The Florie Gale Arons Poetry Program invited 24th Poet Laureate of the United States Ada Limón to give a reading in Tulane University’s Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life on Monday, Nov. 4. The poems’ themes and Limón’s manner of articulation made for a captivating presentation.  

Tulane had the opportunity to host Limón thanks to the Florie Gale Arons Poetry Program. Poet and writer Florie Gale Arons was a Newcomb College alumna whose legacy is honored by her daughters, who established this program in 1999. Each year, a professional female poet is presented at Tulane. Limón’s reading marks 25 years of connecting campus to the power of poetry.  

Twenty minutes prior to the reading, audience members were already filing in, eager to witness Limón’s artistry. She entered the Kendall Cram Lecture Hall with a joyful demeanor, matching the energy of her audience.  

Limón shared 14 poems in an order that allowed for the connection of themes readers may not otherwise acknowledge. “I want to leave you with something you might not get if you were just with the book,” she said. 

Limón prefaced each poem with an anecdote, describing its inspiration or the context in which she composed it. This personalization was highly engaging and enlightened the audience to the complexity of Limón’s poems. 

Arguably, her most intriguing reason for composing a piece was in reference to “In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa.” Limón shared with the audience that she was asked to write this poem for NASA’s Europa Clipper mission. The poem is inscribed on the side of the spacecraft in Limón’s handwriting. 

The mission, launched this past October, is intended to advance the study of Jupiter’s moon, Europa. There is a possibility that life exists on this moon, which will be confirmed once the clipper reaches Jupiter’s orbit. Limón references nature and life in her poem in response to the goal of the mission.  

The preface for “Startlement” was similarly interesting. The poem lies on the front page of the nation’s Fifth National Climate Assessment. Limón mentioned that she was requested to avoid writing through a nostalgic lens, which manifested in the form of a hopeful tone. This hope is seemingly necessary as it precedes the detailed assessment of America’s disheartening environmental state. 

Limón also spoke of her father, specifically in the piece “The Contract Says: We’d Like the Conversation to be Bilingual.” She shared the loving and witty nature of her father to contextualize the piece, which audience members connected with.  

Limón’s poem “The End of Poetry” addressed the difficulty of choosing and maintaining a passion for a profession. Her loss of confidence in her craft at the time was the inspiration for the piece, which constitutes a rediscovery of her love of poetry.  

Themes of female empowerment were prevalent during the reading as well, specifically in “How to Triumph Like a Girl,” “The Raincoat” and “Wonder Woman.” Limón read these with conviction, as if to solidify womanly power and beauty. 

Limón’s overall reading was poised, articulate and engaging. She concluded the night with a book signing outside of the auditorium. A long line of enthusiastic audience members formed, excited to receive Limón’s signature after a captivating reading. Limón exemplifies how poetry can provide an audience with entertainment, excitement and passion.