[encore] 463: To be of use by Marge Piercy

The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

American Public Media

Arts, Performing Arts

4.8 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 27 June 2025

⏱️ 9 minutes

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Summary

Today’s poem is To be of use by Marge Piercy.

The Slowdown is currently taking a break. We’ll be back soon with new episodes from a new host. This week, we’re going back into the archive to revisit Tracy K. Smith’s time as host. Today’s episode was originally released on September 2, 2020.

In this episode, Tracy writes… “I am alive in 21st Century America. I have a voice. Let it serve as a corrective to the violent and reckless power that stands against the force of love.”

Celebrate the power of poems with a gift to The Slowdown today. Every donation makes a difference: https://tinyurl.com/rjm4synp

Transcript

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1:33.0	Hi, it's Major. The slowdown is on a break right now, but we'll be back soon with a new host.
1:39.7	In the meantime, we're bringing you some of the best episodes from our archives. Today, we revisit an
1:46.7	episode from Tracy K. Smith's time at the helm. Enjoy. I'm Tracy K. Smith, and this is The Slowdown.
2:10.5	I was reminded recently of the words of professional tennis player Arthur Ash.
2:17.4	Start where you are. use what you have, do what you can.
2:25.2	It's a perfect mantra for those of us who want to do good at this perilous moment in the world
2:31.7	because it nullifies the impulse to put things off or otherwise
2:37.7	shy from action. It insists that right now you do have what it takes to be of use, and it underscores
	...

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