KQED's Forum Forum From the Archives: Poet Ada Limón’s New Collection 'Startlement' Centers Wonder and Connection
Jan 2, 2026
In this engaging discussion, Ada Limón, a celebrated poet and former U.S. Poet Laureate, shares insights from her new collection, 'Startlement.' She reflects on the intertwining of nature, art, and humanity, emphasizing poetic tenderness in the face of climate despair. Limón reads evocative poems, including 'The Origin Revisited,' highlighting her commitment to environmental advocacy. With warmth and curiosity, she discusses the importance of belonging, artistic activism, and the resilience found in both poetry and community.
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Creating A Single Arc From Many Poems
- Ada Limón curated older and new poems to create a single book-length arc that reads like one long poem about a life.
- She intentionally kept early, flawed voices to show evolution and contrast across time.
The Echo Sounder Memory
- Ada Limón read "The Echo Sounder," describing a young self who believes she can talk to God and makes up answers when none come.
- The poem shows early themes of mortality, language failure, and being part of the natural world.
Curiosity As Climate Response
- "Startlement" responds to climate assessment work and centers wonder over nostalgia while insisting on shared becoming.
- Limón views curiosity and wonder as alternatives to despair when climate hope feels tenuous.