Love Poem for Public Radio

Love Poem for Public Radio

A veces* I get stuck

in my car
Nothing mechanical―
melodious, actually
I’m being seduced

by the voices I’ve grown to love
like Kai Risdal
Melissa Block and Meshelle Norris
Steve Inskeep and
Terri Gross with “Fresh Air!” ♦

I’m not sure how to spell their names
I’ve never seen them in print
or watched the faces of the ones
fueling this love affair
binding me spellbound
de temps en temps*
stuck in my car

Enriching, expansive, I feel
a little more informed
(I try to understand)
but presented with so many concepts
I might never have conceived
approaches overwhelming
and makes me less opinionated, if anything

NPR has taught me
to consume critically
to consider all sides of the story
and, ironically, to listen―
once in a while―
to another station, for variety in views
But before long I am back,
entertained and
sometimes even enraged
by the disturbing things I hear;
yet still I keep the dial
tuned to the station that I love

There’s surely more to come,

My love poem doesn’t feel complete

I mean, a friend just introduced me to Radio Lab

And there’s not time enough to consume the podcasts

I have other things to do too, you know

So uneori* I get stuck in my car

laughing with the Click and Clack from Cartalk
or soaking up those distinctive,
mysterious voices
feeding my hungry mind
and, somehow, stealing my indecisive heart

that must choose satisfaction with what I have now

That’s all for today, folks, so
thanks for joining me,
April Murdock,
in “Love Poem for Public Radio”

8.23.2011 / 1.8.12
 

* translation: “sometimes” in Spanish, French, and Romanian, respectively

♦ I love how Terri says her intro with such professional pizzazz.