Examining the Importance of Poetry with Ada Limon

In this episode of All of It, host David Bianculli welcomes Ada Limon, the former U.S. Poet Laureate and author of the forthcoming book *Against Breaking on the Power of Poetry*, to reflect on poetry’s vital role in turbulent times. Limon discusses how poetry serves as an antidote to language used for chaos and propaganda, emphasizing its power to restore breath, stillness, and joy. Drawing from her closing lecture at the Library of Congress in April 2025—delivered amid political upheaval and federal agency raids—she shares how poetry becomes an act of resistance and solidarity. Listeners contribute personal stories, including Charlotte’s tribute to Andrea Gibson’s poem 'Good Grief,' Colleen’s love for Nikki Giovanni’s 'My First Memory of Librarians,' and James’s appreciation for Li Bai’s minimalist nature poem 'Green Mountain.' Limon champions the idea that poetry doesn’t require understanding to be meaningful, celebrating the emotional and imaginative journeys poems can inspire. She also encourages daily poetic practice, especially during National Poetry Month, and affirms that private, unsent poems hold profound power.