[encore] 995: Dear—, by DéLana R.A. Dameron

Summary

Podcast Summary: [Encore] 995: "Dear—" by DéLana R.A. Dameron

Podcast Information

• Title: The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily
• Host/Author: American Public Media
• Description: Hosted by Major Jackson, The Slowdown offers a daily moment of pause through the sharing of poetry. Each short episode features a poem and a reflection, aiming to inspire, calm, and engage listeners with works from both emerging and established poets. Produced in partnership with The Poetry Foundation and supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, the podcast serves as a daily ritual for moments of introspection amid the hustle of daily life.

Episode Details

• Episode: [Encore] 995: "Dear—" by DéLana R.A. Dameron
• Release Date: May 8, 2025

---

Introduction and Context

At the outset of the episode, Major Jackson revisits one of his favorite episodes from his tenure on The Slowdown, setting the stage for a deeply personal and reflective exploration of the poem "Dear—" by DéLana R.A. Dameron.

Major Jackson shares a poignant personal anecdote to frame the poem:

“My friend handed me a basket of bread across the restaurant table. We hadn't seen each other in a year. I was thrilled to be in her company again. Being a decade and a half older, she was more like a big sister, a successful installation artist whose intellect and soulful spirit I cherished. I reached for slices of focaccia and noticed the sullen look on her face…” ([02:15])

This narrative establishes a foundation of personal connection and emotional depth, highlighting themes of loneliness and the complexities of human relationships.

Personal Reflection and Connection

Jackson delves deeper into his friend's emotional turmoil:

“I gently inquired. She broke and with a quivering voice said, I'm turning 50 and I am so alone…” ([01:30])

He recounts her struggles in a controlling relationship with a philosophy professor, emphasizing the psychological impact of such dynamics:

“His disapproval of her art projects sent her to the sofa for days, depressed and unworthy. One phone call from him released her from a state of misery.” ([03:05])

Through this story, Jackson draws parallels to his own experiences with regret and the challenges of ending tumultuous relationships:

“I once entered into a relationship that went longer than it should. I did not want to give up, as I felt previous partners had done with me.” ([04:45])

These reflections underscore the universal quest for love and companionship, often at the expense of personal well-being.

Presentation of the Poem: "Dear—" by DéLana R.A. Dameron

Major Jackson introduces the poem, setting expectations for its thematic resonance with loneliness and the longing for connection:

“Today's poem of rhyming couplet speaks a truth about loneliness. The wish for sustaining love and companionship motivates us to work through our differences, sometimes at the expense of our emotional health.” ([05:10])

"Dear—" is then read, encapsulating the raw emotions of loneliness and the yearning for meaningful relationships:

I have finally settled into some semblance of living.
Winter's just to come around the corner…
(Full poem recited from [05:35] to [06:30])

The poem delves into personal vulnerabilities, the struggle with isolation, and the delicate balance between self-reliance and the desire for interpersonal connections.

Conclusion and Reflection

In wrapping up, Jackson reflects on the poem's themes and his own understanding of loneliness:

“I think maybe time changes you or else loneliness. This life is like you taught me over the oven, sifting flour through a sieve to loosen it up...” ([06:00])

He connects the poem to broader life lessons about resilience and the continuous effort to overcome hard times:

“Well, I'm old enough to understand it better now we push and press past the hard times. What you showed me then has worked so far.” ([06:20])

Additional Content: Public Media Support

Micah, the lead producer of The Slowdown, briefly discusses the importance of supporting public media amidst financial challenges:

“If you want to protect your favorite public media podcasts like this one, visit americanpublicmedia.org/action to learn how you can help.” ([06:46])

This segment emphasizes the community's role in sustaining platforms that provide cultural and educational content.

---

Key Takeaways:

• Emotional Depth: The episode artfully intertwines personal anecdotes with poetic expression, offering listeners a profound exploration of loneliness and the human desire for connection.

• Relatability: Through Major Jackson's storytelling and the evocative poem "Dear—," the episode resonates with anyone grappling with similar emotional landscapes.

• Support for Arts: Highlighting partnerships with organizations like The Poetry Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the podcast underscores the collective effort to promote and sustain artistic endeavors.

Notable Quotes:

• Major Jackson: “I'm turning 50 and I am so alone.” ([01:30])
• DéLana R.A. Dameron in Poem: “Mama called, I answer. She asked around work, school, am I safe? She'd heard news about shootings. I'm fine, I say.” ([05:50])

Conclusion: This encore episode of The Slowdown serves as a compelling reminder of poetry's power to encapsulate and convey complex emotions. By blending personal narrative with literary artistry, Major Jackson invites listeners to reflect on their own experiences of loneliness and the enduring pursuit of meaningful relationships.

Transcript

[Narrator]

Introducing Instagram Teen Accounts. A new way to keep your teen safer as they grow. Like making sure they always have their seatbelt on.

[Parent]

All right, sweetie pie, buckle up. Good job.

[Narrator]

Or ring the bell on their bike.

[Parent]

Okay, kid, give it a try.

[Narrator]

Nice. Or remember their elbow pads.

[Parent]

Knees, too. Okay.

[Major Jackson]

Yep.

[Parent]

There you go.

[Narrator]

New Instagram Teen Accounts. Automatic protections for who can contact your teenage and the content they can see.

[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 Slowdown. My friend handed me a basket of bread across the restaurant table. We hadn't seen each other in a year. I was thrilled to be in her company again. Being a decade and a half older, she was more like a big sister, a successful installation artist whose intellect and soulful spirit I cherished. I reached for slices of focaccia and noticed the sullen look on her face. She seemed on the brink of tears. I gently inquired. She broke and with a quivering voice said, I'm turning 50 and I am so alone. It was a declaration that stilled my body and and paused my appetite. A glass of red in hand, she wiped her eyes and told me about her year with a philosophy professor. He dictated her clothes, commanded daily meals, planned their nightly entertainment and trips overseas. There wasn't room for negotiations. His disapproval of her art projects sent her to the sofa for days, depressed and unworthy. One phone call from him released her from a state of misery. The world reflected through his eyes was brighter. On one hand, she said it was freeing not to have to think about quotidian matters. But when she narrated her dilemma out loud to her friends, he sounded like a monster. They convinced her to abandon the relationship, and here she was six months later with me in a restaurant, full of remorse. I felt her pain. Having experienced similar regrets and dilemmas, I once entered into a relationship that went longer than it should. I did not want to give up, as I felt previous partners had done with me. Today's poem of rhyming couplet speaks a truth about loneliness. The wish for sustaining love and companionship motivates us to work through our differences, sometimes at the expense of our emotional health. Dear By Delana RA Dameron I have finally settled into some semblance of living. Winter's just to come around the corner. Fall apples ripen on the table windows shut. I fashioned seals to keep out drafts, but my old skylight rattles when wind sweeps through. The other night I slept without wake. No small victory. My man sleeps like a mountain, a felled tree. Mama called, I answer. She asked around work, school, am I safe? She'd heard news about shootings. I'm fine, I say. He doesn't stir. She once claimed I won't know love. I told her love is learning acceptance. Now I can sleep in my bed, which I bought, hoping to keep another body in. I think maybe time changes you or else loneliness. This life is like you taught me over the oven, sifting flour through a sieve to loosen it up, you'd say, or to free it, as if. Well, I'm old enough to understand it better now we push and press past the hard times. What you showed me then has worked so far. I quarrel, I make up. You'd say life goes till it doesn't. What is over there, though I imagine it's a constant going perennial leaves are gold codes growing more unbearable each day. A scarf wrapped around my neck won't keep me Days I'm trapped inside wishing for sun, for your bright voice Again these silences I want more than a pen. 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 @downdownshow.

[Micah]

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.