The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily 1447: Gratitude by Cornelius Eady
Feb 2, 2026
Samiya Bashir, poet and educator, reads and reflects on Cornelius Eady’s poem 'Gratitude' and places it in cultural and historical context. She frames the poem as a promise made flesh. Short reflections explore the poem’s voice, the speaker’s claims, and how gratitude travels across time.
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Poem As Future-Shaping Promise
- Samiya Bashir frames Cornelius Eady's poem as a promise of gratitude that extends beyond the speaker to change the future.
- She highlights the poem's ability to embody gratitude in flesh and track it across time.
Claiming Identity On The Street
- Cornelius Eady's speaker claims identity and place: a 36-year-old Black American poet walking New York streets and claiming his story.
- The poem repeats observations and remembers, making personal history both public and ritualized.
Gratitude For Teachers And Small Escapes
- The speaker recounts classroom encounters and parental expectations as markers of survival and small triumphs.
- He credits teachers, parents, and narrow escapes for shaping his grateful perspective.