Sign In•Sign Up
The Slowdown-logo

The Slowdown

American Public Media

Every weekday, Tracy K. Smith delivers a different way to see the world – through poetry. Produced in partnership with the Poetry Foundation.

Every weekday, Tracy K. Smith delivers a different way to see the world – through poetry. Produced in partnership with the Poetry Foundation.

Location:

United States

Description:

Every weekday, Tracy K. Smith delivers a different way to see the world – through poetry. Produced in partnership with the Poetry Foundation.

Language:

English

Episodes

400: [They will tell you that I was sick, that I was a drug addict.]

6/5/2020
Today's poem is [They will tell you that I was sick, that I was a drug addict.] by Dawn Lundy Martin. This episode originally aired on November 6, 2019.

Duration:00:04:59

399: supply and demand

6/4/2020
Today's poem is supply and demand by Evie Shockley. This episode originally aired on February 18, 2019.

Duration:00:04:59

A message from Tracy

6/1/2020
For the remainder of this week, we’ve chosen to replay episodes that take up questions of social justice. The outrage and heartbreak brought on by the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and other black citizens remind us that courageous dialogue about racial prejudice is critical to the survival of our culture. And we believe that poetry is a perfect vehicle for just such dialogue. -Tracy K. Smith

Duration:00:00:31

396: December

6/1/2020
Today's poem is December by Cecily Parks.

Duration:00:04:59

395: Characters

5/29/2020
Today's poem is Characters by Garous Abdolmalekian.

Duration:00:04:59

394: Blackbird Étude

5/28/2020
Today's poem is Blackbird Étude by A.E. Stallings.

Duration:00:04:59

393: Song In Which We Yet Sidestep Disaster

5/27/2020
Today's poem is Song In Which We Yet Sidestep Disaster by Tess Taylor.

Duration:00:04:59

392: Here

5/26/2020
Today's episode is Here by Grace Paley.

Duration:00:04:59

391: Trying to See Auras at the Airport

5/25/2020
Today's poem is Trying to See Auras at the Airport by Angela C. Trudell Vazquez.

Duration:00:04:59

390: Cascades 501

5/22/2020
Today's poem is Cascades 501 by Rick Barot.

Duration:00:04:59

389: Kissing the Opelu

5/21/2020
Today's poem is Kissing the Opelu by Donovan Kūhiō Colleps.

Duration:00:04:59

388: Once In A Lifetime, Snow

5/20/2020
Today's poem is Once In A Lifetime, Snow by Les Murray.

Duration:00:04:59

387: Stop Looking At My Last Name Like That

5/19/2020
Today's poem is Stop Looking At My Last Name Like That by Michael Torres.

Duration:00:04:59

386: Someday I'll Love Ocean Vuong

5/18/2020
Today's poem is Someday I'll Love Ocean Vuong by Ocean Vuong

Duration:00:04:59

385: American Mother

5/15/2020
Today's poem is American Mother by Pamela Hart.

Duration:00:05:53

384: And We Love Life

5/14/2020
Today's poem is And We Love Life by Mahmoud Darwish.

Duration:00:04:59

383: A Beautiful Child

5/13/2020
Today's poem is A Beautiful Child by Omar Sakr.

Duration:00:04:59

382: Another Night at Sea Level

5/12/2020
Today's poem is Another Night at Sea Level by Meg Day.

Duration:00:04:59

381: excerpt from 13th Balloon

5/11/2020
Today's poem is an excerpt from 13th Balloon by Mark Bibbins.

Duration:00:04:59

380: When Your Mother Asks If You're Seeing Anyone And No Longer Means A Therapist

5/8/2020
Today's poem When Your Mother Asks If You're Seeing Anyone And No Longer Means A Therapist by Cindy King.

Duration:00:05:53

See More