Amanda Holmes reads Leonardo Sinisgalli’s poem, “Elderly Tears,” both in the original Italian and in her own translation.Have a suggestion for a poem? Email us: podcast@theamericanscholar.org. If we select your entry, you’ll win a copy of a poetry collection edited by David Lehman.
Pianto antico
by Leonardo Sinisgalli
I vecchi hanno il pianto facile.
In pieno meriggio
in un nascondiglio della casa vuota
scoppiano in lacrime seduti.
Li coglie di sorpresa
una disperazione infinita.
Portano alle labbra uno spicchio
secco di pera, la polpa
di un fico cotto sulle tegole.
Anche un sorso d'acqua
può spegnere una crisi
e la visita di una lumachina.
Elderly Tears
translated by Amanda Holmes
The old find crying easy.
In broad daylight
in a hidden corner of the empty house
they break into tears
caught by the surprise
of infinite despair.
They bring to their lips
a sliver of dried pear
the pulp of a fig cooked on tiles.
Even a sip of water
can quench a crisis as can
the visit of a little snail.
This episode was produced by Stephanie Bastek and features the song “Canvasback” by Chad Crouch.
Today's Rapid Response Friday takes a look at the recent Trump Administration memorandum "clarifying" the rules on military citizenship for children born to U.S. employees -- largely, those in the armed forces -- serving overseas. Is it as bad as you've heard? (Yes.) Is it actually worse than that? (Yes.)
First, though, we continue to revisit the apportionment question discussed in Episode 307. Have we finally crowdsourced a solution? The answer may surprise you!
After that, it's time for a deep dive into the latest policy manual update from the department of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services "clarifying" that servicemembers living overseas don't actually count as "living in the United States." Will this cause Trump-supporting military members to vote for Elizabeth Warren in 2020? (No.) Should it? (Yes.) Is it way, way worse than you could possibly imagine? Oh yes.
After that, it's time for a very brief Andrew Was Wrong (the best kind!).
Then, it's time for an all-new Thomas Takes the Bar Exam, in which we have... something approaching "Don't Take Legal Advice From A Podcast" Law? You won't want to miss this question involving a disgruntled landlord and a put-upon law student. Can Thomas break his losing streak? Listen and find out!
Appearances
None! If you’d like to have either of us as a guest on your show, drop us an email at openarguments@gmail.com.
Show Notes & Links
We first covered the potential apportionment crisis in Episode 307.
On The Gist, this week in the news, truth is stranger than science fiction.
In the interview, guest host Seth Stevenson talks to the executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. And it turns out that when you’re a citizen for responsibility and ethics, as Noah Bookbinder is, you see plenty going wrong in Washington.
In the Spiel, Greta Thunberg’s cross-Atlantic trip was an exercise in inconvenience.
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Want to see a special episode of The Gist live in New York? Get your tickets here!
Alyssa Mastromonaco and Jon L. discuss reports that Trump has promised pardons if aides break the law to build his border wall, the winnowing of the Democratic presidential field, and a new Senate seat opening in Georgia. Then, Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley joins to discuss the House, the Squad, and the fight for gun control and policies rooted in empathy.
After Joseph Morales, an electrician from Chicago, moved to Emeryville this past winter, he found himself wondering: What’s with all the palm trees in the Bay Area? Like Joseph, they didn’t originate here. But they’re all over the place.
Not that Joseph minds.
“They remind me of vacation,” he says, “having a good time with a cold drink and sitting under a palm tree.” Then again: “Northern California doesn’t really seem to be the ideal location for palm trees. I’m expecting hot weather and sun and beaches. And there’s just palm trees and mountains and cold water. So it just seemed weird.”
Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Maggie Galloway, Robert Speight, Katie McMurran, Paul Lancour and Ryan Levi. Additional support from Julie Caine, Suzie Racho, Ethan Lindsey, Pat Yollin and David Weir.
A computer processor made of carbon nanotubes is unveiled to the world. Also, the continuing quest for nuclear fusion energy, and the stats on crocodile attacks since the 1960s.
(The world's first 16 bit microprocessor made of carbon nanotubes. Credit: Max Shulaker)
In the latest installment of The Movie That Made Me, Lesle Honore of the KLEO Community Family Life Center talks about her attachment to, and struggles with, the classic film Gone With the Wind.
Plus A.D. Quig of Crains’ takes a stab at what Mayor Lightfoot will say tonight at her first State of the City address. The speech airs at 6pm here on WBEZ.