[encore] 788: John Muir, A Dream, A Waterfall, A Mountain Ash

Summary

Detailed Summary of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily Episode: [encore] 788: John Muir, A Dream, A Waterfall, A Mountain Ash
Release Date: July 21, 2025
Host: Major Jackson (Featuring Archive Content from Ada Limón)

---

Introduction

In this special encore episode of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, host Major Jackson delves into a nostalgic revisit of a favorite episode from former host Ada Limón. This archived session not only honors Ada's thoughtful engagement with poetry but also brings forward a poignant reflection on nature and mindfulness through the lens of a compelling poem by Robert Haas.

Ada Limón's Reflections on Meditation and Nature

Timestamp: 00:49 – 01:12

Major Jackson introduces the archived episode, highlighting Ada Limón's unique ability to intertwine personal experiences with poetic reflection. Ada opens with a heartfelt narrative about her journey into meditation and how nature became a sanctuary for her mindfulness practice.

Notable Quote:

"A long time ago, I was trying to learn to meditate. The one thing that worked... was simply being physically exhausted."
— Ada Limón (00:49)

Ada shares how long hikes, such as those on Moon Mountain or in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, provided her the perfect environment to meditate. The absence of digital distractions allowed her to connect deeply with the natural world, fostering a sense of interconnectedness and tranquility.

Timestamp: 01:13 – 05:43

Ada elaborates on her meditation practices, emphasizing the role of physical exhaustion in achieving mental stillness. She reflects on the awe-inspiring presence of mountains and the soothing sounds of water, which help drown out the incessant "ping ponging" of her thoughts.

Notable Quotes:

"I could imagine how mountains connect us, not divide us."
— Ada Limón (02:15)

"If I listened close enough, the mountains seemed to be saying, we are all doing our best with this life."
— Ada Limón (04:30)

These reflections set the stage for the poem's exploration of balancing personal anxieties with the grandeur of nature.

Presentation of Robert Haas's Poem: "John Muir A Dream, A Waterfall, A Mountain Ash"

Timestamp: 05:44 – 06:20

Ada introduces the featured poem by Robert Haas, highlighting its thematic focus on nature's magnificence juxtaposed with the complexities of human emotions and experiences. The poem delves into the legacy of John Muir, a renowned naturalist, and uses vivid imagery to convey the profound connection between humans and the natural world.

Key Themes and Insights

1. Nature as a Reflective Mirror

The poem intricately weaves descriptions of expansive landscapes with introspective musings, suggesting that nature serves as a mirror to our inner selves. Haas's portrayal of waterfalls and mountain ash trees symbolizes the relentless flow of time and the enduring strength needed to navigate life's challenges.

Notable Excerpt:

"The plan today is to climb Ellis Peak to see if we can't find the clusters of golden berries on the mountain ash that we saw last year..."
— Robert Haas (03:30)

This line underscores the pursuit of beauty and meaning amidst the routine hustle, reflecting a yearning for moments of clarity and inspiration.

2. The Interplay of Exhaustion and Clarity

Echoing Ada's own experiences, the poem explores how physical exertion leads to mental clarity. The act of climbing and the subsequent exhaustion facilitate a deepened state of mindfulness, allowing one to "sit and practice metta or loving kindness."

3. Questioning Ownership of Nature

Haas challenges the notion of ownership over natural landscapes, subtly critiquing human tendencies to claim and control nature. The reference to historical figures like Kit Carson alludes to the conflicts between settlers and indigenous practices, emphasizing the timelessness and untamed essence of the wilderness.

Notable Quote:

"Today’s poem... asks us to question who gets to name or claim nature at all."
— Ada Limón (04:50)

Conclusion

Major Jackson wraps up the episode by reiterating the show's mission to provide listeners with moments of calm, inspiration, and connection through poetry. He encourages audiences to explore the rich back catalog of The Slowdown and engage with both emerging and established poets who continue to illuminate the mysteries of our shared human journey.

Closing Remarks:

"The Slowdown is a production of American Public Media in partnership with the Poetry Foundation... to get a poem delivered daily, go to slowdownshow.org and sign up for our newsletter."
— Major Jackson (05:44)

---

Additional Resources

• Subscribe to The Slowdown: Visit slowdownshow.org to sign up for daily poem deliveries.
• Follow on Instagram: Stay updated with the latest episodes and poetry insights by following @slowdownshow.
• Supporters: Produced in partnership with the Poetry Foundation and supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.

---

This episode serves as a beautiful tribute to the enduring power of poetry and nature in fostering mindfulness and reflection. Whether you're a long-time listener or new to The Slowdown, this encore episode offers a serene and thoughtful exploration of life's vast landscapes through verse.

Transcript

[Hershey's Chocolate Advertiser]

Hershey's Milk Chocolate with Whole Almonds makes for a wholly amazing, wholly delicious experience that's well holy Hershey's everyone to get to experience the satisfying surprise of a whole almond tucked inside creamy Hershey's Chocolate. So don't wait your whole life to try Hershey's Milk Chocolate with Whole Almonds. And if you've already had it, then chances are you're already a lifelong fan of this confectionary delight. Find Hersey's Milk Chocolate with Whole Almonds wherever candy is sold. For 140 years, MultiCare has been in Washington prioritizing long term solutions, partnering with.

[MultiCare Representative]

Local communities and expanding access to care.

[Hershey's Chocolate Advertiser]

Together, we're building a healthier future. Learn [e-mail] hey, it's me, Major Jackson.

[Major Jackson]

We're reaching into the archive to bring you some of our favorites. Here's one from Ada Limone's tenure as host. Her thoughtfulness and deep love of poetry made her time on the show very special. I hope you enjoy this selection from the archives.

[Ada Limón]

I'm Italy Mone, and this is the Slowdown A long time ago, I was trying to learn to meditate. The one thing that worked, the thing that finally allowed me to be still and just breathe, was simply being physically exhausted. I could meditate best after a long hike up a hill on Moon Mountain or in Sugarloaf Ridge State park, where a long winding hill brought me to a meadow where for once my phone didn't get a signal and I could see across the other valley. There I could imagine how mountains connect us, not divide us. For a while. Then, exhausted, emptied of all effort, I could sit and practice metta or loving kindness, meditation or mindfulness. To sit and know you are sitting, as Joseph Goldstein says in his Guided Meditations. Then I wondered if it was the meditation that seemed to be working or just physical exhaustion. Or was it? Which is so often true, the awe of the mountains themselves, the headwaters of Sonoma Creek, which after the winter rains is a rush of waterfalls and ripples. The sound of water even drowns out the sound of my all too bullish brain ping ponging from one problem to the next. If I listened close enough, the mountains seemed to be saying, we are all doing our best with this life. Today's poem by former US Poet Laureate Robert Haas is a poem that be balances the worrisome long threads of our lives against the large wonder of mountains. The poem's title also asks us to question who gets to name or claim nature at all. John Muir A dream, a waterfall A Mountain Ash by Robert Haas. I had been given two pieces of writing to read. One was a description of my childhood kitchen, in which, beneath the calm and orderly prose, something was beating frantically against the walls like a trapped bat. The other piece contained a small door you could actually crawl through. It led to the ridge of a canyon from which you could look down into an orchard. I knew it was canyon de Chelly knew Kit Carson and his scouts would be coming to destroy the fruit trees, which were neatly aligned along irrigation ditches that the Spanish called acquacia. Woke feeling nauseous, my wife's soft breathing beside me. Outside the immense Sierra, dark and silence, a sky still glittering with a strew of stars, a faint brightening to the east. You'd think past 60 or so the unconscious would give you some respite. But here, it says, is the little engine of dread and sorrow that runs your story. And here, almost symmetrically, is the unspeakable cruelty of the world. In an hour the market in Tahoma will open. I can drive through the sugar pines, get coffee, get a paper. The plan today is to climb Ellis Peak to see if we can't find the clusters of golden berries on the mountain ash that we saw last year, where the slope of the trail flattens and the creek runs in a silver sheet across slabs of granite and then flares into spumes of white water that leap down the canyon in what John Muir thought was joy or its earthly simulation. A good walk, mostly uphill. We can wear ourselves out with it.

[Major Jackson]

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 daily, go to slowdownshow.org and sign up for our newsletter. Find us on Instagram at slowdownshow and blueskylowdownshow.org.

[MultiCare Representative]

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.

[Ada Limón]

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

[Major Jackson]

I want the details.

[MultiCare Representative]

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