[encore] 463: To be of use by Marge Piercy

Summary

Episode 463: “[Encore] To Be of Use” by Marge Piercy
The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily
Release Date: June 27, 2025
Host: Tracy K. Smith (Encore Edition)

---

Introduction

In this special encore episode of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, host Major Jackson takes a brief hiatus, allowing listeners to revisit one of the station’s most impactful past episodes. This edition features Tracy K. Smith, a former host, guiding us through Marge Piercy's evocative poem, "To Be of Use." Drawing from profound reflections on leadership, community, and purposeful work, Smith offers deep insights that resonate with both the challenges and aspirations of today's world.

---

Revisiting Tracy K. Smith’s Reflections

Embracing Arthur Ashe’s Mantra

Timestamp: [01:51]

Tracy K. Smith opens the episode by invoking the empowering words of Arthur Ashe:
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
(01:51)
She emphasizes this mantra as a beacon for individuals striving to make meaningful contributions amidst global uncertainties. Smith underscores the urgency of action, urging listeners to harness their current resources and circumstances to effect positive change, thereby combating the tendency to procrastinate or retreat in the face of adversity.

Insights from Martin Luther King Jr.

Timestamp: [02:20 - 04:30]

Delving deeper into the themes of community and justice, Smith references Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1967 work, Where Do We Go From Chaos or Community? She highlights King's arguments for dismantling entrenched societal patterns to address the pervasive issues of racism, poverty, and militarism. King posits that for America to navigate the chaos threatening its fabric, it must cultivate values that prioritize humanity over material gain and moral authority over military might.

Smith shares a compelling quote from King:
“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.”
(04:00)
This powerful assertion serves as a framework for understanding the balance between strength and compassion. Smith relates this to contemporary society, encouraging listeners to use their voices as instruments of love and justice, combating forces that undermine these ideals.

Exploring “To Be of Use” by Marge Piercy

Timestamp: [04:30 - 06:41]

The heart of the episode centers on the poignant poem "To Be of Use" by Marge Piercy. Smith delivers a thoughtful reading, accompanied by her insightful analysis:

• Imagery of Commitment and Labor:
  Smith describes the poem's portrayal of individuals who "jump into work headfirst without dallying in the shadows" and "become natives of that element." This vivid imagery highlights the grace and dedication of those who commit wholeheartedly to their tasks, much like seals seamlessly integrating into their aquatic habitats.

• Valorizing Everyday Efforts:
  She appreciates Piercy's celebration of ordinary laborers—the "ox to a heavy cart," "water buffalo," and those who "strain in the mud and the muck." Smith draws parallels between these images and the collective effort required to sustain communities and societies.

• Value of Practical Work:
  Emphasizing the utilitarian aspect, Smith reflects on the poem's contrast between objects like "Greek amphoras" and "Hopi vases" that are both functional and artistically significant. This analogy extends to human endeavors, suggesting that true worth lies in "work that is real"—actions that serve a purpose beyond personal acclaim.

• Enduring Satisfaction of Purposeful Action:
  Concluding her analysis, Smith highlights the poem’s affirmation that "the work of the world is common as mud," yet "the thing worth doing well done has a shape that satisfies clean and evident." This sentiment encapsulates the fulfillment derived from meaningful, diligent efforts that contribute to the greater good.

---

Conclusion

This encore episode masterfully intertwines Tracy K. Smith's reflective narration with Marge Piercy's stirring poetry, offering listeners a rich tapestry of inspiration and contemplation. By connecting historical insights with contemporary relevance, Smith invites us to find our place in the collective journey, urging us to "be of use" in ways that resonate deeply with our shared human experience.

---

Additional Information

The Slowdown is produced by APM Studios in collaboration with The Poetry Foundation and receives partial support from the National Endowment for the Arts. For more curated poetic reflections, visit slowdownshow.org and subscribe to the newsletter for daily poetic inspiration. Follow The Slowdown on Instagram at @slowdownshow and on Bluesky at slowdownshow.org.

---

This episode was an encore featuring content originally presented by former host Tracy K. Smith. Stay tuned for new episodes as The Slowdown returns with Host Major Jackson, continuing to illuminate our shared journey through the power of poetry.

Transcript

[Greenlight Representative]

The slowdown is supported by Greenlight. Juggling growing kids and aging relatives can be a balancing act between keeping a watchful eye and allowing feelings of independence. With Greenlight's Family Shield, you can protect your senior loved ones from scams and financial fraud without making them feel like kids. Stay on top of their finances with tools like account monitoring, real time alerts, and coverage for scam related losses and identity theft. Take care of your whole family, from kids to grandparents with Family Shield from Greenlight. Sign up today@Greenlightdot.

[Indeed Representative]

You just realized your business needed to hire someone yesterday. How can you find amazing candidates fast? Easy. Just use Indeed. Stop struggling to get your job posts seen on other job sites with Indeed sponsored Jobs. Your post jumps to the top of the page for your relevant candidates so you can reach the people you want faster. According to INDEED data, Sponsored jobs posted directly on indeed have 45% more applications than non sponsored jobs. Don't wait any longer. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed and listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit. To get your jobs more visibility@ Indeed.com Arts, just go to Indeed.com Arts right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Hiring Indeed is all you need.

[Major]

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]

I'm Tracy K. Smith and this is the Slowdown. I was reminded recently of the words of professional tennis player Arthur Ashe, start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. It's a perfect mantra for those of us who want to do good and at this perilous moment in the world because it nullifies the impulse to put things off or otherwise shy from action. It insists that right now you do have what it takes to be of use, and it underscores the sense that contributing is a lifelong work. From wherever you find yourself today and tomorrow and the day after that, you have something to offer. In his 1967 book, Where Do We Go From Chaos or Community? Martin Luther King Jr. Argues that in order to survive the threat of chaos, America must break free of its age old patterns. Quote for the evils of racism, poverty and militarism to die, a new set of values must be born. Our economy must become more person centered than property and profit centered. Our government must depend more on its moral power than on its military power. I'm also struck by King's description of power and its relationship to justice. Quote, Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love. I am alive in 21st century America. I have a voice. Let it serve as a corrective to the violent and reckless power that stands against the force of love. Today's poem is to be of use by Marge Piercy the people I love the best jump into work headfirst without dallying in the shadows and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight. They seem to become natives of that element, the black sleek heads of seals bouncing like half submerged balls. I love people who harness themselves an ox to a heavy cart, who pull like water buffalo with massive patience, who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward, who do what has to be done again and again. I want to be with people who submerge in the task, who go into the fields to harvest and work in a row and pass the bags along, who are not parlor generals and field deserters but move in a common rhythm when the food must come in or the fire be put out. The work of the world is common as mud botched it smears the hands crumbles to dust but the thing worth doing well done has a shape that satisfies clean and evident. Greek amphoras for wine or oil, Hopi vases that held corn are put in museums but you know they were made to be used. The pitcher cries for water to carry and a person for work that is real.

[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 Slowdown show and bluesky slowdownshow.org our lead producer is Micah Kilbon and our associate producer is Maria Wortel. Our music is composed of by Alexis Cuadrado, engineering by Josh Savageau. Our digital producer is James Napoli. Additional production help by Susanna Sharpless and Lauren Humpert. Special thank you to former Slowdown producers Jennifer Lai and Tracy Mumford who critically shaped the show. You know, today our executives in charge of APM Studios are Chandra Kavati and Joanne Griffith.

[Micah Kilbon]

Hi everyone, it's Micah, lead producer of the Slowdown. I want to take a minute to talk to you about public media. You may have heard about federal budget cuts and other threats to public media, but what you might not know is that the Slowdown is actually part of the public media ecosystem. If you want to protect your favorite public media podcasts like this one, visit americanpublicmedia.org action to learn how you can help.