Ada Limón Lives in 'Vertical Time' in Her Childhood Home

Ada Limón, former U.S. Poet Laureate, explores the intersection of place, memory, and creative identity after returning to her childhood home in Sonoma County. Moving back to the house where she was raised has provided a necessary "small life" that fosters the privacy and temporal rest required for her writing. Limón reflects on the complexities of her upbringing, including the experience of joint custody between two distinct households, and how those formative years shaped her emotional porosity. She discusses her lifelong relationship with physical pain, noting how nature and poetry offer a sense of self beyond the body. Furthermore, Limón shares her perspective on choosing not to have children, emphasizing her role as a "daughter" to her family and the creative freedom found in that path. Her journey highlights the profound connection between landscape, personal history, and the restorative power of poetry.