Leighton Hollar is a West Indian America poet who immigrated from Kingston, Jamaica to the Bronx, New York in the early seventies. He began writing poetry in the late sixties and continues to develop his craft at poetry readings and workshops throughout the United States.
Leighton graduated Kingston College in 1971. His first poem, “Where is Love,” was published in the 1971 year book. He is a co-author of The Coming of Three Spirits, a well crafted book of poetry with Cynthia Harris and Gabrielle Lane-Clarke and the author of Rhyme Tyme, an illustrated poetry and coloring book for children ages six through 12 years with Samantha Fletcher as the Illustrator--A feat she accomplished when she was twelve years of age. Leighton’s latest book of poetry is Sacred Vessels, released in 2004. Hollar’s books are self published and Sacred Vessels has the distinction of being a part of Saint John’s University’s Spring semester.
Leighton has won many awards at Poetry Symposiums and from Small Press Magazines. He is published widely and currently recites his poetry with the group Blacklight Collective at Xpressions Night Club, every other Sunday and at Wembley Athletic Club every second Friday. Both are in the North East Bronx.
Hollar believes that being quiet and reserved as a youngster in Jamaica resulted in his missing out on many opportunities in school. He is, however, able to recall a few fond memories while at K.C. such as being taught piano basics by Douglas Forrest and
English and Literature Teacher, Edgeus Smythe, whose praise and encouragement Leighton believes helped in his passing “O’ Level English Language his first year at K.C. Leighton also remembers the Canteen Strike, which he recently found out was instigated by the President of KCOBA USA, Inc., Robert Kelly, and Dugs doing a Limerick Contest as a diversion. The winning Limerick for form 4J was
“A clever young student name Hollar
bought a Geometry Set with a Dollar
when a problem he met
he opened his set …”
This poem was completed and won by Winston Hylton with:
“and proved to be a brilliant scholar.”
Leighton recalls that each form had a Limerick to solve. The prize was lunch at the canteen. Another fond memory was Sports Day at K.C. and the Young Lady from Excelsior who came to see him and spent the day sitting on his lap.
Leighton Hollar is the father of four children. Three boys and a girl, two are adults and two are in their mid-teens. He recently got married for the second time and presently works in the Maintenance Department of a South Bronx Family Residence, which temporally houses families displaced by fire.
Leighton is an ardent supporter of KCOBA and the Kingston College Development Trust Fund and hopes to increase that support significantly in the near future.
