“Instructions on Not Giving Up” by Ada Limón: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “Instructions on Not Giving Up” by Ada Limón

“Instructions on Not Giving Up” by Ada Limón first appeared in her 2018 poetry collection, The Carrying, like many others in the collection, explores themes of resilience, growth, and the quiet strength found in observing the natural world. Limón draws on the metaphor of spring leaves unfurling after winter to reflect on human perseverance and renewal, celebrating small, everyday acts of endurance. The poem’s popularity stems from its relatable, hopeful message and its accessible, yet profound, language. Through simple, vivid imagery, Limón encourages readers to find solace and beauty in the persistence of life, making this poem a widely cherished piece, particularly during times of collective hardship or personal struggle.

Text: “Instructions on Not Giving Up” by Ada Limón

More than the fuchsia funnels breaking out
of the crabapple tree, more than the neighbor’s
almost obscene display of cherry limbs shoving
their cotton candy-colored blossoms to the slate
sky of Spring rains, it’s the greening of the trees
that really gets to me. When all the shock of white
and taffy, the world’s baubles and trinkets, leave
the pavement strewn with the confetti of aftermath,
the leaves come. Patient, plodding, a green skin
growing over whatever winter did to us, a return
to the strange idea of continuous living despite
the mess of us, the hurt, the empty. Fine then,
I’ll take it, the tree seems to say, a new slick leaf
unfurling like a fist to an open palm, I’ll take it all.

Annotations: “Instructions on Not Giving Up” by Ada Limón

Line	Annotation	Literary Devices
More than the fuchsia funnels breaking out	The speaker notices details in nature, specifically vibrant colors emerging in spring.	Imagery, Alliteration
of the crabapple tree, more than the neighbor’s	Emphasizes a sense of community and shared experience in observing nature.	Imagery
almost obscene display of cherry limbs shoving	Suggests an overwhelming, almost exaggerated beauty, hinting at nature’s boldness.	Hyperbole, Personification
their cotton candy-colored blossoms to the slate sky of Spring rains	Contrasts bright colors with a gray sky, creating a vivid image of spring’s beauty amid harsh weather.	Imagery, Color Symbolism, Contrast
it’s the greening of the trees that really gets to me	Focus shifts to the subtler, enduring renewal of leaves, highlighting resilience.	Imagery, Personification
When all the shock of white and taffy, the world’s baubles and trinkets,	Compares spring blossoms to frivolous, decorative items, symbolizing transient beauty.	Metaphor, Imagery
leave the pavement strewn with the confetti of aftermath,	The fallen petals are likened to confetti, marking an end to the initial burst of spring.	Metaphor, Imagery
the leaves come. Patient, plodding, a green skin growing over whatever winter did to us,	The leaves’ growth represents healing and continuity, slowly covering up past hardships.	Personification, Imagery, Symbolism
a return to the strange idea of continuous living despite the mess of us, the hurt, the empty.	Reflects on life’s persistence through difficulties, symbolizing resilience and renewal.	Symbolism, Repetition, Enjambment
Fine then, I’ll take it, the tree seems to say,	The speaker imagines the tree’s acceptance of life’s challenges, embodying resilience.	Personification, Dialogue
a new slick leaf unfurling like a fist to an open palm,	Compares the unfolding of a leaf to a hand opening, symbolizing acceptance and peace.	Simile, Imagery, Symbolism
I’ll take it all.	Reinforces the message of resilience and acceptance in the face of challenges.	Repetition, Personification

Literary And Poetic Devices: “Instructions on Not Giving Up” by Ada Limón

Device	Example	Explanation
Alliteration	“fuchsia funnels”	The repetition of the “f” sound creates a rhythmic, flowing effect, enhancing the vivid image of flowers.
Assonance	“greening of the trees that really gets to me”	The repetition of the “e” sound creates a melodic effect, emphasizing the speaker’s emotional connection.
Contrast	“cotton candy-colored blossoms to the slate sky”	Contrasts bright, playful colors with a dark sky, highlighting spring’s beauty amid harsh weather.
Dialogue	“Fine then, I’ll take it, the tree seems to say”	Imagined dialogue with the tree personifies it, making nature seem resilient and accepting.
Enjambment	“the leaves come. Patient, plodding, a green skin”	The sentence runs onto the next line, mimicking the continuous growth and renewal in nature.
Hyperbole	“obscene display of cherry limbs shoving”	Exaggerates the growth of cherry blossoms to emphasize nature’s abundance and boldness in spring.
Imagery	“cotton candy-colored blossoms to the slate sky”	Creates a vivid visual of spring flowers against a gray sky, stimulating the reader’s senses.
Juxtaposition	“shock of white and taffy, the world’s baubles”	Juxtaposes the light, decorative quality of blossoms with a deeper, reflective tone on life’s transience.
Metaphor	“the world’s baubles and trinkets”	Compares spring blooms to trinkets, suggesting beauty that is fleeting and ornamental.
Mood	“a return to the strange idea of continuous living”	Sets a contemplative mood, evoking resilience and a reflective sense of renewal despite challenges.
Oxymoron	“patient, plodding”	Combines patience with plodding, suggesting both steady and deliberate growth in nature.
Parallelism	“the hurt, the empty”	Creates a rhythm and balance by pairing abstract nouns, reinforcing the sense of emotional weight.
Personification	“a green skin growing over whatever winter did to us”	Gives leaves human-like qualities, as if they are healing, symbolizing resilience.
Repetition	“I’ll take it, I’ll take it all”	Repeats the phrase to emphasize acceptance of life’s challenges and resilience.
Simile	“unfurling like a fist to an open palm”	Compares a new leaf to a hand opening, symbolizing acceptance and the unfolding of life.
Symbolism	“greening of the trees”	Green leaves symbolize renewal and healing, contrasting with the harshness of winter.
Syntax	“Fine then, I’ll take it, the tree seems to say”	The simple, direct syntax mirrors the straightforward message of resilience and acceptance.
Tone	“a new slick leaf unfurling”	The tone is reflective and hopeful, underscoring nature’s quiet persistence and beauty.
Vivid Verbs	“shoving…strewn”	Powerful verbs add dynamism to the imagery, conveying energy and motion in nature’s renewal.
Visual Imagery	“confetti of aftermath”	Creates a visual of fallen petals as confetti, symbolizing the remnants of past beauty.

Themes: “Instructions on Not Giving Up” by Ada Limón

Theme	Explanation	References from the Poem
Resilience and Renewal	The poem emphasizes the quiet resilience of nature, particularly in the way trees persist and renew each spring.	“a green skin growing over whatever winter did to us,” “a new slick leaf unfurling”
Beauty in Subtlety	While spring often brings vibrant blossoms, the speaker finds a deeper beauty in the steady, patient greening of trees.	“More than the fuchsia funnels breaking out,” “it’s the greening of the trees that really gets to me”
Acceptance of Hardship	The tree’s response to winter’s effects symbolizes an acceptance of life’s struggles, choosing to grow despite them.	“Fine then, I’ll take it,” “a return to the strange idea of continuous living despite the mess”
Cycles of Life and Nature	The poem reflects on nature’s cycles, with winter giving way to spring, symbolizing life’s continuous renewal.	“whatever winter did to us,” “the confetti of aftermath,” “continuous living despite the mess”

Literary Theories and “Instructions on Not Giving Up” by Ada Limón

• Ecocriticism
  This theory examines the relationship between literature and the natural world, emphasizing environmental awareness. In Limón’s poem, nature is not just a backdrop but a force of resilience and healing. The lines “a green skin growing over whatever winter did to us” and “a new slick leaf unfurling” suggest a deep appreciation for nature’s cycles, positioning the environment as an active participant in human renewal.
• Humanism
  Humanism emphasizes the value of human experiences, resilience, and personal growth. Limón’s poem centers on universal themes of enduring hardship and finding strength, illustrated by lines like “I’ll take it, the tree seems to say” and “a return to the strange idea of continuous living despite the mess of us.” These lines reflect an acceptance of life’s challenges, connecting human resilience with the natural world’s cycles.
• Psychoanalytic Criticism
  Through a psychoanalytic lens, this poem could represent the unconscious mind’s healing processes, mirroring psychological recovery with nature’s renewal. The speaker’s fixation on the “greening of the trees” over the “shock of white and taffy” in spring blossoms suggests an internal desire for stability and healing rather than surface beauty. The tree’s “unfurling like a fist to an open palm” may symbolize an unconscious movement from tension to acceptance, mirroring the release of suppressed emotions.

Critical Questions about “Instructions on Not Giving Up” by Ada Limón

• How does Limón use imagery to convey the poem’s themes of resilience and renewal?
• Limón employs vivid, contrasting imagery to underscore themes of resilience and the subtler beauty of renewal. Rather than focusing on the showy, transient blooms of spring, she describes “the greening of the trees” as what “really gets to” her. This shift in focus from “fuchsia funnels breaking out” and “cotton candy-colored blossoms” to the steady emergence of green leaves symbolizes a deeper, more enduring kind of growth. By choosing the “patient, plodding” leaves over the fleeting petals, Limón highlights resilience through nature’s quiet persistence, suggesting that true strength often lies in gradual, unnoticed renewal.
• What role does personification play in the poem’s message?
• Personification is central to the poem, ascribing human qualities to trees and leaves, which reflects a shared resilience between nature and humans. For example, Limón writes, “Fine then, I’ll take it, the tree seems to say,” giving the tree a voice of acceptance and strength. This line implies that nature embraces challenges and adapts to adversity, mirroring the resilience Limón advocates for in human life. By personifying the tree, she connects readers with nature on an emotional level, suggesting that just as the tree “takes” what winter has done, humans, too, can bear hardship and continue to grow.
• How does the poem explore the contrast between surface beauty and deeper resilience?
• Limón contrasts the vibrant but ephemeral beauty of spring blossoms with the quieter endurance of leaves to illustrate resilience. She describes blossoms as “the world’s baubles and trinkets,” portraying them as temporary adornments that “leave the pavement strewn with the confetti of aftermath.” In contrast, the leaves that follow are “patient, plodding,” representing a more profound beauty rooted in survival and continuous growth. This contrast suggests that resilience isn’t showy or immediate but is instead steady and enduring, urging readers to value this deeper form of beauty in their own lives.
• What significance does the metaphor of “a fist to an open palm” have in the poem?
• The metaphor of “a fist to an open palm” serves as a powerful symbol of transformation and acceptance. By comparing the leaf’s unfurling to a hand opening, Limón conveys a shift from tension to release, from resistance to openness. This image not only captures the physical act of a leaf opening but also reflects a psychological acceptance of life’s challenges. It suggests that resilience involves moving from a stance of defensiveness to one of openness, embodying the poem’s core message of embracing growth and renewal, even in the face of hardship.

Literary Works Similar to “Instructions on Not Giving Up” by Ada Limón

1. “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver – Like Limón’s poem, this piece encourages self-acceptance and connection with nature, offering comfort and strength through the natural world’s enduring patterns.
2. “The Peace of Wild Things” by Wendell Berry – Berry’s poem shares Limón’s theme of finding solace and healing in nature, presenting the natural world as a refuge from human struggles.
3. “Famous” by Naomi Shihab Nye – Nye’s poem, similar to Limón’s, explores the beauty of ordinary things and resilience, focusing on how unnoticed or humble qualities hold deep significance.
4. “Love After Love” by Derek Walcott – This poem speaks to themes of self-rediscovery and renewal, mirroring Limón’s focus on acceptance and continuous growth through difficult times.
5. “The Trees” by Philip Larkin – Larkin’s work also centers on the resilience and cyclical nature of trees, using them as a metaphor for life’s enduring and renewing processes, much like Limón does.

Representative Quotations of “Instructions on Not Giving Up” by Ada Limón

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“More than the fuchsia funnels breaking out”	Limón begins with the vibrant blooms of spring but quickly moves beyond surface beauty.	Ecocriticism – Highlights nature’s varied expressions.
“almost obscene display of cherry limbs shoving”	Describes the bold, overwhelming display of cherry blossoms.	Aesthetic Theory – Examines beauty that is almost excessive.
“it’s the greening of the trees that really gets to me”	Limón focuses on the understated but steady growth of leaves as a source of inspiration.	Humanism – Celebrates resilience and quiet endurance.
“a green skin growing over whatever winter did to us”	Suggests nature’s ability to heal and cover past wounds.	Psychoanalytic Criticism – Symbolizes recovery and healing.
“a return to the strange idea of continuous living”	Reflects on life’s persistence despite challenges.	Existentialism – Life’s continuation amid struggle.
“Fine then, I’ll take it, the tree seems to say”	Personifies the tree as accepting life’s challenges.	Ecocriticism – Nature as a model for resilience.
“unfurling like a fist to an open palm”	Compares a new leaf’s opening to a hand opening in acceptance.	Psychoanalytic Theory – Symbolizes letting go and openness.
“I’ll take it all.”	Represents resilience, accepting both beauty and hardship.	Humanism – Embraces the full spectrum of experience.
“confetti of aftermath”	Describes fallen petals as remnants of spring’s transient beauty.	Aesthetic Theory – Beauty in the aftermath of vitality.
“the hurt, the empty”	Acknowledges life’s struggles and voids, which are covered by growth.	Existentialism – Addresses pain as part of the human condition.

Suggested Readings: “Instructions on Not Giving Up” by Ada Limón

1. Limón, Ada. Instructions on Not Giving Up. Expedition Press, 2019.
2. Limón, Ada. The Carrying: Poems. Milkweed Editions, 2021.