Khadijah Queen, a poet who studied at Antioch University Los Angeles and recently completed a residency at the Norman Mailer Writers Colony in Provincetown, MA, talks about what’s essential in her creative practice and shares a few poems from her latest book Black Peculiar. The recipient of fellowships from Cave Canem and Squaw Valley Community of Writers, Khadijah curates the reading series Courting Risk and is currently working on an illustrated mixed genre project.

2026 Update: Khadijah Queen now holds a PhD in English and literary arts from the University of Denver. She is the author of seven books of poetry and prose.

Sound Editor: Jay Agoglia | Images, courtesy Khadijah Queen | Music: Denelda Queen, Lush Life, 2007