she s a mentor and a professor, she champions new composures, ear earning dozens of honors. her deeping latin merkin fluns and classical music and it was president kennedy who laid the foundation that brought her to america and 55 years later she received a kennedy center honor and we thank you for breathing new sounds into the soul of the nation. [ applause ] we the people, we hear the words of one of my favorite poets of all time. my colleagues up in the united states senate used to kid me because i was quoting eyish poets on the floor. and i thought it was because i was irish. i did it because they re the