Hey there, it's Maggie.

For the next two weeks of episodes, the poet Samir Bashir will be guest hosting The Slowdown.

I hope you enjoy her selections and reflection.

I'll return on February 18th.

I'm Samia Bashir, and this is the slowdown.

It's Groundhog Day. The day we all wait on baited breath for sunrise to see if Punksitani Phil, our national meteorological groundhog has or has not seen his shadow upon his emergence

from his winter's hibernation.

There's a lot riding on the tuxedo and top hat wearing near-sided rodent, an entire season's joy or misery.

The tradition brought to us by the Pennsylvania Dutch is linked with candle moss, which commemorates the presentation of Christ at Temple.

In 19th century Pennsylvania, the Germans replaced their Christ representing bear with a groundhog,

whose shadow symbolizes the suffering or darkness which grace and light can overcome.

For our current 21st century moment, I'd like to interject a young black poet.

February 1st is also known as National Freedom Day, to honor the day in 1865

that President Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment into law, abolishing slavery nationwide.

There is something to be said about our strongly held veneration for freedom, freedom not only

of movement, but of living and choosing our own paths.

I've chosen the path of teaching creative writing, especially poetry, for more decades now than I

like to count. I've picked up a habit, the sharing of today's poem in the first or last

meeting of a new class. This poem makes a promise of its title,

dresses it in flesh and bone,

and tracks it across time.

It's a clear, bold promise

...