Voices of Poetry will present an evening featuring three poets and a musician on September 26 at the Center for the Spiritual Journey in Chatham. Each guest brings a unique life experience to the event.
Stephen Kuusisto, who has been blind since birth, is an acclaimed author. His works include “Have Dog, Will Travel: A Poet’s Journey” (Simon & Schuster, 2018), “Eavesdropping: A Memoir of Blindness and Listening” (W.W. Norton & Company, 2006), and “Planet of the Blind” (Delta, 1998). Recognized by The New York Times for his lyrical writing and emotional depth, Kuusisto’s latest poetry collection, “Close Escapes,” is set to be published by Copper Canyon Press in April 2025.
The event will take place at 5 p.m. at the Center for the Spiritual Journey, located at 880 Main St. (Route 28) in Chatham. The venue is accessible for individuals with disabilities. Tickets are priced at $10 and will be available at the door.
Joining Kuusisto will be poet Robert Carr and poet Jeannette de Beauvoir, along with singer/songwriter Paul Kehoe. Carr was the first HIV testing counselor with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. He dedicated 33 years to public health, retiring as Deputy Director of the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences. An award-winning poet, Carr is also part of Writing the Land, an initiative that connects poets with land trusts for conservation efforts.
Jeannette de Beauvoir is a poet and bestselling author known for her mysteries and historical fiction. A resident of Provincetown, she has published over a dozen novels, including “Our Lady in the Dunes,” set in 1940s Provincetown. In 2020, she won the Outermost Poetry Contest, judged by Marge Piercy.
Paul Kehoe, a singer/songwriter, has a background in education, having taught second grade in Brewster. He has created programs that entertain children with songs that focus on social and emotional learning. Kehoe is also a familiar face at local open mic nights. In 2020, he collaborated with Mary Wilson, founder of Pitter Patter Puppets, to produce children’s shows for Cape Rep Theatre titled “Puppets, Paul & Mary.”