{"type":"doc","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"","type":"text"}]}]}

To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.


This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Raising poetry to a more visible and influential position in American culture.


Produced in partnership with the Poetry Foundation

The award recognizes an exceptional contribution to American poetry.


Major Jackson wins inaugural Patricia Cannon Willis Prize for American Poetry

Announcements

1317: Grinning in Sardinia by Tomás Q. Morín

Today’s poem is Grinning in Sardinia by Tomás Q. Morín.


Today’s poem is Grinning in Sardinia by Tomás Q. Morín.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Major writes… “Writing is mining. That’s what I tell students or anyone that aspires to give expression to their lives. It’s probably why the Greek goddess of memory, Mnemosyne, is credited with inventing language. So much of writing is digging into the past, is going in further to find words that shape our understanding of the irrational before we lose hold.” 
Celebrate the power of poems with a gift to The Slowdown today. Every donation makes a difference: https://tinyurl.com/rjm4synp

The Slowdown

1316: Portrait of My Mother Studying for Her Citizenship Exam by Eduardo Martínez-Leyva

Today’s poem is Portrait of My Mother Studying for Her Citizenship Exam by Eduardo Martínez-Leyva. 


Today’s poem is Portrait of My Mother Studying for Her Citizenship Exam by Eduardo Martínez-Leyva.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Major writes… “With watery eyes, Mrs. Kumar shared the feelings of being in a room full of people with different histories and cultures, all raising their hands together, in unison, giving voice to a shared belief in the freedoms espoused by their new country. Her story is but one of many. Today’s poem tells another story of a path to citizenship. Such stories deepen my appreciation for the principle of ‘We, the people.’” 
Celebrate the power of poems with a gift to The Slowdown today. Every donation makes a difference: https://tinyurl.com/rjm4synp

encore [1224]: Here We Are by Lauren K. Watel

Today’s poem is Here We Are by Lauren K. Watel.


Our episode today is one of many from the archives. We’ll be back tomorrow with more new poetry and reflection! Today’s poem is Here We Are by Lauren K. Watel.
The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Major writes… “Today’s poem begins from the idea that we yearn for connection and healing, but that our conflicts feel irreconcilable — to the point that we do not trust a future free of our trauma, grief, and suffering.” 
Celebrate the power of poems with a gift to The Slowdown today. Every donation makes a difference: https://tinyurl.com/rjm4synp

The Slowdown

Latest Episode

Recent Episodes

1317: Grinning in Sardinia by Tomás Q. Morín

1316: Portrait of My Mother Studying for Her Citizenship Exam by Eduardo Martínez-Leyva

encore [1224]: Here We Are by Lauren K. Watel

Announcements

This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Produced in partnership with the Poetry Foundation

Major Jackson wins inaugural Patricia Cannon Willis Prize for American Poetry

Other APM Podcasts

Truth Be Told

Ripple

The Splendid Table

The Slowdown

Latest Episode

Recent Episodes

1317: Grinning in Sardinia by Tomás Q. Morín

1316: Portrait of My Mother Studying for Her Citizenship Exam by Eduardo Martínez-Leyva

encore [1224]: Here We Are by Lauren K. Watel

Get a poem handpicked by Major Jackson every weekday. The email includes an abridged version of Major’s introduction.

Announcements

This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Produced in partnership with the Poetry Foundation

Major Jackson wins inaugural Patricia Cannon Willis Prize for American Poetry

Other APM Podcasts

Truth Be Told

Ripple

The Splendid Table