"I never really know how I write a poem" - Ada Limón

A Top 5 Experience from the week of October 13

I was first introduced to Ada Limón several years ago when I started writing poetry by my lovely writer friend,

Lorren Lemmons

. I instantly fell in love with her direct, no bullshit, yet achingly beautiful style. She has secured a place on the list of my favorite poets and is one I always recommend to people.

So, when I tell you that last week when I got to see her live in a theater in the middle of Kansas, please know this was a Top Five Experience for me and may beat out the birth of my children (sorry boys).

I agonized over what to wear, drove a hour to the theater, ordered white wine in a red solo cup, sat left of center near the front with my sister, and when the first poem she read was “How to Triumph Like A Girl” (my favorite) I cried and pretty much didn’t stop the entire hour.¹

After the reading she did a Q&A (the first question asked about her favorite cheese, which I think should have been a question in the political debates, but I digress).

One question asked about her process or how she goes about writing and part of her answer was, “I never really know how I write a poem.” (OMG, she’s just like us!)

After the Q&A was done, I sprinted to the signing table tasked my sister to subtly take pictures.

I had taken my copy of Bright Dead Things and asked her to sign “How to Triumph Like a Girl.” I told her I write poetry and read this poem when I need some courage. She looked up at me, smiled, and said, “I was just going to write ‘courage’”

P.S. afterwards my sister and I went to dinner, got drinks, stayed at a hotel and had the best time (although she might have gotten annoyed with me talking about how great Ada is).

1. A few others she read: A New National Anthem, The Leash, and In Praise of Mystery (which is engraved on a spacecraft and in a picture book).