Nala Washington was among the poets whose poems were shortlisted from The Poetry Writing Contests 2025 organized by The Hemlock Journal. Her poem ‘We Are’ gained 4th position and was published in ‘Special Poetry Issue’

Listen to ‘We Are’ read by Nala Washington (Cick the below play button)

Or, read ‘We Are’ and other 24 shortlisted poems, BUY the Special Poetry Issue : Click Here.

In this interview Nala Washington talks about her journey to become a poet, her thoughts of the idea of love, her ideas on rising use of AI tools gaining popularity and her favorite influential Poets.

Interviewer: Congratulations on being one of the winners of the Contest. Could you tell us a little about yourself and your journey with poetry?

Nala Washington: Thank you! I’m from Prince George’s County Maryland, born and raised, and began writing poetry seriously at 16 years old. I applied and competed for the Prince George’s County Youth Poet Laureate. Program and was a Youth Ambassador for the duration of my high school years. With this program,I learned under my mentors to explore my performance style and performed all over the DMV area including representing the D.C. team at the Brave New Voices Competition in 2020 and performed during the Kennedy Canter’s Arts Across America Series in 2020. From there, I continued my studies at Susquehanna University in PA, majoring in Creative Writing. While in PA, I continued to perform and began to publish. I have poetry published in The Sanctuary Mag, Rivercraft, and my
Creative Non-Fiction Essay “Unfinished Letters” that was awarded the 2022 Erik Kirkland Memorial Prize from Essay Magazine. I left Susquehanna a good writer, but I crave to be a great one; and Texas State is just the University to do that. I am currently attending Texas State as a part of the MFA program, leaning more into the written word and not just the spoken. Since being at Texas, I’ve performed/competed in several Austin Poetry Slam slams, as well as gigging within the area. From Juneteenth celebrations to Independent Book Fairs to Choreopoem shows to opening for established poets, I’ve been putting in the work. In hopes of becoming a great writer, I have work currently/forthcoming in Midnight & Indigo, The Santa Clara Review, Livina Press, Mouthful of Salt, and more! I write about being Black, and Woman, love, loss, losing, and continuing to lose, hope, politics, and this crazy blessed life. To put that in my poetry and performances is a privilege. Poetry does indeed, heal the wounds inflicted by reason(s).

Interviewer: What inspired you to write your winning poem? Was there a particular moment, memory, or feeling that sparked it?

Nala Washington: “We Are” was inspired by my partner, after spending time together for the first time in his apartment. We had been doing long distance, which is a challenge within itself on top of a sustainable relationship. I remember the meals we cooked together, the long car rides from the airport and back, and his studies has to do with Physical Therapy; I’m always thinking, how can I incorporate that in my poetry? The body is so fascinating, and he is so knowledgeable on it. The process started with the line “like a retelling of all the places we have ever been.” I began to add on from there and reorder the lines while playing with syntax. I determined this was an Occasional poem and had this framed and collaged with other lines I had written up until that point in our relationship. He’ll always hold the first draft of this poem, just spilled over with the intense love and care from those moments, without the edits. And I think that’s precious.

Interviewer: Since the theme was Love, how do you personally define or understand love? Did that definition shape your poem?

Nala Washington: For me, love is something I don’t think I could ever fully explain. I know for me, love comes in different people, things, places. Love is in the way we treat one another, talk to one another. Love is sure of itself. And if it isn’t sure or fades away, I don’t think it was ever truly love to begin with. I think love overall; I associate with all different moments in my life that has etched its way onto my heart and will never disappear. It might diminish, it might not be as big or strong, but it is always there. This very obscure definition did indeed shape my poem.

I always say I am a writer of experiences, particularly my own. Who knows me better than me? : Nala Washington

Interviewer: Do you remember the very first poem you ever wrote? How does your writing today compare with that early attempt?

Nala Washington: My first poem was entitled “Comfortable.” I created it in the 7th grade for some assignment. I remember I utilized imagery while describing my parents living room. Compared to my writing today, I still very much rely on the things around me. Places, things, people, etc. I always say I am a writer of experiences, particularly my own. Who knows me better than me?

Interviewer: Which poets, writers, or artists influence your work the most?

Nala Washington : Rudy Francisco, Ross Gay, Ebony Stewart, Ocean Vuong, Terrance Hayes, Adrienne Rich, Danez Smith, Sarah Kay, just to name a few. All for a variety of reasons on craft and performance.

Interviewer: Do you think poetry still holds power and relevance in today’s fast-paced, digital world?

Nala Washington: 100%. I think there’s different types of poetry for all different types of audiences. I think poetry and all art really, is a bit more accessible.

Interviewer: What advice would you give to emerging poets who want to write about big themes like Love without falling into clichés?

Nala Washington: I don’t think cliches are always a bad thing to utilize. Regardless how you may feel about those bigger themes that all poets seem to write about, your experience and take on love, life, death, and all the things in between is different from other poets. Just write. We want to hear what your story is like.

About :

Best of Net Nominee Nala Washington (she/her) is a poet, writer, and educator, completing her MFA at Texas State University. You can find her words currently/forthcoming in Midnight & Indigo Lit, The Hemlock Journal, Mouthful of Salt, The Santa Clara Review, Livina Press, Essay Magazine, Sanctuary
Magazine, and more.