Audio Poem of the Day Misgivings
Jan 6, 2026
William Matthews, an acclaimed American poet known for his insightful reflections, reads his poem 'Misgivings.' He meditates on love's durability, likening affection to a city with concerns about aging. The poet candidly expresses fears of change and loss, sharing vivid images of plans warping and the potential for self-harm. He contrasts the wisdom gained from experience with the painful solitude that often accompanies caution in relationships. The episode wraps up with a warm invitation to savor shared moments over food.
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Beloved As Ever-Changing Landscape
- William Matthews reflects that a beloved person can feel like a city or park that constantly reveals new light and weather.
- He recognizes deep fears that plans and landscapes can be altered or eroded beyond control.
Nature's Resilience Versus Human Fear
- Matthews contrasts natural resilience with human fear, noting soil doesn't tire of rain while people fear change.
- He frames those fears around disrupted plans, exploding plains, and topsoil peeled away by floods.
Loss From Forces Both Natural And Human
- The poem lists concrete ways stability fails: warped plans, exploded plains, and eroded topsoil.
- These images emphasize that loss comes from both uncontrollable disasters and our own actions.