1361: Earth, Sometimes I Try to Play It Casual, by Catherine Pierce

The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

American Public Media

Arts, Performing Arts

4.8 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 26 September 2025

⏱️ 8 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today’s poem is Earth, Sometimes I Try to Play It Casual, by Catherine Pierce. The Slowdown is your daily poetry ritual.

In this episode, Maggie writes… “I have zero chill when it comes to the natural world. My son and daughter would probably tell you I’m like a little kid: I gasp audibly at the clouds, the moon, the light coming through the leaves of trees. I shout “hawk!” when I see one on a walk or in the car. I take videos of hummingbirds in my neighbor’s mimosa tree and text them to people I care about. I call the albino squirrels in my neighborhood by name: Sugar (rest in peace), Flour, and Cloud. I’m delighted by what I see and hear and experience, and I don’t try to hide or downplay that delight. Why play it cool?”

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Transcript

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1:05.6	I'm Maggie Smith and this is the slowdown.
1:19.6	Thank you. Smith, and this is The Slowdown. I have zero chill when it comes to the natural world.
1:24.9	My son and daughter would probably tell you I'm like a little kid. I gasp audibly
1:31.1	at the clouds, the moon, the light coming through the leaves of trees. I shout hawk when I see one
1:40.2	on a walk or in the car. I take videos of hummingbirds in my neighbor's mimosa tree and text them to
1:48.5	people I care about. I call the albino squirrels in my neighborhood by name, sugar, rest in peace,
1:58.3	flower, and cloud. I'm delighted by what I see and hear and experience, and I don't try to
2:07.6	hide or downplay that delight. Why play it cool? If you follow me on social media, it won't surprise you to know that I probably have more photos on my phone of clouds than of people in my life.
2:25.9	I always book window seats on planes for this reason to marvel at the view.
2:33.0	Why would I give that up for the convenience of the aisle?
2:38.5	You might know that I'm a card-carrying member of the Cloud Appreciation Society.
2:45.7	In my mind, I'm also an unofficial member of the Hawk Appreciation Society, the Moon Appreciation Society,
	...

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