Oggi tu hai capito tutto...
(a mia madre)
Forse non hai mai capito
tutte le lacrime che hai versato....
Forse non hai mai compreso
la sofferenza che hai subito...
Ma oggi che ti trovi
faccia a faccia col tuo Creatore
oggi hai capito tutto...
Madre !

Today you've understood... (to my mother)

Maybe you've never understood
all the tears you've shed...
Maybe you've never understood
all the sufferings you've been through...
But today
on coming face to face with your Creator,
today you've fully understood....
Mother !

Kollox b il-qies
Ghamel il-bniedem:
Zmien li tiffanga,
Zmien li tixxennaq,
Zmien li tisker,
Zmien li tmut ghal qatra,
Zmien tizni,
Zmien li ssum,
Zmien li tiskot,
Zmien li tinza’
Gharwien hsibijietek
U ssawarhom f’ poezija.

Wiccek wicc
Tina mqadda
Jixhed l-immensita
Taz-zmien.

Jekk ic-Cinizi
(kif jghidu dejjem)
Huma ta’ wick wiehed,
Tghid huma hatja
Ta’ adulterju?

Jekk tbusni
l-bewsa tat-tradiment
nieqsaminn kull
hjiel ta’ sentiment

Jekk tarani
Msallab fuq il-Golgota, habib,
U tisfidani ninzel
Minn fuq is-salib…

Jekk tniggizni bil-lanza
Tieghek mimlija semm
U tohrogli ilma u demm…

Kun af li dawn hargu
Minn pjagi mifnija
Jnixxu imhabba u poezija!

Xahham u rifes lil shabu
biex kiseb l-unuri
l-aqwa li l-ghada
xeghel xemgha quddiem id-Duluri!

ll-qalb u r-ruh
tbewsu f’ lejl ta’ mhabba
u welldu poezijal!

Iz-zewg mahbubin tqallbu
F’ sodda ccaqcaq taht passjoni tahraq.
U fuqhom ezatt, tittawwal siekta
l-ikona baqghet ticcassa…

We have enough religion to
Make us hate, but not enough to
Make us love one another.

Swift

F’ hajja ta’ poeta
M’ hemmx mument
Li fih m’ hemmx qatra ta’ turment.

‘I am a man who, when Love lectures in the heart, takes
Notes, and then retells the lessons to the rest of the
people’.

Dante Alighieri

F’dinja
mimlija assurdita
triq wahda
hemm biex tehles:
Triq I-Eternita.

Tqil wisq is-sabar.
Tghid jintemm
jew jizdied fil-qabar?

Tihux ghalik Mulej
Jekk nghidlek:
Li ghal hafna nies
Int gejt ghalxej’!

Tiftakar, nistahbew
taht il-mejda fuq l-ghatba tat-tfulija
nistennew biex intiru fl-ispazju?

Tiftakar, nistahbew
taht is-sodda fuq l-ghatba ta’ l-irgulija
nistennew il-qofol tal-piacir?

F’holma f’ qiegh ta’ sodda
fuq l-ghatba tax-xjuhija
ghad nistennew qabel immorru
ghall-ahhar vjagg fl-univers.

ll-bierah tlajt it-trejqa,
it-trejqa lejn l-gholjiet,
biex forsi fuqha nara
sinjal taz-zminijiet.

Fix-xahar imdellek u melliesi ta’ Settembru,
jibdew f’ daqqa sajjetti u halbiet
u ghalija dlonk tfaqqa’
nixxiegha mhalta ta’ tifkiriet

Bhalma lizar
ikebbeb bniedem,
hekk kebbibni
B’imhabbtek, Mulej!

Barra r-rih
Wara t-tieqa.
Fuq palk, halqha mcarrat
Zeffiena tikxef sieqha…

Qamar Imdawwal
titlobnix mistoqsija
sa ma nholl il-misteru
li qed jinhema gewwa fija.

Biex is sib
il-pont bejn
il-holm u r-realta
iddum eternita.

Habbejtek poezija
Ghaziza daqs it-talb.
Int sirt il-ghan ta’ hajti.
Int biss serhan tal-qalb.

Mill-guf ta’ qalbek
tohrog il-kelma
u ssir poezija.

Imwieghra tkun it-triq
Meta fil-parlament
Ma jikbirx
Xewk u gholliq.

Though wave after wave of desolation
Has hurled itself upon the city
The cherrytree still blooms
As in days gone by:

OLD JAPANESE POEM

Ohlom poeta
Ohlom holm sabih,
Ghada izernaq jum iehor
U facli jtirlek mar-rih.

Barra r-rih
Wara t-tieqa.
Fuq palk, halqha mcarrat
Zeffiena tikxef sieqha…

Mohhi jofroq
il-hsibijiet.
Xi darba nidhol
fil-port tal-fidwa.

Forsi xi darba nifhem
Ghax il-hajja ma tiswiex
U biex nifhem
Nipprova nhaddem il-kelma
Bla ma naf ghaliex.

(lil Alfred Massa: habib u poeta li b’kitbietu rega’ qanqal fija l-poezija li donnha kienet nixfet)

Id-dmugh li hsibtu nixef
il-bierah rega’ gelben
fuq xfar ghajnejja,
X’ hin rajt hajti
xmara bil-mod ghaddejja.
Bil-muza qalbi
regghet tkebbset mimlija xrar
u ghal ftit waqtiet
insejt daqxejn I-imrar.

Meta dakinhar
li tiftah qabri
u tifli dak li b aqa’ minni:
ftit ghadam jitmermer,
u tiftakar fiz-zmien sabih
li ghamilna flimkien:
Toqghodx tibkini,
ghax dakinhar
inkun diga nsejt x’inhi l-hajja!

Ghaziz hija,
Il-mument li
Nkun bdejt nifhem
Il-misteri tal-univers,
Dakinhar, ghaziz hija,
Tieqaf ghal dejjem il-poezija.

(lil Sharon)

Meta tiftah pjaga
ma taghlaq qatt u qatt,
u d-demm li jqattar minnha
jqattar is-skiet ta’ ruhek
fejn ma jismghu hadd.

Meta tiftah
il-bieb ta’ qalbi
ssabtux warajk.
Idhol inkiss inkiss
u hekk nisimghek diehla
jien biss.

(inspirata mill-film “what dreams may come”)

Meta nohlom
nohlom bik
ninsa l-hemm
li qed jifnik…
meta tohlom
ohlom bija
ohloq fija
il-poezija.

(jew il-poezija ta’ l-ezilju)

Meta minn ghajnejja
nimsah l-ahhar demgha,
b’talba fommi lejn is-sema…

Meta nifred id-dmugh
mill-qtar mielah tad-demm…

Meta widnejja jisktu
mill-kliem ahdar mimli semm…

Imbaghad dakinhar biss,
forsi nibda nghix mill-gdid.

Meta l-poeta jibki
Alla jibki mieghu,
U d-dinja lanqas biss tinduna.

Habib, illum
niggiztli l-poezija,
u rnexxielek
tohrog id-dmugh
qares tat-tbatija!

(B’dedika lil dawk l-insara li ghadhom isallbu lil Kristu fil-proxxmu Taghhom)

Mulej
Meta tibki,
tiftakar it-tisliba
li baqghu isallbuk,
li daqghu isallbuk,
(dawk li jghidu li jhobbuk)
Tibki l-gerha li qatt
U qatt ma nsejt,
Mulej,
Hallini nibki mieghek
Kif qatt u qatt ma bkejt!

L-imhabba xibka
xabla li tinfed
sakemm toqtol.
Minn fahhar l-imhabba
fil-ktieb Etern
qal il-verita.
Izda ma qalx kollox,
ghax ma qabillux.

Mhux minn jeddi
Nohloq dil-liturgija.
Titnissel biss mill-imhabba,
mill-hemm, mid-demm.
Ghalhekk dan ir-ritwal stramb.
Ghalhekk dil-poezija.

F’hajti hemm
Zwieg bejn xewqat u liturgija:
Iwelldu demm u poezija.

O missier tieghi,
Issa,
Bil-mod int qieghed thaddan
Is-salib tieghek…
Demmek qieghed icarcar
U jaghti l-ahhar lehen
Lil ruh li qieghda tibki…
O missier tieghi,
Jien ukoll irrid li nibki:
‘mma le ma nistax…
Nista’ biss nuza d-dmugh tieghi
Biex nikteb versi mqaddsa
Illi ghalik ikunu elegija:
U sejjer naghmlu dan,
Sewsew kif jien ukoll inhalli
Is-salib tieghi…
O missier tieghi;
Meta l-ahhar kelma tiskot
Fuq xufftejk,
Meta dik il-holma twila
Ittir hafifa bhalma ziffa
Quddiem ghajnejk…
Jispicca dakinhar id-dramm hekk kiefer
Tal-hajja tieghek…
U jinzel is-siparju darba ghal dejjem
Fuq firxa art bla tmiem.

IL-VERZJONI BIT-TALJAN TA’ DIN IL-POEZIJZA BIT -TITLU “A MIO PADRE MORENTE’’ REBHET L-WEEWL PREMJU FIL-KONKORS ‘’FRONTIERE LETTERARIE 2000(ROMA)’’.

(lil Josette)

Lewn ghajnejk
Donnu hamrija
Sabiha xitwija
Mimlija poezija

Meta waqfu l-hsejjes
Madwar l-ibilet
Lehnek baqa’ jidwi
Qanpiena helwa fis-skiet.

Qaluli li bkejt
Marija
biki tad-demm,
kif darba beka ibnek
mifni fil-hemm.
U filwaqt li l-bnedmin
jitqatlu fil-qerda, fis-semm,
int tibqa’ tibki Marija,
forsi xi darba ninhelsu
mis-sahta u l-apatija!

Il-hajja mhix
hlief illuzjoni,
il-mewt hi biss realta
trejqa li twasslek
fi hdan l-eternita

Farfett, fis-skiet
isoff fjura:
hu jghum fit-tjubija,
jien fil-poezija!

Kollox jinbidel.
kollox jintemm;
il-ferh, id dmugh u l-hemm.
Int kont, ghadek u tibqa’
All a ta’ dejjem bis sliem
int kont, ghadek u tibqa’
Sid il-wesghat bla tmiem.

Pagna wara pagna
Jiemi jitgerbbu.
Tliet mija hamsa u sittin f’ daqqa
Bil-frosta taz-zmien.

Ghaliex il-hajja
Sabiha t’ ghasfur
Tinsteraq u tintemm
B’ tir qerriedi… ta’ kaccatur?

(varjazzjoni)

Ghaliexx it-tir qerriedi
Ta’ kaccatur
Item u jisraq
Hajja sabiha t’ ghasfur?

Jista’ l-bahar u x-xtajta
ma jitbewsu qatt
jew il-bniedem jibqa’
gzira wahdu ma jkellem lil hadd?

Jien artist
li tghallimt
l-arti mahmuga ta l-politika
U bqajt artist…

(b’dedika lil xi had lijahsed li hu ‘’kbir’’)

Ircieva lil Alla
taht hobz u nbid,
izda meta l-proxxmu
talbu pjacir wiegbu:
‘’Lanqas jekk immut
ma n’tik li trid!’’

Inti fommok sieket
daqs dak li jisma’ l-qrar.
il-kelma qatt ma fieqet
hemm biss u biss imrar.

Harbatha u kissirha
l-ghalqa tas-silla
l-aqwa li bena I-villa!

Tul hajti ghext
il-poezija habib,
u mal-poezija
dejjem ghext is-salib.

Bi hsus f’’ qalbi
fi hsibijieti
nirkeb fil-mirkeb,
nghix il-qtar ta’ mumenti
ta’ jiem l-imghoddija

Anna l-karizmatika
kienet qed tixrob il-kafe
qalet ‘’Kemm hu tajjeb,
Viva Kristu Re!’’

X’ hemda! Xi gmiel!
Blanzun qed jiftah
Bla ma jitbiel.

Dalghodu rajt lin-Nazzarenu
Nofsu gharwien: is-sodda, salib.
Madwaru centurjun u suldati:
Infermiera u tabib.

ll-gilda xriefet
u l-kanali t’ ghajnejja
xxottaw mid-dmugh
Trabbew wisq pjagi
F’ ruhi.

Dhalt fil-masgar iswed tal-hajja
meta dwal is-sema kienu mitfija,
u biex nofroq triqti fid-dalma tal-lejl
urieni d-dawl: ll-Fanal tal-Poezija!

U l-buffu
dahaq id-dahqa tieghu
dahqa wahdanija,
u l-poplu
dahaq id-dahqa
sakemm ghalaq is-siparju
u hallih wahdu
ma’ ruhu mbikkija!

ll-gejjieni hu
bieb imsakkar
Allah ares issib
Thared il hinn minnu,
Ghax dakinhar
teghreq
l-gharaq tad-demm.

Jien ittra
f’ elf wahda
f’ nofs djarju
Infinit.

(lil hbiebi li hasbu li ergajt waqajt fil-pessimizmu ‘’endemiku’’ tieghi)

Hemm demgha
li hsibt li nixtet.
Hemm tbissima
Li hsibt li ghabet.
ll-Bniedem hu
klissi:
tbissim u dmugh
kuljum jinbidel
f’ zewgt ucuh.

Hawwadni ha nifhem
Il-bluha u l-genn
Tal-bnedmin,
Li f’dal-manikomju ta’ dinja
Jinsabu msakkrin…

(miktuba ftit hin qabel intervista’ fuq it-televizjoni u moqrija fl-istess Intervista)

Hallini naqsam mieghek
it-triq tal-hajja,
Naf…fiha wisq inzul
Milli tlajja’:
U meta thoss jaghfas
It-toqol tas-salib
Ftakar biss u biss
Li mieghek hemm habib!

(lil Sergio Grech-habib u poeta)

Sabih l-ezilju
l’ boghod mill-gungla
Tal-genn u l-medjokrita’.

(lil habibi Mark Schembri- b’ qima)

Bi gmiel il-hsieb
Dlonk issebbah int it-tila.
Qatt ma jista’ jonqos
Met’ int artist bil-kif u b’ hila!

(lil Afred Palma)

Konvint bla ma nghir
Li f’ dinja ohra
Shakespeare u Dante
Jilqghuk u jroddulek hajr!

Ghajnejja pellegrini
Jfittxu t-triqat
Tlikki, tlikki jimxu
B il-bsaten tax-xewqat.

Ghajnejja ghad
jaraw dlam il-qabar,
waqt li ruhi tithenna
bid-Dehra Tieghek bla sabar.

Ghada mmorru
lejn id-dar,
warajna nhallu
dinja mimlija
demm u mrar!

Ghada ghad izemaq
jum gdid.
Ghada jintemm
id-dell ta’ i-imghoddi.
Ghada nara
wiccek ghall-ewwel darba
Mulej!

Minn damdam
Lil Kristu
Damdam lili wkoll
Kull lejla nghodd
Il-pjagi ta’ ruhi
Wahda, wahda.
Nsoff it-tifkira
Ta’ mumenti mdemma.

Li kieku
s-skiet kien gawhar,
kont nibni l-kastell mill-arja.

Darba kien hemm qtil.
Darba gera d-demm
Fuq il-gholja qaddisa ta’ Gerusalemm.
Minn dakinhar
ma waqaf qatt is-semm
Fuq il-gholja ghaziza ta’ Gerusalemm.

lrnexxieli nidhol
fis-saltna tal-qlub
u ma sibtx hlief tub!

Fejn kotrot
it-tbatija
kotrot izjed
il-poezija.

Hemm fantasija
minghajr fruntieri
li-tinzel bhal balzmu
donnha ilma gieri…

Hemm fantasija
minghajr fruntieri
‘il boghod, ‘il boghod
Mid-dmija u truncieri!

Li kieku mhux
ghall-poezija,
hajti saret
ezistenza mohlija.

U kollox idur bija
u kollox minghajr sliem.
Flajti donnha riesqa
bil-giri lejn it-tmiem.

Dak li l-bierah
kien demm shun u jbaqbaq
Illum sar biss
ticpis kiesah bla hajja
fit-toroq ta’ Sarajevo, Kabul,
Gronzy u l-bqija…

ll-lejla naghmlu
r-ritwali tas-soltu
u ndawru l-hin
ghax-xitwa…

Mhux li kien.
Li konna ndawru
l-arlogg u nreggghu
lura l-grajjiet koroh tal-hajja!

Elfejn sena ilu,
Gie fid-dinja
Id-dawl ta’ dejjem,
Maghmul bniedem
bhala fidwa
ghalina l-bnedmin,
U saru l-wesghat kollha’ mixghulin…
Elfejn sena wara,
l-istess bnedmin,
if akkru din il-grajja,
b’ dawl iehor artificjali,
ta’ kull ghamla, ta’ kull kulur,
li ghammxu lit-trabi tax-xemgha,
fit-tiben imgezwrin,
qalb il-vetrini mdawlin
u saru t-toroq kollha mixghulin…

We do not remember days,
We remember moments.

CESARE PAVESA

(mal-mewt tal-poeta)

Dakinhar tinxiflek
l-ahhar demgha.
Dakinar min qatt
Ma fehmek jinfethulu ghajnejh,
U dak li inti qatt ma fhimt
Tifhmu dakinhar.

Dakinhar ghajnejja
ma jimtlewx izjed bid-dmugh
ghana sabih biss jisimghu widnejja.
Imdawwar bil-gnien etem ifuh!

ll-hajja teatrin
mimli asssurdita.
Arani, se naqbad
il-bieb ta’ barra
infittex l-eternita!

ll-hin sar ihabbru
bl-iskossi
That it-toqol taz-zmien,
l-arlogg ukoll, lanqas
ghadu jiflah jitkellem.

L-Artist huwa spluzjoni sublimi ta’ energija

Ahna qatr’ ilma
li timla univers.
marda qerrieda
li qed timla dinja
b’mod pervers.

ll-bierah nizlet farka
mill-ispazju, mill-eternita,
wahda minn miljun
li jinzlu kuljum.
Izda hadd ma nduna,
Ghax inharqet bl-atmosfera…

‘Il hinn mis-skiet tal –qabar…
Hemm biss jinsabu
Il-mistrieh u s-sabar

Ghalkemm demm ghalik
m’ghandix fija,
awguri xorta nghidlek
bil-qerq u ipokresija!

Zammejt qawwi
zammejt shih
u s-snin li ghaddew minn fuqi
donnhom kienu ziffa rih.

Fil-waqt li kont qieghed
Nixtarr il-wesghat
l-orizzont bla tarf ta’ l-univers
ilmaht ideik fl-ibhra, xmajjar u nixxighat
fil-hoss ta’ l-ilma gieri,
fl-ghana ta’ l-aghsafar,
ilmaht sebghek,
fit-ttassil ta’ bniedem gdid,
fis-skiet ta’ guf ommu,
ilmaht lil wiccek ghaziz
fhija, f’ohti,
u f’dan kollu rajt rifless
fil-mera tal-holm
hajjet il-bniedem
mimlija bahh,
mhux fis-skiet,
izda fl-storbju ta’ madwari,
ta’ hajja mghaggla li thallik bla nifs,
u minkejja dan kollu,
hassejt dawk idejk qatt ghajjiena,
jerfghuni, u b’ sahhet il-muza,
iserrhuni, fil-waqt li nittajjar,
qalb l-eghmejjel la’ idejk,
wesghat bla tarf.

Werqa misjura
waqghet mis-sigra
u ntilfet qalb in-nixxighat
it-tokki mill-kappella ta’
biswit
qed ihabbru t-tmiem ta’ xi hadd.

Demain, dan Ie vellen, vallann le voyageur,
Se souvenant de ma gloire premiere.,.
Werther
Massenet

Hemm karba Ii qatt
ma nstemghet,
Hemm talba li qatt
ma nzerghet,
Hemm gisem jitmermer
go qabar.
Hemm ruh tistenna
is-sabar,
Hemm univers sieket
ixerred is-sliem,
Hemm warda ghal
kull Rebbiegha,
Biex tfewwah u twarrad
Kull zmien

Jien vjolin
li jibki f’misrah
fejn ma jisimghu had-
is-sinfonila li tintilef
fil-lejl tax-xejn u qatt.

Dawk li f’hajjithom
eghdewwa kienu t-tnejn,
ntemmu qabar ma’ qabar
izda ruhhom min jaf fejn?

Tliet hwejjeg
iwelldu l-poezija,
Tliet hwejjeg:
Dmugh demm u tbatija.

Tihux ghalija
Jekk nghidlek
Li haninti hi biss il-poezija.

Tifkira, tifkira,
ghaliex tkahhalt fis-subkonxju
anki jekk bla tifsira?

Ghad norqod raqda twila
li minnha rna nqum qatt
u fejn immur bil-mohbi
ma nghid lil hadd u hadd.

(Lil M.G.)

ll-hinkolIu.
bix-xoqhol tarani ghaddej:
Staqsejtni “Dan kollu ghalfej’?”
Qalbi tirtghod
meta niftakar li suwicidju qed naghmel bil-mod.

Fuq rasi
arlogg itektek
il-minuti ta’ hajti.

F’idejja vrus
ta’ poeta habib
li miet qabli.

Fuq gradenza
zewgt ifliexken
wiehed vojt u l-iehor mimli.

U bint id-dnub zifnet
iz-zifna taz-zina
li gieghlet lil
Erodi jwieghed imqar
nofs is-saltna tieghu
‘mma hi ma talbet xejn
hlief ras il-Battista.

U Salome ghadha tizfen
Iz-zifna taz-zina
U ggieghel liz-zghazagh
Tal-lum iwieghdu mqar
Nofs is-saltna ta’ ruhhom
Imma hi ma titlob xejn
Hlief ras irgulithom.

(lil M.G.)

Ruhi fjamma hamra nar
li tikwi
li tqabbad
li tahraq
bil-lejl u bin-nhar.

Minn kliemi
naghmillek kullana
ha tlibbes lil qalbek mifnija
U minn hsibijeti
ndewqek hjiel ta’ poezija

Hajti grajja
Miktuba fis-shab.
Gismi storja
Mitlufa fit-trab.

Jien nomadu solitarju
Li naqsam desert jikwi
Nisma’ l-eku ta’ hsibijieti
Mibdul f poezija.

Xejn ma jigi mix-xejn,
hlief hajja li tinbet
go sodda ta’ tnejn.

Ridt nibki u ma flahtx
ridt nikteb u ma stajtx,
Forsi kont Mehdi wisq
Nizfen iz-zifna kiebja
Ta’ hajti mghannaq mas-salib
Izda’ issa ma rrridx
Nizflinha izjed din iz-zifna.
Irrid biss nxerred vrus qalbi.
Inxerred biss dmugh ghajnejja.
ll-Milonga hija zifna ta’ l-Argentina.
Hija zifna partikolarl, agonizzanti,
bil-mod, u sabiha fejn id-daq kollettiv
jinhass f’’ kull moviment ta’ din iz-zifna nazzjonali.

Int u jien
mewga tafal
jinharaq fil-forn tal-hajja
idub ftit-ftit
fl-eternita.

Inutli fil-hajja
tfittex ir-raguni,
metal-mewt m’ ghandiex staguni.

Madwari xejn
Hlief musbieh inemnem
Tal-poezija.

ll-bqija xejn
hlief dlam.
Hemda u skiet.

U strahet ir-ruh
Li kienet infniet.

Mhux veru dak li qal
xi hadd li-imghoddi ghadda u mar.
l-imghoddi ma jithassarx b’gomma
dak li sar, sar.

Kulhadd zifen
bis-sahha tal-gharusa.
Hasra, fir-ritratt
donnha giet wicc il-qrusa!

Il-bniedem fassal wahdu
x-xemx tac-civilita
Izda l-Malti holoq qalbu
l-bosk tal-medjokrita

ll-hsieb igib il-hsieb.
U wiehed wiehed
donnhom hagriet mill-ifjen
f’idejn imghallem ta’ hila
jissaffew f’ nar qalil
ta’ dmugh ta’ demm.
U jsiru kullana gawhar
biew jintlibsu m’ghonq il-poezija

Kuljum noholmu holma
b’xewqat umitt vizjoni
sakemm f’ Misrah ir-realta’
tisfuma l-illuzjoni.

Harstek ktieb mifluh
li l-pagni tieghu
ghadhom ma tqattghux.

Minn xi zmien l’hawn,
kollox sar komuni
il-mewt izda,
minn dejjem kienet komuni.

Kieku kull bieb
jinghalaq ghalija

Kieku tintemm
din qalbi mifnija

Kieku widnejja
jisktu meta jkarwad is-sema

Kieku jintemmu
dawn id-dwejjaq
u mill-ghajn tal-hajja
ma jkollix izjed ghalfejn nitrejjaq.

Jiena qatr’ilma.
Ghaddejja fi xmara.
Illum jew ghada ninhall f’ocejan.

Jekk xi darba, xi vrus
issibni nikteb, hanini
nitolbok twaqqafnix
Ghal dak il-hin tfittixnix.
Inkun qed niggieled mal-muza,
li kellimtha
u ma wegbitnix!

Jekk tlissen dil-kelma
hadd mhu ser jismaghha.
Tlissinha ghalxejn
hlief biex tibqa’ tidwi
fil-bahh ta’ l-imghoddi-
tirxoxta biss
fis-skiet tal-lejl.

Minn dit-triq ghaddejt u nghaddi
fiha l-ward u fiha x-xewk.
Minn dit-triq ghaddejt u nghaddi
sakemm tilhaqni l-mewt.

Dawn il-hbub
T’ ghajnejja
Jiswew daqs l-imhabba
Ta’ go fija,
Lejk u-l-Poezija.

(Lill-hafna li naf – b’dedeika minn qalbi!)

Jekk hawn oggett
Hajjen mqit u hazin-
Dan zgur issibu
F’ ilsien il- Maltin!

ll-bierah nizel
it-traxxix tax-xita
qalb il-hemda tal-wied.
ll-lum diga qed jinten
l-ilma qieghed.
Qalb il-hemda tal-wied.

Ilbierah tkarrabt talba
hanina taht I-ilsien.
Qalbi ghada tikwi
hamra bin-nirien.

U-pilatu staqsa
lil Kristu:’’X’-inhi l-Verita?’’
U waqa’ s-skiet-
is-skiet t’eternita’.

Mil-lum irrid
nidfen il-hsibijjiet
il-qodma fil-mizbla
tal-passat
bla ma nieqaf
nimxi u nimrah
fil-berah tax-xewqat.

ll-lum ergajt imxejtha
t-trejqa tal-wied
u mxejt tul il-korsija
fuq it-tapit hadrani
bil-fjuri
fuq kull naha lebsin il-libsa tal-festa
qawsalla ta’ kuluri.
U smajt ir-rih
Imexxi l-liturgija
U smajt il-kor
ighanni l-poezija.

Ara l-kwiekeb donnhom qed iharsu lejna …
u dan l-univers sieket
ghandu tifsira li ma nafuhiex.

Idhol hafja f’ qalbi
tfajila samranija
nessini d-dmugh, dewwaqni biss
il-benna taz-zoghzija

Hsibijiet pjagi
tas-subkonxju
Inixxu bla waqfien
Demm kristallizzat.

Hsibijjeti gugarell
jilaghbu noli mal-blat samm
tal-hajja.

(B’dedika lil-medjokrita Maltija)

Milhux fil-bwiet
jeww fil-hamrija
Rajt il-hofor, izda
F’mohh Malta Maltija.

Hlomt b’ghodwa gdida
hanina bis-sliem,
li tfawwar bil-ferh
bil-hena bla tmiem.

Hlomt b’lejla safja
hanina turi s-sema,
li tnessi kull ghawg
tixxotta kull demgha.

Hlomt b’ghanja helwa
hanina tofroq is-skiet
li tfejjaq kull gerha
fejn instemqhet u fejn dwiet.

Hawn ideal li
Ghad jintrebah,
Bir-riedha, bil-haqq,
Hemm sinfonija li
Ghad tinstama’,
Maz-ziffa helwa tal-ghodwa,
Hemm poezija li
Ghad tinkiteb,
Bil-gharaq tad-demm,
Hemm blanzun li
Ghad jinfetah
Ha jnessi d-dwejjaq u l-hemm.

Harist lejn is-sema
ikhal car
u nsejt il-hajja
hamra nar.

Holma mhux holma
tal-biza, x’wahda din:

Tghid in-nies saru bhejjem
Jew il-bhejjem saru bnedmin?

Habib li ma tarax
tghirx ghal min jara
ghax allahares kellek
tara li jkolli nara jien.

Habib li ma tismax,
tghirx ghal min jisma’
ghax allahares kellek
tisma’ li nisma’ jien.

Habib, xi drabi nixtieq
li kont bhal dik l-istatwa
tax-xadina li la tara,
la tisma’ u lanqas titkellem.

Lil Joe Julian Farrugia – Habib u poeta

Ghalik jitkellmu l-allat
ilkoll qawwija
fis-sebh ta’ jum
bejn dawl u dija.

Ghalik fil-hemda
sewdiena tal-lej’
jinstama’ hlejju
il-lehen tal-Mulej.

Ghalik il-kelma
taghti l-frott.
Ghalik il-kelma
tibni u thott.

Ghalik il-hsejjes
joholqu sinfonija.
Ghalik il-hlejjaq
isawru poezija.

Univers-Ocean
Ghajnejk jinfduni
U jaharquli sal-qiegh ta’ ruhi
Fis-sikta ta’ lejl taht qamar mimli.

Ghajnejk
perli suwed
f’bahar samran.

Ftakar ja bniedem
li kaxkartni fit-trab
li jasal zmien meta int tinharaq
-u jien nitbissimlek mis-shab!

Meta tidhol hawn
fittex is salib biss.
U meta l-kelma
tindifen f’ruhek
ohrog inkiss, inkiss.

Jaghaddu x-xhur
u jghaddu s-snin
u l-hajja tieqaf, tieqaf,
fix-xmara tal-mejtin.

Din qalbi mifnija
ghad tinhall u ddub
fix-xemx tal-poezija.

Meta kollox ikun mitmum
ghad nirxoxta dan gismi mmuffat
fit-tielet jum.

Lil Ruth Sammut

Hemm saltna misterjuza fejn
M’hemmax dmugh u lanqas tbatija
U nghixu fiha t-tlieta li ahna-
Int Jien u l-Poezija.

F’Misrah Qawsalla
Qed jaghmlu festa:
Daqqa jidghu b’dak
U daqqa jidghu b’Alla.

Ilmahtek iggorr lil ibnek,
Imbikkem maghtus
Mid-dwejiaq,
Jitlob bil-hniena,
Biex mill-marda qerrieda
Jigi mfehiaq,
Ilmahtek tibki siekta,
Lid-dinja mifnija
Fil-hemm,
Lil ulied bla htija
Jitqatlu bla htija
Jitqatlu bla razan
Go xmara ta’ demm,
Ilmaht lil wiccek
Imbikki u mnikket
Fil-wicc tal kull omm
Imbikki u msikket

Din il-poezija rebhet it-Tieni Premju fil-Konkors ta’ Poezlji Marjani

Fl-Gharb, fl-1991

Id-dmugh izzelleg
Sieket fuq haddejn
It-tfajjel imgewwah
f’nofs Gezzemani niexef qoxqox
u t-tfajjel ipprova jixrob
mill-kalci ta’ l-imrar
– Landa taz-zingu
u sabu diga vojt,
U l-qtar tad-dmuqh
ma’ sarlux demm
ghax lahaq iffriza qabel waqa’ ma’ l-art.
U d-dinja ta’ madwaru misthija.misthija
baqghet tohlom fl-apatija.

To die is hard, to live is harder still.

Vincent Van Gogh.

F’ nofs l-iljieli ta’ hajti
minn jum ghal iehor
minn sena ghal ohra mxeit minn fuq
il-pont invizibbli
ta’ tnax-il pass
fuq vjagg ta’ bla ritorn.

Rikkibni fuq gwenhajk,
Hudni ‘l boghod minn hawn
U tajjarni ‘l fuq
Qalb il-kampanja Maltija
Mimlija bil-hdura sabiha xitwija,
Qalb l-ilma gieri
Hudni, ja Muza,
Qalb in-nature safja
Fejn genn il-bniedem
Ghad ma rifisx.

Il-ghodwa sqiet
lix-xitla b’ nida safja,
u n-nida kienet donnha
dmuqh imzelleg ungazzat
ta’ kewkba
imdewba.

Daqq nofsinhar
u dil-hajja
tinharaq fuq in-nar!

Dan il-lejl etern
mimli ugigh
donnu bir
bla qiegh.

Bla sabar iz-zmien ghaddej,
ma jwaqqfu hadd
U lanqas xej’
Bla sabar iz-zmien ghaddej
u la taf-fejn int sejjer
u lanqas mnejn int gej.

(Lil dawk kollha li qed jghixu l-Golgotha ta’ kuljum.)

Bhalissa
xi had qed
jissallab ftit, ftit
ma’ salibu

Bhalissa
d-demm qieghed
jiccarcar
mal-Golgotha ta’ kuljum.

Bhalissa
ruh imbikkija
qed tibki d- dmugh qares
tat-tbatija.

Bejn Holm u Realta
hemm bahar jaqsam
t’Etenita.

Baqa’ x’nimxi, Mulej?
It-triq hi twila
U ikreh wisq il-lej’.

Spirtu kustodju
meta tara l-genn f’ rasek
tal-bniedem
tghid tkun qed tidhak
jew tibki?

Hemm wisq allat tat-tafal
Midfuna
F’qiegh ta’ rahal

Stuprati, kastrati
Mbiccra kuljum
Wahx u kefrija
Genn u dmija
Apokalissi
Mitmum

Bla idejn
Bla riglejn
Bla hegga ta’ xejn,

Mugugh
Fuq soda mitfugh,
Dalwwaqt ikun bla ruh,
Fl-ahjar taz-zghozija,
Ghall-glied mar rasu mimlija,
U hajtu hallieha mohlija,
U ghalkemm jistaqsi ghaltejn,
Jibqa’ jistenna ta’ xejn.

Din il-poezija kienet fost it-Rebbieha fil-Konkors ta’ Poeziji ‘Lwien

Il-Muza’ fl-1989

C’e un lamento
che non s’e’ mai fatto sentire,
C’e’ una preghiera
che non s’e’ mai fatta seminare,
C’e’ un corpo
che diventa povero in una tomba.
C’e’ un’ anima
che aspetta la pazienza,
C’e’ un universe silenzioso
che sparge la pace,
C’e’ una rosa
per ogni primavera
per odorare e sbocciare
in ogni tempo

Ho cercato e scoperto,
nel subconscio della mia mente,
nell’ universo del mio cuore,
l’ oracolodellamia vita
nascosto, che batte senza pace
dalla culla alla tomba.

La mia anima e undeserto di desolazione
dovel’lo
edeminticato in sestesso
mangiasempre la domanda,
sputasempre la risposta
cherimbomba da sola
tra la desolazione …

My Dear Sister, Second Mother & Best Friend

Today your soul
Files off to Heaven,
Today your last teardop
Will dry up forever.

No, my dear sister
This is not the end
But a rebirth in expanses
Replete with peace!

O my father,
When the last word shall be silent
Upon your lips,
When that long dream
Shall lightly pass just like a breeze
Before your eyes …
That day will be the end of the crude
drama
Of thy own life …
And thus the curtain will forever fall
Upon the endless pain.

There is a teardrop
Which i thought had dried up …
There is a smile
Which i considered faded.
But man is just eciliptic:
All smiles and bitter tears,
a-changing every day
in dual countenance.

The birth of a poem
Is the winning of a race,
A capture of a unique moment,
In time and space!

And the daughter of sin danced on.
Her sinful, lustful dance
Which made great Herod stand
And promise half his reign,
But she did ask for naught
Save for the head of John.

And still she dance on,
Her sinful, lustful dance,
And makes today’s young men
Promise half their soul’s worth,
But still she asks for naught
Save for the head
Of their manhood

Remember, dear friend,
Who smudged my name with your slime
There will come a time when you
will burn,
Suffer and groan aloud
While I will be smiling down at you
From some silvery cloud!

That Day Your Last sad teardrop
will dry upon your cheek;

That Day you will be finally understood;
and what you never never understood;
at last you will comprehend! That Day Your Last sad teardrop
will dry upon your cheek;

That Day you will be finally understood;
and what you never never understood;
at last you will comprehend! That Day Your Last sad teardrop
will dry upon your cheek;

That Day you will be finally understood;
and what you never never understood;
at last you will comprehend! That Day Your Last sad teardrop
will dry upon your cheek;

That Day you will be finally understood;
and what you never never understood;
at last you will comprehend! That Day Your Last sad teardrop
will dry upon your cheek;

That Day you will be finally understood;
and what you never never understood;
at last you will comprehend! That Day Your Last sad teardrop
will dry upon your cheek;

That Day you will be finally understood;
and what you never never understood;
at last you will comprehend!

I wanted to cry
But my eyes stayed dry,
I wanted to write
But my pen just lost its might,
Maybe I was a bit too taken up
With my sad rythmic dance
Enchained to my old cross,
But now I don’t enjoy this dance
No more.
I only want my heart to pour out verse,
My eyes each bitter tear however terse.

Sweet consolation
Hangs heavy upon my heart:
Will it ease up inside my grave,
After i shall depart?

You and I are simply clay,
Baked in life’s oven
Day after day …
Unto eternity.

Keepers of Wisdom from
The Beginning of Mankind …

Works of Art made
By Gentle Hands of Monks …

Burned Alive in a Bonfire:
Martyrs of Freedom …

Information and Knowledge
At the Tips of Your Finger …

Silent Company That Talk Aloud
Only in Your Thoughts …

Best of Friends That Never Betray You
But Require Only Respect…

A Library… An Abode of Books
A Joy to Behold Where One Can Taste
All The Ingredients Of Life In A Few Pages…

Books-An Element Which No Modern Invention
Can Ever Destroy!

At this moment
Someone is being slowly
Nailed to his cross.

At this moment
Blood is gushing freely
From the Golgotha
Of daily life.

At this moment
A tortured soul
Is shedding bitter teardrops
Of pain and misery.

From the womb of your heart
A word springs forth
In sheer poesy:
From the womb of your soul
A sigh seeps forth
In utter misery.