Chobee Hoy hosted a peaceful evening of poetry to benefit the Brookline-Quezalguaque Sister City Project (BQSCP) on June 14. The event was held at the offices of The Chobee Hoy Group at Compass. Some of Brookline’s most notable poets, as well as a diverse group of local good-doers, stepped up to the microphone one by one to read a poem each had selected to about 50 poetry and Chobee enthusiasts.

“Pledge a Poem” brought awareness and financial assistance to the BQSCP’s worthy cause. Quezalguaque, Nicaragua was designated Brookline’s Sister City 30 years ago. Quezalguaque is a rural community with 12,000 residents. The project, supported by Brookline residents and local nonprofits, has come to the aid of several initiatives in its Nicaraguan sister city including the Quezalguaque library and mobile library, the first computer classroom in the region, special needs education, an arts program, and various health programs. 

The BQSCP recently invested over $47,000 toward a clean water initiative to improve water quality in Quezalguaque and provide a water system infrastructure. This year, according to the BQSCP website, improvements in the system are scheduled along with a second round of training aimed at strengthening the capacity of community water committees to maintain their water systems better and ensure clean drinking water.

Nicaragua is a nation rich in literary history and is well known for the quantity and quality of its poetic output, earning it the nickname ‘Land of the Poets.’ Nicaragua’s culture and political landscape have been greatly influenced by its poets.

The evening’s poetry readers included:

Judy Steinbergh served as a teacher in the Brookline school system for over 40 years and became Brookline’s first poet laureate from 2012 to 2015. She is the author of 5 books of poems. Judith read her poem “What Memories Will Rise”.

Jan Schreiber was the poet laureate for Brookline from 2015 to 2017. His poetry books include Digression, Wily Apparitions, Bell Buoys, and Peccadilloes. Jan read “Pirate Jenny” by Bertolt Brecht

Zvi Sesling was named Brookline’s third poet laureate in 2017. He is the author of King of the Jungle, Across Stones of Bad Dreams, Fire Tongue, Love Poems From Hell, The Lynching of Leo Frank and the soon-to-be-published War Zones. Zvi read his poems “Transit of Life” and “Passing Ships”.

Richard Segan has been active with the Brookline-Quezalguaque Sister City Project for almost 15 years and currently serves as its president of the board of directors. He has made more than 12 trips to Quezalguaque. Richard read, “Sin espacio en mi maleta,” which translated into English means “No space in my suitcase.”

Susan Quinn is the author most recently of Eleanor and Hick: The Love Affair That Shaped a First Lady. Among her previous books are Marie Curie: A Life and Furious Improvisation: How the WPA and a Cast of Thousands Made High Art Out of Desperate Times.  Susan read “Abraham in Wisconsin” by fellow reader, Jan Schreiber.

Joan Gallos is an award-winning educator and author. She has published five books on education and business leadership. Jean read “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver.

Dana Brigham co-owned Brookline Booksmith for 37 years and was the recipient of the Ethel Weiss Service Award in 2016. Dana read “It’s a Poem, Yo” by Marleide Miranda.

Lisa Gozashti is presently a co-owner of Brookline Booksmith and a 20-year veteran of the beloved book store. World literature and works in translations are her primary literary focus. Lisa read “The End of Exile” by Solmaz Sharif.

Jim Solomon is a local philanthropist and the celebrated former owner of the landmark Brookline restaurant, The Fireplace. Jim owns the Hartford Yard Dogs minor league baseball team with his siblings. Jim read “Primitive” by Sharon Olds.

Carol Lohe is curator emerita of American Paintings at the Museum of Find Arts. She is also a Brookline Library Trustee. Carol read, “Every Time I Climb a Tree” by David McCord.

Nur Kilic is the owner of the must-go-to store, Serenade Chocolatier. Her passion is chocolate and cooking and she has lived on every continent except Australia. Nur read “The Guest House by Rumi.”

If you don’t know our host for that evening, Chobee Hoy, you don’t read this publication much and you’re probably not from around here. Chobee is a respected real estate broker, philanthropist and champion of just about every meaningful local nonprofit initiative in this community for the last 30 years. Chobee read “The Guest House” by Rumi.

Chobee graciously asked me to participate. I mustered the courage to read a stream of consciousness sort-of-a-poem I wrote for the holidays in 2000 called “Appreciation”.

Donations and more information on the Brookline-Quezalguaque Sister City Project can be made online.

By R. Harvey Bravman, Publisher