The Leash

“Late Summer after a Panic Attack“ by Ada Limón (2018)

This poem appeared in the same collection as “The Leash” and shares its focus on storytelling and strong personal voice. Vivid nature imagery is used to bridge the interiority of the poet’s body and mind with the external stimuli from the environment. Like other poems in The Carrying, this selection melds the personal and the political.

“Poem in Which I Become Wolverine“ by José Olivarez (2018)

Olivarez’s poem expresses the emotions, outrage, and certainty experienced by the poor, the targets of ICE, and those oppressed by the lies of politicians, the media, and their complacent enablers. Limón referenced this poem in an interview (Woodruff, Judy. “A Poet’s Take on Looking to Language for ‘Radical Hope’.” PBS) as an example of how poetic language can express and transcend rage.

“The Fish“ by Elizabeth Bishop (1946)

The poem, like “The Leash”, uses nature imagery to create a vividly detailed description. In this case, the primary focus is the fish the speaker catches and then releases. It features a moment of transcendent connection between the fish and the poet that leads to joyful celebration.