When Eve walked (among them)

~ Live & Learn

When Eve walked among
the animals and named them –
nightingale, red-shouldered hawk,
fiddler crab, fallow deer –
I wonder if she ever wanted
them to speak back, looked into
their wide wonderful eyes and
whispered, Name me, name me.

~ Ada Limón, “A Name” in The Carrying: Poems (August 14, 2018)

Ada Limón, 42, is an American poet. She was a finalist for the 2015 National Book Award in Poetry.  In an interview by Suzannah Windsor in April 21, 2014 in Compose Journal, Ada Limón: “My grandfather on my father’s side was from San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico. He crossed the border as a child in 1917 after his family’s land was confiscated by Pancho Villa’s troops during the Mexican revolution. I was not raised in a bilingual family. My grandfather rarely spoke Spanish even. He worked hard to assimilate into U.S. culture, growing up in a foster family, and eventually graduating from college. I have always identified with Mexican culture, but like many of us, I am not only one thing. I’m many things. I’m Irish, and Scottish, and German too. Part lion. Part dragon. Depending on the day…My confession: most of my poems are autobiographical. The strange, twisty narrative of the inner voice, the voice underneath the voice, is always what fascinates me and keeps me writing… I suppose, in my life, I’ve never done things the ordinary way. I’m either deep in the bottom of the well or nowhere near water.”  Her new book, The Carrying: Poems was published this month. (Unrelated Photo above by Yishuwang)

39 thoughts on “When Eve walked (among them)”

  5. Vera Pavlova would have whispered in her mouth,
    “A beast in winter,
    a plant in spring,
    an insect in summer,
    a bird in autumn.
    The rest of the time I am a woman.”

    From, If There is Something to Remember

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    4. “Layer by layer, l removed all that l thought l was, all that l thought l had to be, and in the moment l was left standing naked and vulnerable without identities and labels, l remembered… l am that l am”

      Lenita Vangellis

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  8. all evocative! Ada Limøn, a new treasure, and Joyce, “As I am. As I am. All or not at all.”, and Rilke always so poignant,
    And if the world has ceased to hear you,
    say to the silent earth: I flow.
    To the rushing water, speak: I am.
    Am reading Rilke for my great books discussion group (a new choice every 2 weeks!), and he speaks deeply with the heart breaking by simply living to this theme.

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