Page 10 - North Haven Magazine Issue 23 Spring 2022

Gabriella Brand
Gabriella Brand
by Marisa Hexter

North Haven’s First Poet Laureate

he first time Gabriella Brand discovered poetry, she was five years old. From a young
Tage, Brand was reading everything in reach, from cereal cartons to Encyclopedias.
When she found that old poetry book that belonged to her father, Gabriella fell in love
with the rhyme and music of the poems. Coming from a musical family, “...I had no mu-
sical talent...So I think that reciting poetry allowed me to participate in the pleasure of
rhythm and sound...” And recite she did. From Ann Lowell to Paul Laurence Dunbar to
Yeats, Gabriella’s parents would often have her recite poems after dinner. “Poetry was just
part of my childhood fun.”
In high school, Brand was very active in spired to create a bucket list. On that list
both student government and athletics. was to spend time writing and sending off Gabriella Brand
She played field hockey and volleyball her work to different publications. Brand
and also was a competitive fencer. Writ- states, “I was extremely lucky. I sent two
ing though was never far behind. While poems to Echoes, the journal of Maine be- were spot-on.”Since being appointed, Ga-
she was involved in her school’s Literary cause my husband is originally from Maine briella has gone right to work. “No one has
Magazine where more serious short stories and I had written some poems about him played this role before in North Haven, so
and poetry were published, Gabriella also and his family farm. The editor was so re- it’s unexplored territory.” Brand is very ex-
enjoyed writing for her friends; from love sponsive. She accepted my work and en- cited to start hosting and participating in
poetry to satirical poems about teachers. couraged me. Then The Christian Science events in town. She already ran a Poetry
Monitor published one of my poems enti- Café on Zoom through the library in Feb-
tled “In the Haut Jura” and they paid me! ruary. Two projects Gabriella is working
I was thrilled.” Then, while working at the on include talking to and working with
Foote School, Gabriella was impressed by a students in North Haven schools and cre-
group of young teachers reading and shar- ating a combined poetry and music event
ing their own works with each other. “It in coordination with her son, a choral con-
was inspirational. I questioned what was ductor.
holding me back.” Since then, Gabriella
has seen her work published in over fifty In May, Gabriella will be offering a writ-
literary magazines and in 2016, she was ing course at the library. For this event
nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She has Brand states, “My hope is that people will
Gabriella Brand's publications won several prizes for her travel writing. take that course who want to explore dif-
ferent mediums, talk about good writing,
become better writers, learn how to mold
“My background in languages and my a poem or a story, and see how they can
interest in words led me directly into my get involved with the written word here in
career path,” Brand says. After studying North Haven.”
French Literature at the University of
Neufchâtel and world literature at Antioch On April 23, Gabriella will be introduced
College, she also received an advanced de- formally to the community at an event at
gree in French pedagogy at Middlebury the library at 2 pm and is looking forward
College. After college, Gabriella taught to meeting members of the community, es-
French, Latin, Spanish, and English over pecially those who might be interested in
the years, along with other subjects. “I’ve poetry, literature, short stories, and more.
had wonderful career opportunities. I Gabriella Brand with writing group
had an internship at the United Nations Gabriella enjoys being active and you can
and a stint at the Arctic Institute as part There has been a recent shift into nam- see her hiking, skiing, and kayaking. She
of my Antioch undergraduate work. I’ve ing Poet Laureates across the country, volunteers with refugees, serving some-
done some crazy things too.” One of those and North Haven has begun the process times as a translator, and is also a lay
“crazy things” included being part of The of looking for someone to represent our minister in the Unitarian tradition. Brand
French Buffoons, clown performers who community. The town had created a spe- continues to teach languages in the OLLI
wrote their own material. While she was cial committee composed of political, program at UCONN since 2008. She lives
an adjunct in the language department at business, and educational leaders to help with her husband Douglas and has four
SCSU, Gabriella primarily worked in inde- choose the first representative of the title. children and ten grandchildren.
pendent schools from The Foote School, to A friend of Gabriella’s encouraged her to
Ezra Academy and Cheshire Academy. “I apply. “I filled out an application, explain- North Haven is proud to bestow the title of
loved teaching young people and working ing why I wanted to take on this volun- Poet Laureate to an ever-deserving Gabri-
with parents and families.” teer role, my goals, my background, etc. I ella Brand!
submitted samples of my poetry. Then we
For a while, Gabriella’s passion for writ- had some Zoom interviews where I had If you are interested in reading more
ing took a back seat while her children to share my work and my ideas. I found about Gabriella and reading some of her
were young. Two events during this time the interviews really fun to do. I am very work, please check out her website
though inspired her to start to write again. grateful to all the people who volunteered https://gabriellabrand.net/
With the unfortunate deaths of her best for that committee. I thought the proce-
friend and sister-in-law, Gabriella was in- dure was very well run and their questions

North Haven Magazine - Spring Issue 2022
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