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I'm Major Jackson and this is the slowdown. At a young age, through a series of circuitous events, I inherited the role of organizing a long-standing esteemed reading series in Philadelphia.

I became the literary curator of the Painted Bride Arts Center.

Fancy title aside. The work brought me into a lifelong passion of

reading and of discovering and presenting poets from all and Philip Levine.

Just before reading her.

One of my earliest and most embracing events was pairing the poets Marie Howe and Philip Levine. Just before reading her stunning poems from

what the living do, Marie said, Welcome Major to the great family of poets.

Since those days, I've focused myself on what it means

to build and grow that family,

how others can be invited and welcomed.

Today's poem honors the immense feelings of connection, art, and poetry offer us.

It notes what care is possible. art and co-creats are the art of us when we listen to each other

and co-create a world where decency and regard

are the order of the day.

A toast by Axana Zabushko, translated by Marco Saranik.

I drink to the only Brotherhood I know.

To an itinerant theater to a village band on a country road. To poets reading to each other in a room with drawn curtains, to the artist

studios on Andreikski Usviz. I drink to you my Poisent Blood Brothers and especially to you

...