Citizen Artist

Newly anointed U.S. poet laureate Ada Limon talks the power of poetry.

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In September, Ada Limón assumed the role of U.S. poet laureate, taking over from Joy Harjo, who had occupied the position since 2019. Limón, who also teaches and hosts the podcast The Slowdown, is the author of six volumes of poetry most recently, The Hurting Kind. In its announcement, the Library of Congress said of its latest appointee: "Ada Limón is a poet who connects. Her accessible, engaging poems ground us....

They speak of intimate truths, of the beauty and heartbreak that is living, in ways that help us move forward." Oprah Daily Books VP Leigh Haber connected with Limón to learn where she finds inspiration and what her hopes are for her new office.

LEIGH HABER: Congratulations on being named U.S. poet laureate, Ada. When you first started out, did you ever dream that you would become one of only 24 to be named to the post? Wow!

ADA LIMÓN: Thanks so much. No, this was never even on my radar. We poets tend to keep our heads down-perhaps preservation word by word, line by line, just trying to be in the world as artists. To tell out of selfand write the truth, I'm still processing it all.

LH: Who gave you the news?