The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily 1411: Amalgam by Rebecca Foust
Dec 5, 2025
Explore the fascinating world of metaphors and analogies in everyday conversations. The host shares a humorous insight about how even kids notice poetic expressions. A personal tale likens trust to Lucy pulling the football from Charlie Brown, showcasing the vulnerabilities in relationships. The centerpiece is a reading of Rebecca Foust's poem 'Amalgam,' which delves into the imagery of a lifelong dental filling, raising questions about consequences and memories. Dive into the beauty of language and its power to connect.
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Metaphor As Everyday Clarifier
- People naturally use metaphors and analogies to make experiences click for others.
- Maggie Smith shows that comparison helps understanding even when it's a bit silly.
Charlie Brown And Broken Trust
- Maggie Smith compares repeated trust breaches to Lucy pulling away the football from Charlie Brown.
- She admits feeling both hurt and embarrassed for expecting different results.
A Lifetime With An Amalgam Filling
- Rebecca Foust's poem narrator recounts getting an amalgam dental filling and living with it for forty-six years.
- The removal reveals the filling welded to bone, exchanging one kind of pain for another and leaving metal still inside.