[encore] 848: Six for Gold by Kate Hanson Foster

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily Episode: [Encore] 848: Six for Gold by Kate Hanson Foster
Release Date: April 15, 2025
Host: Major Jackson
Producer: American Public Media

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Introduction

In this special encore episode of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, host Major Jackson revisits one of his favorite past episodes to share the poignant poem "Six for Gold" by Kate Hanson Foster. Jackson sets the stage by reflecting on his journey with the show and the enduring power of poetry to create moments of pause and contemplation.

Major Jackson [00:31]: "Over the past few years, I've had the great privilege of sharing poetry with you and offering a daily moment to pause and slow down."

Major Jackson's Reflections on Parenting

Jackson delves into the universal experience of parenting, particularly the overwhelming flood of children's incessant questions. He humorously recounts moments when his children’s curiosity felt relentless, leading him to momentarily wish he could "poof" away the barrage of inquiries.

Major Jackson [01:14]: "My children barrage me with questions so many times I wanted to poof."

The narrative explores the delicate balance parents strive to maintain between nurturing their child's innate curiosity and preserving personal time for creative endeavors, such as composing poetry. Jackson emphasizes the importance of engaging with a child's wonderment, recognizing it as a foundation for their lifelong quest for knowledge and understanding.

Narrator [01:25]: "A child's curiosity deserves attention and cultivation and might be one of the most important jobs of a parent."

This segment underscores the role of parents as both guides and sources of inspiration, helping children navigate the complexities of the world while fostering their imagination and critical thinking skills.

Presentation of the Poem: Six for Gold

The heart of the episode features the reading of "Six for Gold," a evocative poem by Kate Hanson Foster. The poem narrates a tender moment between a parent and their six-year-old child, exploring themes of creation, imagination, and the deep bonds forged through storytelling.

In the poem, Jackson illustrates a playful interaction where he and his child engage in a creative exercise to explain the child's origin, blending magic, science, and love. The imagery of "a warm snowball" and "an old star collapsed and exploded" serves as metaphors for the miraculous nature of life and the wonder inherent in a child's quest for understanding.

(Note: Due to copyright restrictions, only brief excerpts are included.)

The poem beautifully captures the essence of parental love and the joy found in nurturing a child’s imaginative spirit. It highlights how such interactions not only answer immediate questions but also lay the groundwork for a lifetime of curiosity and exploration.

Conclusion

As the episode draws to a close, Major Jackson reflects on the enduring impact of engaging with children’s questions through poetry and storytelling. He reiterates the show's mission to provide daily moments of calm, inspiration, and connection through the shared experience of poetry.

Major Jackson [06:14]: "The Slowdown is a production of American Public Media in partnership with the Poetry Foundation."

Listeners are encouraged to integrate The Slowdown into their daily routines, whether it's during morning coffee, a nature walk, or evening relaxation, to continually embrace the reflective and inspiring power of poetry.

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Additional Resources:

• Listen to Previous Episodes: Explore a diverse range of poems and reflections from hosts like Tracy K. Smith, Ada Limón, Jenny Xie, Brenda Shaughnessy, Tina Chang, Nate Marshall, Shira Erlichiman, and Jason Schneiderman.
• Stay Connected: Visit slowdownshow.org to sign up for the newsletter and follow The Slowdown on Instagram and Twitter for updates and community engagement.

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The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily continues to be a cherished daily ritual for poetry enthusiasts, fostering a deeper appreciation for the art form and its ability to illuminate the human experience.

Transcript

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[Major Jackson]

Hey, it's Major over the past few years, I've had the great privilege of sharing poetry with you and offering a daily moment to pause and slow down. Today we're revisiting one of my favorite episodes from my time on the show. I hope you enjoy this selection. I'm Major Jackson and this is the.

[Narrator]

Slowdown Confession As a young parent, when.

[Major Jackson]

My children barrage me with questions so many times I wanted to poof.

[Narrator]

Disappear. We've all experienced this moment, right, when.

[Major Jackson]

A child suddenly becomes a human question.

[Narrator]

Generator or a you think you're smart, but I'm going to bring you to your knees in recognition of your ignorance kind of a child. No, there was never malice, but the onslaught felt relentless. Doesn't matter the relations if you're an auntie or uncle, godparent, grandparent or older sibling, you two have probably been caught in the labyrinth of some child's wonderment and sought the nearest way out. Why is the moon in the sky? Where do subway rats sleep? Who made the first loaf of bread? Are we aliens? Why are trees green? Although sometimes I knew the answers, I did not want to devote the entire morning to explaining sunlight, photosynthesis, and chlorophyll. Doing so would either daisy chain into.

[Major Jackson]

A series of new questions or cut.

[Narrator]

Into nap time, and they needed their sleep as much as I needed time to compose a poem. During that quick respite, truth, though, the desire to vanish would dissipate pretty quickly. A child's curiosity deserves attention and cultivation and might be one of the most important jobs of a parent. It makes sense that they see us as their personal wiki page and oracle. We lay the foundation for their navigation into the dense world of the unknown. We show them tools of discovery and hopefully inaugurate a lifetime of seeking answers to questions that will serve them when they have to face their most perplexing problems. As much as I wanted to escape my children's aggressive inquiries, I realized that engaging them in their immense wonder would yield some of the most important conversations between us. Today's poem models the pitch of imagination that goes into satisfying a child's curiosity in a way that leaves room for magic. Six for Gold By Kate Hansen Foster when my six year old asks me where he came from, how he, you know, got inside my belly, he is swinging a broken tree branch around in the backyard. Just swinging to fill the air molecules, to hear the faint whistle of resistance. The invisible turbulence satisfies something for both of us, disturbing what you can't see. You were a star I took for my own, I say. But how does it work? He asks. You know, getting the star into your belly. I rub my hands together vigorously and then slowly pull them apart, like a wizard commanding an invisible orb. I tell him to try. Keep rubbing your hands as fast as you can and when you are ready, stop. Wait for the energy to arrive between your palms. He doesn't know this is just a game, just our nerves responding to friction. He gently packs his hands around what he feels. A warm snowball, I say. Imagine that energy gathering into your belly when you arrived. An old star collapsed and exploded, and in a huge blast you landed inside me. He tosses his secret ball into the sky. It's gone, somewhere we will never find. Like gold crashing into a rock or sinking into the bottom of a river, I say. I can tell he is no longer listening. His eyes are back to the branch. I smile and scoop him up before he can grab it again, tickling his side to make him giggle. He wiggles in my arms, laughter bright and bursting, this boy who came to me like gold.

[Major Jackson]

The Slowdown is a production of American Public Media in partnership with the Poetry Foundation. This project is also supported by, in part by the National Endowment for the Arts on the [e-mail] to get a.

[Narrator]

Poem delivered to you daily, go to.

[Major Jackson]

Slowdownshow.Org and sign up for our newsletter and find us on Instagram and Twitter.

[Narrator]

At Slow down show.

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