Interview with Poet Hilary Watson on Creativity and Her Debut Collection

Watson is a former Jerwood/Arvon mentee and a member of The 57 Poetry Collective. Her recent work has leaned towards a movement called Thrutopia, which envisions hopeful futures for the planet. Her poems have appeared in notable journals such as Poetry Wales, Butcher’s Dog, and The Interpreter’s House, and she has been shortlisted for prestigious awards including the Troubadour and Live Canon prizes.

Reflecting on her path to poetry, Watson recalls her school experiences, particularly enjoying Alfred Noyes’s dramatic ballad, ‘The Highwayman’. Her appreciation deepened in sixth form when she encountered Carol Ann Duffy’s ‘Selected Poems’, which showcased the wit and relevance of poetry. Influential teachers, like Edward Treacy and clare e. potter, encouraged her to explore literature deeply, leading to her current passion.

When asked about her favorite contemporary poets, Watson mentioned her current engagement with the Sealey Challenge, aimed at reading 31 poetry books in August. She highlighted the works of Seán Hewitt and Kim Moore, both of whom she enjoys pre-ordering. Among notable books, she praised Inua Ellams’ ‘The Half-God of Rainfall’ and Joelle Taylor’s ‘C+nto’, appreciating their powerful narratives that resonate with marginalized experiences.

Watson expressed admiration for the innovative form in poetry, citing Regi Claire’s ‘(Un)certainties’ and Hera Lindsay Bird’s bold rewriting of Mary Oliver. She also mentioned her delight in Emily Blewitt’s poem ‘How to Explain Hiraeth to an Englishman’ due to its unexpected twists.

She recently found excitement in novels penned by poets, recommending works like Rebecca Perry’s ‘May We Feed The King’ and Kaveh Akbar’s ‘Martyr!’. Watson appreciates the distinct approach poets take in novel writing, noting how it brings innovative structures akin to poetic forms.

Outside of literature, Watson has drawn inspiration from nature, particularly during the Covid lockdowns, which prompted her to start growing her own vegetables. She values the exchange of ideas across different art forms and everyday life, seeing them as intertwined sources of creativity.

Currently, Watson is focused on Thrutopia, collaborating with writers on the Substack magazine Bending The Arc. Their goal is to construct a narrative of hope amid current global challenges. The recent collection, **We’ll Meet You There**, published with Dialect Press, explores this theme, as does her debut collection.

To foster her writing, Watson emphasizes the importance of reading poetry and dedicating time to write, attending retreats at Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre and Gladstones Library. She enjoys workshops that connect her with other passionate poets, contributing to her creative growth.

In a playful notion, Watson mentioned wishing to utilize rhymes as clever as those in Lily Allen’s work. When asked to liken her poems to an animal, she chose the Chimera from Greek mythology, symbolizing the unexpected and hybrid nature of her poetry.

Watson concluded by sharing her poem ‘The Traditionalists’, which reimagines wedding traditions through a queer lens, reflecting on the fragile progress of LGBTQAI+ rights. In it, she celebrates love and humor in a non-traditional wedding setting.