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The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · 4h

“Today’s poem tells a story about a tense encounter in the woods. I so admire how this poet unfolds the narrative then leaves me sighing deeply at the end," shares @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social in today’s episode.

Read "Six Hours Lost, Land Between the Lakes" by Kathleen Driskell: bit.ly/3KA11ii

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Reposted by The Slowdown

Andy Grace @andypgrace.bsky.social · 1d

Honored to be read in such a generous and thoughtful way by @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social for the @slowdownshow.org.
Thanks to Maggie and the Slowdown team!

The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · 1d

“The next time I’m asked if writing is therapy, I may just respond by reading today’s poem," shares host @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social in today’s episode.

Read "Do You Consider Writing to be Therapeutic?" by @andypgrace.bsky.social: bit.ly/42ZdKkR

graphic featuring a portion of Andrew Grace's poem

photograph of poet Andrew Grace, taken by Pat Cray

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The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · 1d

“The next time I’m asked if writing is therapy, I may just respond by reading today’s poem," shares host @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social in today’s episode.

Read "Do You Consider Writing to be Therapeutic?" by @andypgrace.bsky.social: bit.ly/42ZdKkR

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The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · 2d

"Today’s poem rejoices in something at the heart of this podcast: the pleasure of sharing our favorite poems with others, rather than reading them alone,” shares host @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social in today’s episode.

Read “Abundance" by Rick Barot: bit.ly/4nYHAOu

📖: @milkweededitions.bsky.social

graphic featuring a portion of Rick Barot's poem

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Reposted by The Slowdown

The Frost Place @thefrostplace.bsky.social · 3d

Our 2019 Dartmouth Poet-in-Residence @mattminicucci.bsky.social popped in earlier this week, and was just featured on @slowdownshow.org Read his poem “Nostalgia" here: bit.ly/3WiinTo

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The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · 5d

“Today’s poem beautifully captures the pain of distance, of longing, of wanting to be somewhere, or with someone, when you can’t be," shares host @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social in today’s episode.

Read “Nostalgia" by @mattminicucci.bsky.social: bit.ly/3WiinTo

📸: Ryan Maurer

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Reposted by The Slowdown

Grant Clauser @grantclauser.bsky.social · 9d

I will always pause for a good dog poem.

The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · 9d

“Today’s poem is by one of my favorite Kentucky writers, a fellow dog person,” shares host @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social in today’s episode.

Read “For You Who Have Loved Old Dogs" by @silashouse.bsky.social and our full episode transcript: bit.ly/4gHW4zT

📸: Carey Neal Gough
📖: Blair

Graphic featuring a portion of Silas House's poem

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The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · 6d

Same!

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The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · 6d

“Today’s poem is one you’re going to lose yourself in for these few minutes," shares host @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social in today’s episode. "I love getting a little bit lost."

Read “Noise Cancelling" by @madamesosostris.bsky.social and our full episode transcript: bit.ly/4gHyinP

graphic featuring a portion of Devon Walker-Figueroa's poem

photograph of poet Devon Walker-Figueroa

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The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · 7d

“Today’s poem speaks to me because, at its heart, is a deep curiosity about the world—a desire to know more and more," shares host @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social in today’s episode.

Read "Hiking Moraine State Park" by Violeta Garcia-Mendoza and our full episode transcript: bit.ly/3KGYeUo

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The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · 8d

“Today’s poem offers us images we often find in poetry: the ocean, the moon, dreams, a mother, a wound ... in such a profoundly original and moving way," host @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social shares in today’s episode.

Read "Notes on Beachgrass" by Yong-Yu Huang: bit.ly/4mMTiuQ

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The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · 9d

“Today’s poem is by one of my favorite Kentucky writers, a fellow dog person,” shares host @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social in today’s episode.

Read “For You Who Have Loved Old Dogs" by @silashouse.bsky.social and our full episode transcript: bit.ly/4gHW4zT

📸: Carey Neal Gough
📖: Blair

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The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · 12d

“I have zero chill when it comes to the natural world,” shares host @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social in today’s episode.

Read “Earth, Sometimes I Try to Play It Casual," by @catherinepierce.bsky.social and our full episode transcript: bit.ly/4gRpITy

📸: Becca Neufeld

graphic featuring a portion of Catherine Pierce's poem

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The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · 13d

“Today’s poem speaks to the challenge of staying in the present moment, and having gratitude for that moment,” shares host @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social in today’s episode.

Read “Wind, Blue Sky" by @susanaizenberg.bsky.social: bit.ly/42cYKj4

📸: Jeffrey Aizenberg

graphic featuring a portion of Susan Aizenberg's poem

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The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · 14d

"Today’s poem speaks to the ways we can care for one another, and of how profound and meaningful even the smallest gestures are,” shares host @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social in today’s episode.

Read “Lotioning My Mother’s Back” by Ama Codjoe: bit.ly/3KCwVKR

📖: @milkweededitions.bsky.social

Graphic featuring a portion of Ama Codjoe's poem "Lotioning My Mother's Back"

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The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · 15d

“Today’s poem considers how we regard ourselves—our physical selves. It’s a poem I love, a poem that I see a lot of beauty in,” shares host @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social in today’s episode.

Read “Parts of a Body House” by Erika Meitner: www.slowdownshow.org/episode/2025...

📸: B.A. Van Sise

A graphic featuring a portion of Erika Meitner's poem "Parts of a Body House"

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The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · 16d

“Today’s poem touched me because it made me think of my grandmother,” shares host @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social in today’s episode. “It made me think of her care, but also about the life she had after her marriage ended.”

Read “Country Night” by Laura Newbern: bit.ly/3K8meQl

graphic featuring a portion of Laura Newbern's poem entitled "Country Night"

a black and a white photograph of poet Laura Newbern

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The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · Aug 29

“Today’s poem acknowledges the beauty we have—the view we have. It also mourns the beauty that would exist without our interference. Holding space for both is a feat of empathy and imagination,” shares @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social.

Read “Lake” by @noahfalck.bsky.social‬: bit.ly/3ULVbMC

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The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · Aug 28

"But poetry can change our inner world. We need that change, one person at a time. We need to reclaim our humanity.”

Read “From the Sky” by Sara Abou Rashed: bit.ly/4oLE0IZ

1340: From the Sky by Sara Abou Rashed

Today’s poem is From the Sky by Sara Abou Rashed.

bit.ly

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The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · Aug 28

“When I think about ways to foster empathy, perspective, and care, one of those ways is poetry. I know poetry can’t stop bombs from falling, and it can’t feed the starving, and it can’t evacuate people to safety. I know this,” shares @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social in today’s episode.

excerpt from “From the Sky” by Sara Abou Rashed

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The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · Aug 27

“The “Choose Your Own Adventure” aspect of life is something on my mind a lot. I suspect it was on this poet’s mind, too,” shares @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social.

Read “Wind-Related Ripple in the Wheatfield” by Mikko Harvey: bit.ly/4mz1way

📸: Grace Sachi Troxell
📖: @houseofanansi.bsky.social

an excerpt from “Wind-Related Ripple in the Wheatfield” by Mikko Harvey

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The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · Aug 26

“Today’s poem looks at the anxiety and the absurdity of America: How many people seem fixated on the dangers outside our borders without acknowledging the dangers within,” shares @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social.

Read “Are you bringing fruits, plants, seeds,” by Karen Llagas: bit.ly/3VdzuVR

excerpt from “Are you bringing fruits, plants, seeds,” by Karen Llagas

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The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · Aug 25

“Today’s poem captures that feeling when you’ve just HAD it—you’ve absolutely hit your limit. But at the same time, you realize that you’re the only person who can pick yourself back up,” shares @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social in today’s episode.

Read “New York Address” by Linda Gregg: bit.ly/4mUVdxF

An excerpt from “New York Address” by Linda Gregg

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The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · Aug 22

“Today’s poem is a celebration of creatures we tend to overlook or even disdain. It invites us to reconsider our perspective,” shares @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social in today’s episode.

Read “I Find Myself Defending Pigeons” by Keith S. Wilson: bit.ly/45JUsRi

📖: @coppercanyonpress.bsky.social

An excerpt from “I Find Myself Defending Pigeons” by Keith S. Wilson

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The Slowdown @slowdownshow.org · Aug 21

“I think you’ll want to listen to this poem more than once, letting it lap at you like water, letting it rise around you like smoke from a beach bonfire, letting it sing to you like an aria,” shares @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social in today’s ep.

Read “Bonfire Opera” by Danusha Laméris: bit.ly/45owPyC

An excerpt from “Bonfire Opera” by Danusha Laméris

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