[encore] 547: Travel by Edna St. Vincent Millay - The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

Summary5 min read

Podcast Summary: The Slowdown – [Encore] 547: "Travel" by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Episode Overview

In the encore episode 547 of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, originally released on May 1, 2025, Ada Limón revisits the timeless themes of wanderlust and the transformative power of travel through the lens of Edna St. Vincent Millay's evocative poem "Travel." This episode delves deep into personal reflections, historical contexts, and the enduring human desire to explore beyond familiar horizons.

Host Introduction and Personal Reflection

Ada Limón opens the episode by sharing a personal narrative that sets the stage for the day's poetic exploration. She recounts her recent experience attending a residency in Rome, juxtaposing her initial anxieties amid the lingering shadows of the pandemic with the profound beauty and cultural richness she encountered.

"I've been very locked down these last two years and the extra layers of anxiety that the pandemic was adding to the traveling was real. But I went." [00:05]

Ada vividly describes the sensory overload of Rome, painting a picture of iconic landmarks bathed in the ethereal October light and the bustling life that thrives amidst ancient history.

"The October light over the Tiber river, the Trevi Fountain lit up, a glow at sunset. The Colosseum, the Pantheon, history on top of history." [00:10]

Her reflection underscores the transformative impact of travel, not merely as a physical journey but as an emotional and spiritual evolution.

"Travel changes you, how the act of seeing Hadrian's villa in Tivoli felt like the act of time travel." [00:20]

Exploration of Rome and Its Cultural Footprint

Ada delves deeper into her experiences in Rome, highlighting moments that blend historical admiration with personal growth. She reminisces about visiting the residence of John Keats, one of her favorite poets, and standing at the foot of the Spanish Steps, a site steeped in literary and cultural significance.

"At one point we saw the house where one of my favorite poets, John Keats, lived for a bit before his death at 25." [00:30]

This connection between place and poetry reinforces the episode's theme: the intertwining of physical journeys with artistic inspiration.

Introducing the Poem: "Travel" by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Transitioning smoothly from her personal anecdotes, Ada introduces the featured poem, "Travel," by Edna St. Vincent Millay. She contextualizes the poem within the contemporary longing for exploration, especially pertinent in times of global uncertainty.

"In today's poem by the iconic Edna St. Vincent Millay, we look at the wonderlust that so many of us have been experiencing during this strange time." [00:40]

Ada emphasizes the universal desire to escape and how travel fulfills not just a physical need but also a yearning for emotional and spiritual renewal.

Recitation and Analysis of "Travel"

Ada delivers a heartfelt recitation of Millay's "Travel," capturing its rhythmic nuances and emotional depth. The poem echoes the persistent call of the unknown and the irresistible pull towards new experiences, despite the comfort of the familiar.

"The railroad track is miles away
and the day is loud with voices speaking
yet there isn't a train goes by all day
But I hear its whistle shrieking all night
There isn't a train goes by
Though the night is still for sleep and dreaming
But I see its cinders red on the sky
and hear its engine steaming
My heart is warm with the friends I make
and better friends I'll not be knowing yet
There isn't a train I wouldn't take
no matter where it's going."

The poem resonates with Ada's earlier reflections, mirroring her internal conflict between safety and the innate drive to explore.

Connecting Poetry to Personal Experience

Post-recital, Ada bridges Millay's themes with her personal experiences in Rome, reinforcing how poetry can encapsulate and amplify our deepest emotions and aspirations.

"say yes to things when you can say yes to. To experiencing the world. It's not easy, but it does expand the heart if you let it." [04:00]

This sentiment encapsulates the episode's core message: embracing the unknown enriches our lives, much like how poetry offers new perspectives and emotional insights.

Conclusion and Reflection

Ada concludes the episode by reflecting on the balance between contentment and the desire to seek new horizons. She acknowledges the challenges and fears that accompany travel but champions the profound personal growth that comes from stepping into the unfamiliar.

"It's not easy, but it does expand the heart if you let it." [04:00]

This closing thought serves as an invitation to listeners to find solace and inspiration in both their current surroundings and their aspirations to explore beyond them.

Final Thoughts

[Podcast Outro Content Skipped]

Key Takeaways

Transformation Through Travel: Ada's experiences in Rome highlight how travel can be a catalyst for personal growth, expanding one's horizons both physically and emotionally.
Universal Longing for Exploration: Millay's "Travel" encapsulates the intrinsic human desire to explore, even amidst comfort and safety, a theme that resonates deeply in the post-pandemic world.
Intersection of Poetry and Life: The episode beautifully demonstrates how poetry can mirror and amplify personal experiences, offering deeper insights into our emotions and aspirations.
Embracing the Unknown: Ada advocates for the courage to embrace new experiences, suggesting that stepping into the unfamiliar can lead to unexpected joys and profound self-discovery.

Notable Quotes

"I've been very locked down these last two years and the extra layers of anxiety that the pandemic was adding to the traveling was real. But I went." – Ada Limón [00:05]
"Travel changes you, how the act of seeing Hadrian's villa in Tivoli felt like the act of time travel." – Ada Limón [00:20]
"In today's poem by the iconic Edna St. Vincent Millay, we look at the wonderlust that so many of us have been experiencing during this strange time." – Ada Limón [00:40]
"It's not easy, but it does expand the heart if you let it." – Ada Limón [04:00]

Final Notes

This encore episode serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring power of poetry to capture and convey the complexities of the human spirit. Through personal anecdotes and literary exploration, Ada Limón invites listeners to reflect on their own journeys, both literal and metaphorical, fostering a deeper connection with the world and themselves.

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Transcript3 lines

[00:00]
Unknown Announcer
Foreign.
[00:05]
Ada Limon
I'm Ada Limon and this is the Slowdown. Just recently I was asked by the graduate writing program I teach with to attend a residency in Rome. I know, I know it's a tough life because of the pandemic. I was naturally worried about the safety of the flight, staying safe while there, and so on. I've been very locked down these last two years and the extra layers of anxiety that the pandemic was adding to the traveling was real. But I went. It felt so much like a dream. The October light over the Tiber river, the Trevi Fountain lit up, a glow at sunset. The Colosseum, the Pantheon, history on top of history. It was almost overwhelming. Everywhere I looked, there was some unexpected feast for the senses. I could hardly believe it existed. There I was in Rome and I was suddenly struck by how lucky we were to be traveling again safely and to a place with such a rich culture that it overflowed the spirit. I was reminded how much travel changes you, how the act of seeing Hadrian's villa in Tivoli the felt like the act of time travel. To admire his private room with a moat around it and think at one point he had a bedroom that had a moat around it. This is the stuff of fantasy. I ate everything that was offered to me and drank everything that was handed to me. I tried my very best not to say when in Rome, over and over, when something I generally never eat crossed my lips. At one point we saw the house where one of my favorite poets, John Keats, lived for a bit before his death at 25. There we were at the foot of the Spanish Steps, and I remember thinking, say yes to things when you can say yes to. To experiencing the world. It's not easy, but it does expand the heart if you let it. In today's poem by the iconic Edna St. Vincent Millay, we look at the wonderlust that so many of us have been experiencing during this strange time. How even if we love where we are right now, love the friends, the landscape, the. The company, how sometimes escaping, even only for a little while, is a thing we desire the most. Travel by Edna St. Vincent Millay the railroad track is miles away and the day is loud with voices speaking yet there isn't a train goes by all day But I hear its whistle shrieking all night There isn't a train goes by Though the night is still for sleep and dreaming But I see its cinders red on the sky and hear its engine steaming My heart is warm with the friends I make and better friends I'll not be knowing yet There isn't a train I wouldn't take no matter where it's going.
[04:04]
Unknown Announcer
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 web@arts.gov to get a poem delivered to you daily, go to slowdownshow.org and sign up for our newsletter. And find us on Instagram at slowdown show and blueskylowdownshow.org.