The University of Southern Mississippi hosted a forum on Tuesday, February 11, featuring Ada Limón, the 24th U.S. Poet Laureate and the first Latina woman to hold the title.
Limón, a native of Sonoma, Calif., has published several poetry collections, many of which have received critical acclaim, including Bright Dead Things, a finalist for the National Book Award, and The Carrying, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award for poetry. Her work has appeared in prestigious publications such as The New Yorker and Harvard Review, with a focus on themes of identity, nature, and the human experience.
During the forum, Limón read selections of her poetry, delivering lines with varying tones to convey the emotional depth of each piece. Some poems were performed with quiet whispers, while others were shouted or sung. Limón’s ability to engage the audience left many in awe, with students and professors alike praising her vivid imagery and emotional resonance.
One of the poems Limón presented was In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa, which was engraved on NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft, launched in October 2024 to study Jupiter and its moons. Limón also shared a deeply personal piece about her parents, evoking a wide range of emotions from listeners.
“People need hope more than ever right now,” Limón said, emphasizing a central theme of her work.
The poet’s presence captivated the audience, with university professors and students noting how her work seems to freeze time, transporting them to the places she describes.
“Poetry is a secular sacred language that allows for us to experience the exalted of the world,” Limón said during the forum.
Limón has been drawn to poetry since she was 15, working at an independent bookstore in Sonoma, where she was exposed to poets performing readings. She described poetry as a lifelong passion.
“Poetry has been the thing I’ve relied on most in life,” she said.
In addition to her personal works, Limón has been commissioned for several projects, including a series of poems highlighting national parks under threat of logging. She explained that her commissioned work has made her personal poems more private, but she views all her poetry as offerings.
Following the reading, Limón participated in a book signing where university staff and students lined up for a chance to meet her and receive autographs. Many aspiring poets expressed their gratitude for Limón’s influence on their work.
“The University always tries to bring top people in the arts, culture, and science to give these presentations,” said University Forum Director Mac Alford. “It was an honor to have Ada Limón speak.”
