“I want to champion the ways reading and writing poetry can situate us in the natural world. Never has it been more urgent to feel a sense of reciprocity with our environment, and poetry’s alchemical mix of attention, silence, and rhythm gives us a reciprocal way of experiencing nature — of communing with the natural world through breath and presence,” said Limón. 

For her Smokies visit, Limón will unveil a picnic table with an overlay featuring Lucille Clifton’s poem “the earth is a living thing” at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Clifton’s work emphasizes endurance and strength through adversity, focusing particularly on the African American experience and family life.

The picnic table unveiling will be held at 11 a.m. and a book signing will follow.