Hey, it's Ada Limone. Right now I'm serving as U.S. Poet Laureate, but before that I was the host of the slowdown.

This month we are celebrating the five-year anniversary of this public

media program and I'm so glad we get to share this special milestone together.

Listeners are the heart of this show.

For the past five years, you've tuned to the slowdown

for a precious moment of poetry.

And I'm honored to have been able to share some of those moments with you.

Thank you for everything you do to support the slowdown.

And this is the slowdown. Once, I attended an award ceremony televised live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

My second book of poems, Hoopes, was up for an award for outstanding work of literature.

Earlier in the day, the accolade deservedly

went to Maya Angelou.

I didn't care.

I was happy to shop for a fly new suit, wave at the flashing cameras on the red carpet, and sit among

the stars. A fact I made evident to those seated around me, including what I believe to be the most unmoving person ever.

For each celebrity that walked across the stage, I'd loudly shouted and clapped.

Mavis Staples, India Ari, Prince.

The woman next to me barely put her hands together, showed no emotion.

I tried to measure the angle of her lifted nose,

believing she was a bit snobbish for this night of glitz and glamour.

Then Bono walked across the stage.

We all cheered.

...