[APPLAUSE]
Thank you so, so much.
I'm really grateful.
Thank you.
And thank you all for being here.
It's a humbling experience to be to this wonderful place.
The second time to come back here.
Thank you for having me.
Truly, it's an honor.
It's also humbling because some folks here have known me
for a very long time.
Cynthia, I wonder when did we first meet?
It was '97?
'98?
Yeah.
Thank you for your patience, and your kindness, truly,
and for your poetry.
Beautiful poetry.
And of course, Eleanor, I wouldn't
be standing here without you.
Eleanor Wilner, a great American poet.
If you don't know her work, please check it out.
She chose my first book and helped take care of my poems
very, very patiently and kindly for many years.
Thank you.