[encore] 846: Some Madness There by Charlotte Pence

Summary

Episode Summary: [encore] 846: Some Madness There by Charlotte Pence

Introduction

In this encore episode of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, hosted by Major Jackson, American Public Media delves into the intricate dance between wanderlust and familial bonds through the evocative poem "Some Madness There" by Charlotte Pence. This episode seamlessly intertwines personal narrative with poetic exploration, inviting listeners to reflect on the innate desire to explore beyond the familiar.

Host's Narrative: A Journey of Independence and Discovery

Major Jackson begins the episode by recounting the story of a close friend from his earlier years. Faced with the daunting prospect of paying off her college tuition, she grappled with the pressure to return home and enroll in a more affordable local college. Her parents, concerned about her financial strain, viewed her decision to attend a high-tuition institution as a misstep.

However, in a bold move to escape her mounting worries, she impulsively used a newly received credit card to embark on a spontaneous trip overseas. This decision marked the beginning of a decade-long journey where she balanced six months of waitressing in Philadelphia with six months of global travel. Her adventurous spirit and independence stood in stark contrast to her family's expectations and fears.

Major Jackson reflects on his own life changes, sharing his excitement about driving cross-country to attend graduate school at the University of Oregon. He vividly describes the mixed reactions from his family, highlighting the deep-seated fears and paradoxical support they offered. "Conceptually, they could not imagine or conceive a world beyond the one we currently inhabited," he explains, underscoring the tension between pursuing one's dreams and honoring familial ties.

The narrative culminates in his arrival in Eugene, Oregon. After an arduous road trip traversing diverse landscapes—from the Midwest's vast expanses to the rugged terrains of the Rockies and Death Valley—Major Jackson feels a profound sense of rebirth. The miles separating him from Philadelphia amplify his reflections on home, identity, and the emotional complexities of venturing into the unknown.

Poem Recitation: Some Madness There by Charlotte Pence

At the heart of the episode lies Charlotte Pence's Some Madness There, a poignant exploration of the human impulse to explore and the delicate balance between ambition and belonging. Through vivid imagery and contemplative verses, the poem delves into the "madness" that propels individuals to leave the safety of the known for the uncertainties of the vast, uncharted.

Key excerpts from the poem include:

• “It's only fully modern humans who start this thing of venturing out on the ocean where you don't see land. Part of that is technology, of course. You have to have ships to do it. But there is also, I like to say, some madness there.”

  (05:00)

• “These soft creatures we nurse in lullaby, must wriggle across the dog, up the shelves, under the fence. It's not enough, never far enough. They flock to where ground softens into waves, into riptides.”

  (05:10)

• “Here is where they need to leave more than there is where to go. Often they ask, what will we find? Not as often do they ask why they must flee the known, the home, the family who stands behind and waves. That's the one thing we're good for, we families. It's our job to wave.”

  (05:50)

These lines encapsulate the essence of the poem, highlighting the innate drive to seek new horizons while acknowledging the emotional tether to home and family. The metaphor of venturing "on the ocean where you don't see land" beautifully captures the blend of courage and folly inherent in the pursuit of the unknown.

Reflections and Insights

Through the intertwining of his personal narrative and Charlotte Pence's poetry, Major Jackson invites listeners to contemplate the universal struggle between the desire for independence and the comfort of familial connections. The episode underscores the idea that venturing out, whether physically or metaphorically, is both an act of courage and a form of madness—a necessary tension that defines the human experience.

Conclusion

This encore episode of The Slowdown masterfully blends storytelling with poetry, offering a rich tapestry of emotions and reflections. By sharing personal anecdotes and delving into Charlotte Pence's Some Madness There, Major Jackson provides a space for listeners to pause, reflect, and engage with the profound themes of adventure, identity, and the ties that bind us.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Major Jackson ([02:10]): "Conceptually, they could not imagine or conceive a world beyond the one we currently inhabited, one where they meticulously bestowed their nurturance and protection."

• Charlotte Pence's Poem ([05:00]): "But there is also, I like to say, some madness there."

• Charlotte Pence's Poem ([05:50]): "It's our job to wave."

Transcript

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[Major Jackson]

I'm Major Jackson, and this is the Slowdown. I have a friend from my years.

[Narrator]

In Philly who, not knowing how she was going to pay the remaining balance of her college bill, sat on the.

[Major Jackson]

Edge of her seat the first few weeks of classes of her first year. Unable to concentrate, her parents wanted her to return home and enroll in a local and more affordable college, believing she had made a poor decision to attend a school with such a high tuition.

[Narrator]

Then one morning, on a whim to use a new credit card mailed to her the previous day, she flew to parish for lunch. She decided to postpone her worries by taking an impulsive weekend trip overseas. Much to the dismay of her parents, she never returned home, nor to the.

[Major Jackson]

School with a hefty tuition.

[Narrator]

Instead, for a decade, she worked six months a year as a waitress collecting tips, then traveled the globe the other six months of the year. She's one of the most adventurous, exciting and independent people I know. Years later, I was excited to tell my family that I was driving cross country to attend graduate school at the University of Oregon. We were gathered for some birthday occasion around a restaurant table, but they pelted me with questions that harbor between harassment and hilarity. My grandfather wanted to know if there were black barbershops or black churches in the Northwest. A distressed aunt asked if I could not have found a graduate program half the distance. Conceptually, they could not imagine or conceive a world beyond the one we currently inhabited, one where they meticulously bestowed their nurturance and protection, albeit given the history.

[Major Jackson]

Of violence against black bodies.

[Narrator]

This was a brand of paranoia that was grounded in truth. My venturing out of the bubble carried all kinds of historic risk. A month later, with family hovered around my car. I gave hugs and took off in my used Jetta full of everything to my name. Something called me beyond the familiar streets of Philadelphia. When I arrived in Eugene, Oregon, after an arduous yet stunning road trip of camping and driving through the Midwest, the.

[Major Jackson]

Rockies, the Arches National Park, Death valley.

[Narrator]

And up California's Route 101, I felt oddly reborn into an existence and landscape that felt like it was always a part of me. For two years I lived and wrote about my youth in Philly. The miles between my old home and new home made the people and events in my life even more Viv Today's illuminating poem contends with that normal yet emotional experience of children leaving home, and posits that this wanderlust is maybe genetically encoded in our natal spirit of adventure and discovery. Some Madness There by Charlotte Pence it's only fully modern humans who start this thing of venturing out on the ocean where you don't see land. Part of that is technology, of course. You have to have ships to do it. But there is also, I like to say, some madness there. Savante Paabo from the Madness Gene they must run. These soft creatures we nurse in lullaby, must wriggle across the dog, up the shelves, under the fence. It's not enough, never far enough. They flock to where ground softens into waves, into riptides. There, they say, pointing to the imaginary line where sky and sea meet. There, they say to pox on the moon there, to the dim disks of Mars. Here is where they need to leave more than there is where to go. Often they ask, what will we find? Not as often do they ask why they must flee the known, the home, the family who stands behind and waves. That's the one thing we're good for, we families. It's our job to wave.

[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 to you daily, go to slowdownshow.org and sign up for our newsletter. Find us on Instagram and Twitter.

[Narrator]

SlowdownShow.

[Major Jackson]

The Slowdown is written by me, Major Jackson. It is produced by Micah Kilbon. Our music is composed by Alexis Cuadrado, engineering by Alex Simpson and Josh Savageau, production helped by Maria Wortel, Susanna Sharpless, James Napoli, Nick Ryan, and Lauren Humper. Our executive producer and editor is Beth Pearlman. Our executives in charge of APM Studios are Chandra Kavati, Alex Shaffer and Joanne Griffith.

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