Hey, it's me, Major Jackson.

We're reaching into the archive to bring you some of our favorites.

Here's one from Ada Limon's tenure as host.

Her thoughtfulness and deep love of poetry made her time on the show very special.

I hope you enjoy this selection from the archives.

Music enjoy this selection from the archives. I'm Ada Limon, and this is The Slowdown.

Just recently, I was asked by the graduate writing program I teach with to attend a residency in Rome.

I know, I know, it's a tough life.

Because of the pandemic, I was naturally worried about the safety of the flight, staying safe

while there and so on.

I've been very locked down these last two years and the extra layers of anxiety that the

pandemic was adding to the traveling was real.

But I went. It felt so much like a dream. The October light over the Tiber

River, the Trevi fountain lit up a glow at sunset, the Coliseum, the Pantheon, history, on top of history.

It was almost overwhelming.

Everywhere I looked there was some unexpected feast for the senses.

I could hardly believe it existed.

There I was in Rome, and I was suddenly struck by how lucky we were, to be

traveling again safely, and to a place with such a rich culture that it overflowed the spirit.

I was reminded how much travel changes you, how the act of seeing Hadrian's villa and Tivoli felt like the act of time travel, to admire his private room with a moat around it, and think, at one point he had a bedroom that had a moat around it.

This is the stuff of fantasy.

I ate everything that was offered to me and drank everything that was handed to me.

...