JOHN L. HOLGERSON
American Poetry Resident & Patron
A Poetic Morning | Saturday 4 October 2025
For more than 30 years, poet John L. Holgerson has returned regularly to Hydra, drawn by the island’s creative legacy and its association with Leonard Cohen. He joined ArtCinema Hydra 2025 as a Patron, co-hosting our Poetic Morning of Readings at The Pirate Bar and later speaking about his work before the screening of A Poet at Gardenia Open-Air Cinema.
John presented readings from his latest collection, Convictions of the Heart, which includes reflections on Hydra, place and memory. His previous collections include Broken Borders and Unnecessary Tattoo.
Born in Taunton, Massachusetts, John studied poetry and law at the University of Notre Dame before beginning a career in criminal defence.
As a trial and appellate attorney, he handled serious felony cases and argued before Massachusetts’ highest courts. His experiences in law later informed his novel-in-progress, The Privilege.