The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily 1401: LeaveTaking by Rita Dove
Nov 21, 2025
Dive into a dreamlike poem about feeling like an outsider on Earth. Explore the themes of otherness and belonging as the narrator navigates a world of humans while grappling with homesickness. The tension between hiding one's true nature and longing to be seen adds a rich layer of emotional depth. Witness a moment of connection as a child notices the narrator, leaving you pondering the complexities of identity and acceptance. A profound reflection on what it means to belong.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Language Shapes Otherness
- The word "alien" bundles meanings that all imply otherness and exclusion.
- Maggie Smith observes language itself frames outsiders as unwelcome, shaping bias against difference.
Familiarity Bias Drives Assimilation
- Humans exhibit a familiarity bias that often leads to rejecting difference.
- Maggie Smith links that bias to why newcomers try to assimilate to avoid exclusion.
Poem As Belonging Dream
- Maggie Smith frames the poem as a dream about being an alien trying to be seen as belonging to stay.
- This framing casts the poem's scene as exploration of belonging, not literal extraterrestrial experience.