[encore] 871: Flesh (“You in your ecstasy of coffee”) by Deborah Landau

Summary

The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily - Episode 871: “[Encore] Flesh” by Deborah Landau

Release Date: June 20, 2025

---

Introduction: Revisiting a Favorite Episode

In this encore episode of The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily, host Major Jackson takes listeners on a nostalgic journey by revisiting one of his favorite past episodes. Opening at [01:21], Jackson expresses his gratitude for the privilege of sharing poetry and creating daily moments of pause and reflection with his audience.

Seasons of Vermont: A Metaphor for Life’s Cycles

At [02:07], Jackson delves into the unique climatic rhythms of Vermont, poetically illustrating the state's distinct seasons. He describes Vermont’s prolonged winter and the challenging "mud season," where the interplay between lingering cold and the thawing earth creates a landscape of unpredictability and beauty:

“April is the cruelest month, sure, because winter is like an ex that lingers way too long after the breakup.” ([02:34])

This vivid imagery sets the stage for Jackson’s exploration of how seasons mirror the human experience, emphasizing themes of endurance, transformation, and the cyclical nature of life.

The Allure of Summer: A Time of Vitality and Connection

Jackson’s narrative transitions to an ode to summer, highlighting its sensory richness and the deep emotional connections it fosters:

“Summer is the season in which I know I am most alive and emotionally open.” ([04:15])

He captures the essence of summer through memories of al fresco dining, sun-drenched gatherings, and the vibrant colors of ripened fruit. Jackson reflects on summer's finite beauty and its role as a backdrop for personal growth and communal bonds.

Introduction of Deborah Landau’s “Flesh”

At [05:30], Jackson introduces the featured poem, "Flesh" by Deborah Landau, indicating its resonance with the themes of vitality and ephemeral beauty discussed earlier. He shares that the poem encapsulates the intense yet fleeting experiences of summer, intertwining personal longing with the broader tapestry of life.

Reading of “Flesh”

Jackson reads "Flesh," immersing listeners in Landau’s evocative exploration of human connection and the sensory experiences that bind us. The poem navigates the tension between desire and restraint, painting a vivid portrait of unfulfilled intimacy amidst the backdrop of a vibrant summer cityscape.

Themes and Reflections

Following the recitation, Jackson offers insightful reflections on the poem’s themes. He interprets "Flesh" as an examination of unrequited love and the complexities of human relationships, set against the pulsating energy of the city in summer. The poem’s imagery—such as “lucent doorway of the day” and “puddles tussle on the sidewalk”—serves as metaphors for the interplay between clarity and confusion in emotional experiences.

Conclusion: Embracing the Slowdown

As the episode draws to a close, Jackson reiterates the importance of taking moments to slow down and engage deeply with poetry. He emphasizes that through shared poetic experiences, listeners can better understand and navigate the vastness of the world and their personal journeys within it.

“In sharing poems, we take a moment to pause and acknowledge the world’s magnitude, and how poets illuminate that mystery.” ([01:25])

---

Key Takeaways

• Seasons as Metaphors: The episode uses Vermont's distinct seasons to symbolize different phases of life, highlighting themes of change, resilience, and the beauty inherent in transitions.

• Summer’s Vitality: Summer is portrayed as a time of heightened senses and emotional openness, serving as a catalyst for personal connections and memorable experiences.

• “Flesh” by Deborah Landau: The featured poem explores themes of human connection, desire, and the complexities of relationships against the vibrant backdrop of summer, offering a rich tapestry of emotions and imagery.

• The Power of Poetry: Jackson underscores the role of poetry in fostering reflection, understanding, and a deeper appreciation of both the self and the surrounding world.

Notable Quotes

• “April is the cruelest month, sure, because winter is like an ex that lingers way too long after the breakup.” – Major Jackson ([02:34])

• “Summer is the season in which I know I am most alive and emotionally open.” – Major Jackson ([04:15])

• “In sharing poems, we take a moment to pause and acknowledge the world’s magnitude, and how poets illuminate that mystery.” – Major Jackson ([01:25])

---

About the Hosts and Production Team

The Slowdown is hosted by Major Jackson and supported by a dedicated production team, including lead producer Micah Kielbon and associate producer Maria Wartell. The show features contributions from composers, engineers, and digital producers who collaborate to bring daily poetry and reflection to listeners.

Connect with The Slowdown

For daily poetry delivered to your inbox, visit slowdownshow.org and sign up for the newsletter. Follow The Slowdown on Instagram and Bluesky at @SlowdownShow to stay engaged with the latest episodes and poetic discussions.

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 at Greenlight Dot.

[Tremphya Representative]

Are your ulcerative colitis symptoms proving difficult to manage? Tremphya Guselcamab can help you manage the cycle of UC symptoms. At one year, many patients taking Tremphya achieved clinical remission and some patients also achieved endoscopic remission. Individual results may vary. Tremphya is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Serious allergic reactions and increased risk of infections may occur. Before treatment, your doctor should check you for infections and tb. Tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu like symptoms or if you need a vaccine. Ask your doctor if Tremphya can help you manage the cycle of UC symptoms. Call 1-800-526-7736 to learn more or visit tremphyaradio.com.

[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 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 Slow. In Vermont we like to say we have three winter, summer and Autumn.

Spring is virtually non existent. The cold temperatures hang around well past the spring equinox. And then it's mud season. Really an extension of winter when the earth thaws with runnels of melted snow. Yet if another cold snap comes along, tire ruts freeze. Before you know it, the frozen ground jolts you into a ditch. April is the cruelest month, sure, because winter is like an X that lingers way too long after the breakup. So when summer arrives, I run as fast as I can into its lushness. I am making new memories with family and friends that involve nights of al fresco dining, remote beaches, mountain ranges and sun drenched cocktail parties. Summer is the season that beckons most my senses. All that fruit bursting its wild colors, strawberries, apricots and peaches. Whereas winter feels interminable, I am most aware summer's bounty is numbered, finite from movies like do the right thing. To Adventureland. To midsommar. Summer is Hollywood's favorite season. Its beginning, middle and end tidily frame a narrative, and its high temperatures serve as backdrop to any plot's theme. In summer we star in our own movie. We travel, we journey, our friendships deepen. Summer is the season in which I know I am most alive and emotionally open. I welcome adventures that open my body and heart, biking country roads or hiking mountain trails. My brown skin glistens with the humming of the days. One must have a mind of summer. Today's vibrant poem reminds me how summer increases our thirst for living in the world. We feel life running from the ground and into our bodies as if we are walking into paradise's front door. Flesh By Deborah Landau. You and your ecstasy of coffee, me all amped on juice, an ooze of sunshine, a foil of water, a concordance, two waves in sync making a larger bright it's unseasonably warm again. Nothing will bloom, the trees blown way ahead of schedule. And we never kissed, not even once despite the come ons of summer, scented with rain, lilacs in the deli tempting to send me over the edge. As if we could rinse everything and be clean again. But no. Thursday, 4pm the city can be beautiful when it wants to. Stands around so photogenic by the boat pond lucent doorway of the day beams us through pine needles, puddles tussle on the sidewalk, a pigeon or two streaming by. Here come the minutes exposing themselves and there they go. What is real? June keeps on flaunting its medal of music. It's drink. Let's leave our apartments and go to the park. It's a festival. We want a popsicle, some honeydew, a break. Let's go out into the music flowing broadly now through giant speakers. The success of friendship. Let's drink to it. Hello emptiness that is coming it will engulf and then afraid it woman I'll fall back into my hole. Goodbye My body will never be satisfied. But here in the pre headache seasonal glitter first burst of summer still the thrill of it, the heat. 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 and find us on Instagram at SlowdownShow and Bluesky SlowdownShow.org the Slowdown is written by me. Major Jackson, our lead producer is Micah Kielbon and our associate producer is Maria Wartell. Our music is composed by Alexis Cuadrado, engineering by Alex Simpson and Josh Savageau. Our digital producer is James Napoli. Additional production help by Susannah Sharpless, Rebecca Rand, Jordan Turgeon, and Lauren Humpert. Our executives in charge of APM Studios are Chandra Kavati and Joanne Griffith.

[Micah Kielbon]

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.