection:

"Sometimes I think my phone is a tool for avoiding communication. I turn to it for information, entertainment. It's an antidote to loneliness..." ([04:15])

3. "Telephone of the Wind" by Eddie Kim

The centerpiece of the episode is Eddie Kim's poignant poem, "Telephone of the Wind," which Tracy K. Smith presents ([01:28]). The poem weaves a narrative that blends the tangible act of making a phone call with the ethereal desire to connect with loved ones who have passed away. Smith sets the scene in a secluded phone booth in Otsuchi, Japan, where individuals attempt to reach the deceased:

"Lovers, mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, brothers and sisters lining up the left behind people whispering caged secrets into breathless copper wire."

Throughout her reading, Smith conveys the emotion and longing embedded in the poem, highlighting the futile yet hopeful attempts to bridge the gap between life and death. The imagery of old rotary phones and the act of dialing into the wind serve as powerful metaphors for the barriers and connections that define human relationships.

"I've seen how it's done on television, in theaters, but words catch. So wind is what I say, and I hope you will hear. It feels tacky speaking into the wind, but so does saying nothing." ([05:45])

4. Themes and Insights

This episode beautifully explores themes of communication, technology's impact on human relationships, and the universal longing for connection beyond physical existence. Through Smith's reflections and Kim's evocative poetry, listeners are invited to contemplate how advancements in communication technology have both bridged and widened personal distances.

Smith's nostalgia for old telephones underscores a yearning for more intentional and meaningful interactions, suggesting that while modern devices offer convenience, they may also contribute to a sense of isolation and superficial connectivity.

"Today's poem takes me back to the time when telephones and the distances they allowed us to cross were monumental. It reminds me of all the silence that's been eradicated from our lives by the devices that let us do a great many things shop, tweet, text, post while we purport to listen." ([05:30])

5. Notable Quotes

• Tracy K. Smith: "Telephones were so much more dramatic, so full of seriousness and tragedy back when they were big and heavy..." ([01:28])

• Tracy K. Smith: "Sometimes I think my phone is a tool for avoiding communication." ([04:15])

• Tracy K. Smith: "It feels tacky speaking into the wind, but so does saying nothing." ([05:45])

6. Conclusion: Embracing Reflection Through Poetry

Major Jackson wraps up the episode by reaffirming The Slowdown's mission to provide listeners with a daily moment of calm, inspiration, and connection through poetry. By revisiting past episodes and featuring powerful readings like "Telephone of the Wind," the show continues to honor the timeless relevance of poetry in understanding and reflecting on the human experience.

Listeners are encouraged to incorporate The Slowdown into their daily routines—whether sipping morning coffee, taking a walk in nature, or winding down for the night—to find solace and insight through the carefully curated selections of both emerging and established poets.

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This episode serves as a compelling reminder of the profound role that poetry plays in capturing and expressing the complexities of our emotions and relationships, especially in an age dominated by rapid technological advancements.

Transcript

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[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]

Foreign I'm Tracy K. Smith, and this is the Slowdown. Telephones were so much more dramatic, so full of seriousness and tragedy back when they were big and heavy and came in colors like black, mustard yellow, beige, avocado green or fire engine red. Looking back now, I see how the phone cord was a source of discipline. You stood there or you sat there. If you paced, it was back and forth across a very narrow strip of floor. If you doodled, it had to be. While balancing the sizable receiver between chin and shoulder. I have a deep, passionate longing for the old, heavy desk telephones of my childhood. Rotary phones with metal bells. Before there were answering machines, there were phones that rang and rang into infinity. Before call waiting, there was the busy signal, which taught you patience and persistence. Nowadays, phones are about so much more than simple communication. Sometimes I think my phone is a tool for avoiding communication. I turn to it for information, entertainment. It's an antidote to loneliness, yes, but I may not dial a friend until after I've pored over emails and scrolled deep into the news feed. Maybe my screen will light up with a new text, and that's that. My loneliness is cured. Today's poem takes me back to the time when telephones and the distances they allowed us to cross were monumental. It reminds me of all the silence that's been eradicated from our lives by the devices that let us do a great many things shop, tweet, text, post while we purport to listen. Telephone of the Wind by Eddie Kim for dad and for Derek, there is a phone booth in Otsuchi, Japan where people go to call the dead. Lovers, mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, brothers and sisters lining up the left behind people whispering caged secrets into breathless copper wire. Maybe you have never been in a phone booth before today, nor have you ever used a functioning rotary phone. Your fingertip holds an edge and feels sweet resistance. It keeps you upright as it twirls and ratchets back into place with a satisfying whirr. For a second it all feels normal. Then the pulse of dial tone dictates heartbeat. A lungful of steam billows out. You dial the final number to nowhere, a silent tone. How have you been? What have you been eating? It's cold today. Wear something warm. Do you think of me? I've been thinking a lot about the dead of late and what I might say to them. Truth is, I don't know. I stand in front of graves with nothing to say, nothing but wind between us. I've seen how it's done on television, in theaters, but words catch. So wind is what I say, and I hope you will hear. It feels tacky speaking into the wind, but so does saying nothing.

[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 slowdownshow and [e-mail].

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