TRANSCRIPT

I’m Major Jackson, and this is The Slowdown.

Last week, our team attended the 2025 AWP Conference in Los Angeles. AWP is the Association of Writers and Writing Programs — the conference is an annual moment to gather together colleagues across the writing world. This week’s episodes include audio we recorded onsite, bringing together many voices, Slowdown style. 

Most of us make choices all day. What to eat, what to watch, who to love, where to put our money. In our digital age, many feel exhausted by the wealth of choices. What do we do with all of this freedom? And is it real freedom?

Today’s poem explores our subjectivity, exposing the beauty and the ridiculousness in our impermanence.

[as freedom is a breakfastfood]
by E.E. Cummings

as freedom is a breakfastfood
or truth can live with right and wrong
or molehills are from mountains made
—long enough and just so long
will being pay the rent of seem
and genius please the talentgang
and water most encourage flame

as hatracks into peachtrees grow
or hopes dance best on bald men’s hair
and every finger is a toe
and any courage is a fear
—long enough and just so long
will the impure think all things pure
and hornets wail by children stung

or as the seeing are the blind
and robins never welcome spring
nor flatfolk prove their world is round
nor dingsters die at break of dong
and common’s rare and millstones float
—long enough and just so long
tomorrow will not be too late

worms are the words but joy’s the voice
down shall go which and up come who
breasts will be breasts thighs will be thighs
deeds cannot dream what dreams can do
—time is a tree(this life one leaf)
but love is the sky and i am for you
just so long and long enough

"[as freedom is a breakfastfood]" by E.E. Cummings from COMPLETE POEMS: 1904-1962 by E. E. Cummings, edited by George J. Firmage, copyright © 1958, 1986, 1991 by the Trustees for the E. E. Cummings Trust. Used by permission of Liveright Publishing Corporation.