In the heart of multicultural New York, in the vibrant neighbourhood of Astoria, among buildings that have witnessed generations of immigrants arriving, a special return quietly and solemnly took place. It was here, exactly 25 years ago, that Croatian Emigrant Poetry in New York was born – at the Croatian Catholic Mission of Blessed Ivan Merz – and poets gathered once again to mark a quarter of a century of existence for the world’s only living poetic association of Croatian emigrants.
A History of Love for the Homeland Written in Verse
The history of this Association began in 1999 with the arrival of Don Robert Zubović at the Croatian Catholic Mission in Astoria. Alongside a rich spiritual and cultural life, enthusiasts of the Croatian word began to gather. In an atmosphere of prayer and song, an idea was born that would outlive borders, oceans and time – to connect dispersed Croats through poetry, preserving language, identity and love for their homeland.
Poetry as a Bridge Between the Diaspora and Croatia
Since then, HIL NY has travelled thousands of miles – from New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, through Chicago, Montreal and Vancouver, all the way to Vienna, Vukovar, Rome and Dubrovnik. Each gathering marked a new step in this poetic mission. In every city, verses were transformed into bridges, and words reflected longing, pride and an unbreakable bond with Croatia.
The collections that emerged from these gatherings – a total of 24 – are not merely literary works, but chronicles of the soul of the emigrant. Titles such as Na braniku lipe nam hrvatske riči (On the Ramparts of Our Beautiful Croatian Word), U okrilju kraljice Jelene Uz žubor Jadra (In the Embrace of Queen Jelena by the Murmur of the Jadro), Tisuće milja opletenih stihovima (Thousands of Miles Woven with Verse), and Dubrovniče, umjetnošću tebi na dar (Dubrovnik, a Gift of Art to You) speak to the enduring strength of emotion, flowing from generation to generation.
The reviews of these collections have been signed by prominent names in Croatian literature, linguistics and cultural life – from Mate Maras, Igor Zidić and Tomislav Marijan Bilosnić, to Vinko Grubišić, Željka Lovrenčić and the late academic Jakša Fiamengo. These are names that confer legitimacy and affirm that the words of emigrants are just as valuable as those written in the homeland.
Yet what most captivates in the story of HIL NY is the human warmth. Poets who meet for the first time part with a smile and tears in their eyes, with the same wish: Safe journey home – see you next year.
In that one sentence lies the entire philosophy of HIL NY – unity, love, faith in the written word, and an eternal longing for the Homeland.
At the jubilee gathering in Astoria, the newest and 24th collection was presented, symbolising a closed circle and a new beginning. Alongside it, the poets gifted the Croatian Catholic Mission with all previous collections and the monograph Tisuće milja opletenih stihovima – a lasting legacy for future generations of Croats in America. Among the new poets were participants from Argentina, Australia, Brazil and the USA, once again confirming HIL NY’s universal strength and reach. They included Ante Radić, Ruža Dabić Bučak, Žarko Dugandžić, Ivan Grbac, Javier Santich, Milan Knezović, Srećko Mavrek and Željko Maračić, while guest writer Stjepan Asić from Perth was also part of the anniversary celebration.
The occasion, however, would not have been possible without those who have watched over Croatian Emigrant Poetry in New York for decades.
Special thanks were extended to Josip Bogović, poet from New York and programme moderator; Don Saša Ilijić, head of the Croatian Catholic Mission of Blessed Ivan Merz; as well as to the American-Croatian Congress and the Central State Office for Croats Abroad for their support.
The significance of HIL NY was also recognised by former President of the Republic of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, who granted her high patronage.
Twenty-five years on, HIL NY, thanks to its initiator Nada Pupačić, remains a beacon of the Croatian word in the world.
In an age where identities are fading and languages are diluted, this association proves that the mother tongue, spoken from the heart, has the power to connect people, bridge oceans, and endure forever.
Text: Branka Bezić Filipović
Photos: various authors, private collections