Hi, it's Major.

As I close my time as host of The Slowdown,

I'm grateful for the opportunity I've had to share poetry with you these past few years.

The Slowdown has a deep store of episodes,

and for the next few months, we're reaching into the archive to bring you some of our favorites.

Here's one for my time on the show.

I'm Major Jackson, and this is The Slowdown.

Music So get this.

I'm walking down 2nd Avenue approaching St. Mark's Place in New York City.

It's a bright sunny day made even brighter by the Flamenco costume couple up ahead.

They seem to be rushing to a rehearsal.

But out of nowhere, she stops, breaking their joint strides, and says, here, then drops her portable parquet flooring.

In an instant, they are in a full-on performance. then drops her portable parquet flooring.

In an instant, they are in a full-on performance,

he fingering the frets of a classical guitar,

moving deep into a song full of moans,

and she clapping and circling her impromptu stage like a matador studying a ball.

The clapping comes lightning fast, until she steps up and stomps into a patterned rhythm right where her hands left off.

When she fans her fingers sinuously above her head, then dramatically snaps the ruffles of her dress.

It is a public spectacle of such passion.

A red wave of energy ripples through those of us encircling them.

I was mesmerized.

...