The Carrying

The Carrying is Ada Limón's fifth collection of poetry, published in 2018. The book contains work that earned Limón the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry. The poems move between rural Kentucky and urban New York, tracking encounters with nature, relationships, and the realities of aging. Physical and emotional experiences intertwine as the speaker navigates themes of fertility, chronic pain, and loss. The collection flows through seasons and landscapes while maintaining focus on the body as a central element. Horses, plants, and cycles of growth appear as recurring motifs throughout the work. The work presents an investigation of what it means to carry - both the physical weight of existence and the metaphysical burdens of being human. These poems offer perspective on how people bear both joy and difficulty while moving through the world.

Readers connect strongly with Limón's personal reflections on infertility, aging, and nature in The Carrying. Many cite the accessibility of her poetry and her ability to find beauty in difficult moments. Several reviews mention the poem "The Vulture & The Body" as particularly moving. Readers appreciate: - Raw honesty about body and fertility struggles - Nature imagery and observations - Clear, conversational writing style - Emotional depth without melodrama Common criticisms: - Some poems feel less polished than others - A few readers found certain pieces too straightforward - Occasional repetitive themes Ratings: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (150+ ratings) Sample reader comment from Goodreads: "These poems punch you in the gut while making you fall in love with the world all over again."

Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay Nature-focused poems explore cycles of growth, death, and rebirth while weaving together themes of community and connection to the earth.

Time Is a Mother by Ocean Vuong These poems confront grief, loss, and healing through intimate portraits of family relationships and the immigrant experience.

Late Wife by Claudia Emerson The collection examines marriage, divorce, and remarriage through precise observations of domestic life and the natural world.

What the Living Do by Marie Howe These poems chronicle personal loss and daily life with unflinching attention to physical details and emotional truth.

Bright Dead Things by Ada Limón This earlier collection from Limón delves into similar themes of the body, nature, and belonging through experiences in Kentucky and New York.

🌿 Ada Limón wrote The Carrying while struggling with infertility, weaving themes of nature, mortality, and the body's limitations throughout the collection 📚 The book won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry in 2018, solidifying Limón's place as one of America's most important contemporary poets 🌺 Many poems in The Carrying were inspired by Limón's Kentucky home, particularly her garden and the local flora that serves as both metaphor and muse ✍️ Limón became the 24th Poet Laureate of the United States in 2022, making her the first Latina to hold this prestigious position 🎯 The collection's title refers not only to pregnancy but also to the weight of grief, hope, and everyday responsibilities that humans carry through life