The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily 1395: The Night Angler by Geffrey Davis
Nov 13, 2025
In a touching reflection, Maggie delves into the significance of names and how they shape our identities. She shares the intimate bond of motherhood, emphasizing the mutual influence parents and children have on each other. The highlight is a reading of Geffrey Davis's poem, exploring complex themes of father-son relationships, estrangement, and the possibility of renewal. This thoughtful discourse resonates with anyone who has navigated the evolving ties of family.
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Names Shape Identity And Relationship
- Names and terms of endearment shape identity and belonging in daily life.
- Maggie Smith reflects that parenting renames you and mutually reshapes parent and child.
Motherhood Renames And Recreates
- Maggie Smith shares that she calls her daughter Cissa and is most often called Mom.
- She says her children made her a mother and that they have mutually birthed and shaped each other.
Poem About Repair And New Beginnings
- The poem centers on fathers, sons, estrangement, and the possibility of starting anew.
- Maggie suggests it also explores giving children what they need despite what parents received.
