8 Quick Questions for Ada Limón

In July, the librarian of Congress appointed Ada Limón, 46, as the 24th U.S. poet laureate, a position that seeks to spread awareness of the craft through readings, lectures, conferences and other outreach programs.  Limón has authored six poetry collections, hosts The Slowdown poetry podcast and teaches creative writing at the Queens University of Charlotte [North Carolina] Master of Fine Arts program. She believes everyone can discover a poem or two to appreciate.

What’s your response when someone says, ‘I don’t like poetry.’

If you don't like one poem, don't give up on poetry. Keep going. It’s important to remember that poetry is like music. If you don't like one song by Neil Young, it doesn’t mean you're not going to like another song by Lady Gaga. … I also think poetry is best when experienced out loud. 

What podcasts are on your must-listen list?

One of my favorites is Ten Percent Happier [with Dan Harris]. Those [episodes] can be in-depth interviews with critical thinkers and practitioners of mindfulness that I find really inspiring. The Maintenance Phase is a podcast that debunks health and diet culture. It’s really funny and irreverent. In terms of poetry,  I really do love Poetry Unbound. I also love Poetry off the Shelf from the Poetry Foundation.

Could you write a poem on demand?

If I have 15 minutes and I need to write something, I'll do it. They’re not even drafts; they’re what I call seeds of poems. You can get lots of seeds of poems if you feel turned on by the creative energy. In terms of a finished poem, sometimes it takes me a month or even up to three years to revise a poem to a place that I really feel it does what I want the poem to do.

You wrote the book, Shelter: A Love Letter to Trees. What kind of tree would you be?

Just like finding the right poem for the right time, at different times I want to be a different kind of tree. Today, I think that I am leaning toward the manzanita tree because I really love that dark bark. It often grows and grows, and I’m feeling the need for my community. 

Your cat is quite obviously the star of your social media accounts. How is she?

She is very, very old and very, very good. She’s had three meals today. She literally wakes up and decides what she wants to eat. We have five types of food and we indulge her. I feel like once you reach 22 or 23 as a cat, you should have all the food you want.