An Interview with Best of Issue Author, Aneesh Agarwal

In an interview with one of our Best of Issue authors Aneesh Agarwal, we asked him questions about the imagery and symbolism he uses throughout his poem “barnyard horizon,” as well as questions about his general life as a writer. In this interview, Agarwal provides more background on the specific beautiful elements throughout his poem, as well as advice for young writers just like him. 

Q: The narrator dreams of the sea despite living so far from it. What did you want the sea to represent?

A: The speaker longs for the sea because she sees it as an escape from her landlocked life on the farm. I imagined her living somewhere in the American Midwest, far from any coastline. To her, the sea represents freedom, possibility, and movement. On the farm, her future feels predetermined, but the sea offers a world of uncertainty and adventure. It's a place where she can feel the breeze in her hair, chart her own course, and experience a kind of independence she cannot find at home. 

Q: Your poem discusses duty, sacrifice, and pursuing your own path. How have your experiences as an Asian American shaped the way you think about those themes?

A: As the son of immigrant parents, I've often thought about the balance between honoring family expectations and pursuing my own ambitions. My parents, like many immigrants, value stability and security because of the sacrifices they made to build a life in a new country. In the poem, the speaker's parents want her to stay and work on the farm, not only because they need the help, but because the farm is all they've ever known. The outside world feels uncertain and risky to them. I relate to that. While my parents have always supported me, there is often an expectation to pursue safe, traditional career paths. At the same time, I want the freedom to explore my own interests and define success for myself. That conflict between duty and self-discovery became one of the poem's central themes. 

Q: Congratulations on your recognition from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and the John Locke Institute. How do you choose between writing for yourself versus writing for competitions? What advice would you give to young writers trying to do the same?

A: For me, writing for myself and writing for competitions are usually one and the same. One reason I appreciate Scholastic is that almost any piece you've written can be submitted without major alterations. The John Locke Institute is a little different because you're writing in response to a specific prompt, but even then, I chose a question I was genuinely excited to research and explore. My advice to young writers is to write about subjects that truly interest you. Passion always comes through on the page, and it often leads to stronger work. Many of the pieces you create for yourself are also eligible for submission. Writing should first and foremost be a way to explore ideas, emotions, and experiences. If you focus on that, recognition often follows naturally. 

Q: Who are some writers you love reading? What is it about their work that sticks with you?

A:  I read a wide range of books, but my favorites are usually historical fiction and nonfiction. My favorite literary world is J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. What amazes me is his ability to tell a story that feels both epic and evocative. Whether it's Bilbo's journey in The Hobbit or the Fellowship's trek across Middle-earth, his writing creates vivid imagery and draws me completely into the world. That love of storytelling influences my own poetry. While poetry is often associated with emotion or imagery, I try to make my poems tell a story as well. Books can make readers laugh, cry, or reflect over the course of hundreds of pages. I challenge myself to create those same emotional experiences in just a few minutes. 

Q: What are you working on now and what kind of stories are you excited to tell in the future?

A: Right now, I'm continuing to write poetry and develop ideas for future projects. While many of my pieces are narrative-driven, they often include elements of social commentary as well. I'm particularly interested in writing that connects personal stories to larger historical, political, or cultural themes. One piece I'm currently working on responds to Abraham Lincoln's famous Bixby Letter. In the future, I'm excited to continue exploring stories that combine history, human emotion, and questions about the world we live in. Those are the kinds of stories that resonate most deeply with me as both a reader and a writer.

Like what you see? Read his poem in the images provided below, or go to templelitmag.com to read Issue 02 under the “Read” tab. Temple Literary Magazine is always accepting submissions from Asian American youth writers aged 13 to 19. Feel free to submit to Issue 03 at our website!