The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily
by American Public Media
1602: No Guarantees by Kelly Grace Thomas
About this podcast
Host Maggie Smith is your daily poetry companion. Poetry is one of the greatest tools we have to wield our own attention — to consider our own lives and the lives of others, to help us live creatively and compassionately, to use that attention to lean into wonder, and joy, and truth, and to find hope — to keep hoping. The Slowdown community knows that reflecting on a poem, every weekday, can connect us to our inner world and the world around us. Listen as you make your morning coffee, as you go on a walk in your neighborhood, as you pull away from the to-do list, as you resist the dismal, endless scroll to share five minutes of perspective through the lens of poetry, from poets old and new, well-loved and emerging onto the scene. Brought to you by American Public Media, in partnership with the Poetry Foundation.
Episodes
The newest 50 of 399 episodes
- 1602: No Guarantees by Kelly Grace Thomas · 6 minToday’s poem is No Guarantees by Kelly Grace Thomas. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Something I think about more and more as I age…
- 1601: Girls Overheard While Assembling a Puzzle by Mary Szybist · 5 minToday’s poem is Girls Overheard While Assembling a Puzzle by Mary Szybist. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem eavesdrops on…
- 1600: The Thing Is by Ellen Bass · 6 minToday’s poem is The Thing Is by Ellen Bass. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem is one that I seek out, and one that I’m…
- 1599: Heading Out to Sea by José A. Alcántara · 6 minToday’s poem is Heading Out to Sea by José A. Alcántara. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “The truth is, all bodies are imperfect. But…
- 1598: Advice to a Monolith by Talley V. Kayser · 6 minToday’s poem is Advice to a Monolith by Talley V. Kayser. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Landscape is psychological. It impacts how…
- 1597: On Children by Kahlil Gibran · 6 minToday’s poem is On Children by Kahlil Gibran. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “I’ve always believed my son and daughter came through…
- 1596: Hares by Angela Ball · 6 minToday’s poem is Hares by Angela Ball. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Sometimes I read or listen to a poem, and I’m absolutely charmed…
- 1595: My Shark by Ellie Black · 5 minToday’s poem is My Shark by Ellie Black. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Writing is a process of discovery. When I’m working on a poem…
- 1594: The Grass Could Be Yours by Emily Lee Luan · 6 minToday’s poem is The Grass Could Be Yours by Emily Lee Luan. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Feeling at home somewhere new is surreal…
- 1593: Halloween in the Anthropocene by Karyna McGlynn · 5 minToday’s poem is Halloween in the Anthropocene by Karyna McGlynn. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Now that we’re past Halloween, I can…
- 1386: [encore] Night of the Living, Night of the Dead by Kim Addonizio · 7 minToday’s poem is Night of the Living, Night of the Dead by Kim Addonizio. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “It might surprise you to know…
- 1363: [encore] Notes on Beachgrass by Yong-Yu Huang · 6 minToday’s poem is Notes on Beachgrass by Yong-Yu Huang. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem offers us images we often find in…
- 1360: [encore] Wind, Blue Sky by Susan Aizenberg · 6 minToday’s poem is Wind, Blue Sky by Susan Aizenberg. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem speaks to the challenge of staying in…
- 1354: [encore] Checkout by Caroline Bird · 6 minToday’s poem is Checkout by Caroline Bird. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “I’m willing to bet that no one on their death bed says, “I…
- 1352: [encore] Blue by Jodie Hollander · 6 minToday’s poem is Blue by Jodie Hollander. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem speaks to how we all see the world—and our…
- 1351: [encore] The Happy Middle by Hedgie Choi · 7 minToday’s poem is The Happy Middle by Hedgie Choi. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem walloped me with its authentic…
- 1350: [encore] Real Estate by Richard Siken · 6 minToday’s poem is Real Estate by Richard Siken. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem unpacks some of what happens when families…
- 1349: [encore] Sati by Vandana Khanna · 6 minToday’s poem is Sati by Vandana Khanna. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem is a persona poem from the point of view of a…
- 1345: [encore] Arrangements by Adrienne Chung · 6 minToday’s poem is Arrangements by Adrienne Chung. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem speaks to the things we are drawn to, and…
- 1344: [encore] Cento Between the Ending and the End by Cameron Awkward-Rich · 6 minToday’s poem is Cento Between the Ending and the End by Cameron Awkward-Rich. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “In times that feel…
- Alynda Segarra: Holes by Eileen Myles (Extended Version) · 13 minToday’s poem is Holes by Eileen Myles, with special guest Alynda Segarra of Hurray for the Riff Raff. Alynda Segarra is a singer-songwriter and frontperson of the band Hurray…
- Alynda Segarra: Holes by Eileen Myles · 8 minToday’s poem is Holes by Eileen Myles, with special guest Alynda Segarra of Hurray for the Riff Raff. Alynda Segarra is a singer-songwriter and frontperson of the band Hurray…
- 1342: [encore] And Then It Was Less Bleak Because We Said So by Wendy Xu · 6 minToday’s poem is And Then It Was Less Bleak Because We Said So by Wendy Xu. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “When the world is on fire…
- 1339: [encore] Wind-Related Ripple in the Wheatfield by Mikko Harvey · 6 minToday’s poem is Wind-Related Ripple in the Wheatfield by Mikko Harvey. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Who might I have been—or with…
- 1338: [encore] Are you bringing fruits, plants, seeds, by Karen Llagas · 6 minToday’s poem is Are you bringing fruits, plants, seeds, by Karen Llagas. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem looks at the…
- R.K. Russell: They/Them by Danez Smith (Extended Version) · 17 minToday’s poem is They/Them by Danez Smith, with special guest R.K. Russell. R.K. Russell is an NFL legend, writer, and social justice advocate who made history by becoming the…
- R.K. Russell: They/Them by Danez Smith · 7 minToday’s poem is They/Them by Danez Smith, with special guest R.K. Russell. R.K. Russell is an NFL legend, writer, and social justice advocate who made history by becoming the…
- 1337: [encore] New York Address by Linda Gregg · 6 minToday’s poem is New York Address by Linda Gregg. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this encore episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem captures that feeling when you’ve…
- 1335: [encore] Bonfire Opera by Danusha Laméris · 6 minToday’s poem is Bonfire Opera by Danusha Laméris. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this encore episode, Maggie writes… “Yes, I have new lines around my eyes and new…
- 1334: [encore] Étude by Amy Gerstler · 6 minToday’s poem is Étude by Amy Gerstler. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this encore episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem is a celebration of sound, and also a…
- David Duchovny: Dream Song 1 by John Berryman (Extended Version) · 9 minToday’s poem is Dream Song 1 by John Berryman, with special guest David Duchovny. You know him from his breakout role as Fox Mulder on The X-Files, as well as appearances on…
- David Duchovny: Dream Song 1 by John Berryman · 7 minToday’s poem is Dream Song 1 by John Berryman, with special guest David Duchovny. You know him from his breakout role as Fox Mulder on The X-Files, as well as appearances on…
- 1333: [encore] Crossing the Line by E. Ethelbert Miller · 5 minToday’s poem is Crossing the Line by E. Ethelbert Miller. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem reads to me like a love poem, a…
- 1430: [encore] Earth Shovel by Dan Albergotti · 7 minToday’s poem is Earth Shovel by Dan Albergotti. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “Today’s poem, which looks at the fragility of our…
- 1359: [encore] Lotioning My Mother’s Back by Ama Codjoe · 6 minToday’s poem is Lotioning My Mother’s Back by Ama Codjoe. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes… “The world feels like a hard place right…
- [encore] 1501: at the baggage claim in JFK by Lo Naylor · 7 minToday’s poem is at the baggage claim in JFK by Lo Naylor. This episode was originally released on April 24, 2026. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode…
- [encore] 1445: Hackberry by Cecily Parks · 6 minToday’s poem is Hackberry by Cecily Parks. This episode was originally released on January 29, 2026. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes……
- [encore] 1568: Panegyric by Leila Farjami · 7 minToday’s poem is Panegyric by Leila Farjami. This episode was originally released on July 28, 2026. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes……
- [encore] 1507: How to Dress a Star by Nicholas Goodly · 6 minToday’s poem is How to Dress a Star by Nicholas Goodly. This episode was originally released on May 4, 2026. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie…
- [encore] 1347: Animal Prudence by Kathy Fagan · 6 minToday’s poem is Animal Prudence by Kathy Fagan. This episode was originally released on September 8, 2025. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie…
- [encore] 1336: I Find Myself Defending Pigeons by Keith S. Wilson · 7 minToday’s poem is I Find Myself Defending Pigeons by Keith S. Wilson. This episode was originally released on August 22, 2025. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this…
- [encore] 1369: Six Hours Lost, Land Between the Lakes by Kathleen Driskell · 6 minToday’s poem is Six Hours Lost, Land Between the Lakes by Kathleen Driskell. This episode was originally released on October 8, 2025. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual…
- [encore] 1520: The New City by Hieu Minh Nguyen · 6 minToday’s poem is The New City by Hieu Minh Nguyen. This episode was originally released on May 21, 2026. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode, Maggie writes……
- [encore] 1412: Ledge (ars poetica) (love poem) (true story) by Amorak Huey · 6 minToday’s poem is Ledge (ars poetica) (love poem) (true story) by Amorak Huey. This episode was originally released on December 15, 2025. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual…
- [encore] 1427: A toast to something beautiful flapping in the wind by J. Hope Stein · 6 minToday’s poem is A toast to something beautiful flapping in the wind by J. Hope Stein. This episode was originally released on January 5, 2026. The Slowdown is your daily poetry…
- [encore] 1491: The Plum You're Going to Eat Next Summer by Gayle Brandeis · 6 minToday’s poem is The Plum You're Going to Eat Next Summer by Gayle Brandeis. This episode was originally released on April 10, 2026. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In…
- [encore] 1358: Parts of a Body House by Erika Meitner · 6 minToday’s poem is Parts of a Body House by Erika Meitner. This episode was originally released on September 23, 2025. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode…
- [encore] 1478: If Night You Were a City by Adam Wiedewitsch · 6 minToday’s poem is If Night You Were a City by Adam Wiedewitsch. This episode was originally released on March 17, 2026. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this episode…
- [encore] 1362: For You Who Have Loved Old Dogs by Silas House · 6 minToday’s poem is For You Who Have Loved Old Dogs by Silas House. This episode was originally released on September 29, 2025. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this…
- [encore] 1373: Protection Spell Jar by Cynthia Marie Hoffman · 6 minToday’s poem is Protection Spell Jar by Cynthia Marie Hoffman. This episode was originally released on October 14, 2025. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual. In this encore…







