Of cloves and bitter almonds by Lou Drofenik

The plot of the book I'm reading Of cloves and bitter almonds written by a Maltese-Australian novelist (Lou Drofenik) is spread on four different historical eras: the present (in Australia were the narrator is writing her story), the fifties/sixties of the 20th century (the author's early days in Malta, B'Kara), the 9th century and the 15th century (in Malta, B'Kara). The common factor is a house in which different generations of men and women lived. There is a mystery hidden behind this house. The narrator tries to go back in time in order to uncover such a mystery which goes back for centuries.
Thus the novel is a voyage through time, memory and also space (Australia and Malta). It is also an intimate voyage in which the narrator tries to understand better herself and her roots.
The novel also treats the relationship between man and woman, the importance of the family, the Maltese rural environment, superstitions, fears, but also the emancipation of women.
Personally, I found the beginnig a bit slowmoving but as I continued reading and as the narrator introduced flashbacks about Maltese living way back in the 9th and the 15 centuries the plot started to regain energy and pace.
I liked also the mixture of the imagnative part of the story with the historical background which Drofenik builds after referring and reading the right reference books.

Poem by Pablo Neruda

You start dying slowly

You start dying slowly

if you do not travel,

if you do not read,

If you do not listen to the sounds of life,

If you do not appreciate yourself.

You start dying slowly

When you kill your self-esteem;

When you do not let others help you.

You start dying slowly

If you become a slave of your habits,

Walking everyday on the same paths...

If you do not change your routine,

If you do not wear different colours

Or you do not speak to those you don't know.

You start dying slowly

If you avoid to feel passion

And their turbulent emotions;

Those which make your eyes glisten

And your heart beat fast.

You start dying slowly

If you do not change your life when you are not satisfied with your job, or with your love,

If you do not risk what is safe for the uncertain,

If you do not go after a dream,

If you do not allow yourself,

At least once in your lifetime,

To run away from sensible advice...

Pablo Neruda

A visit to Romania - May-June 2008

Romania is the 12th biggest country in Europe. Its territory is divided almost equally between mountains, hills and plains. I have been hosted by colleagues in the North East city of Iasi (which has a population of about 360,000) during my Comenius Programme visit (SPEAR). They did their very best to make our visit to Romania one not to forget.
Romania became part of the European Union in January 2007. It is thus a country which is doing its best to renovate sectors such as the infrastructure. Great part of its territory is dedicated to agriculture and the travelling tourist will never forget the many rural scenes and the beautiful natural scenarios.
A big THANKS to all those who made our visit to Romania very pleasant.

The Medieval Monasteries such as those of Homer and Voronet.

The local crafts industry - Marginea and Barsana.

A country in continuous evolution but which respects its past patrimony.

In Sighet, a prison transformed in a museum to

commemorate tje victims of commnism and the

Resistance movement.

The Happy Cemetery in Sepanta.

Hand sculpture in the salt mine in Cacica.

A Catholic church in the countryside and the monument of Moisei.

Right: Part of the University of Cuza in Iasi.

The Three Hierarchs Church, built in 1639

Alfred Palma, Roberto Benigni and Dante Alighieri

A few weeks ago the University of Malta invited director and actor Roberto Benigni and assigned him a Doctorate (Honoris Causa) for his work regarding the Divina Commedia of Dante Alighieri. The University of Malta also invited a foreign professor who presented his version in English of the Divina Commedia. The same University totally neglected poet and translator Alfred Palma who for 20 whole years (1966-1986) worked on the Divina Commedia in order to translate it in verse (using Dante's same rhyming schemes) from Italian into Maltese.

I felt it a must to interview Alfred Palma (also an Honorary Member of the Maltese Poets Association) in relation to this unacceptable voluntary/involuntary incident.

____________________________________________________________________

1. Alfred Palma, traduttur tad-Divina Commedia ta' Dante mit-Taljan ghall-Malti. Minn fejn twieled progett ambizzjuz bhal dan? X'ghamlt inti li m'ghamlux nies bhal Erin Serracino Inglott fil-kaz tad-Divina Commedia?

1. Lil Dante ili nhobbu sa minn zmien l-iskola, meta bdejt nistudja d-Divina Commedia fil-verzjoni ta' Tito Casini Per loco eterno. Dak il-vjagg mistiku u misthajjel kien sahharni u, ukoll dak iz-zmien, kont nimmagina kif opra hekk kbira setghet tinstama' bil-Malti
Maz-zmien ix-xewqa tat-traduzzjoni bdiet tikbes go fija, aktar u aktar meta skoprejt li Malta ma kellhiex traduzzjoni shiha u irrimata ta' dan ix-xoghol hekk kbir. Fl-1964 hareg l-Infern ta' Erin Serracino Inglott, xoghol tajjeb immens u maghmul b'reqqa kbira; izda ma kienx irrimat. U kien dan li xprunani, fil-hegga ta' zghoziti ( 26 sena) li nidhol ghal din it-traduzzjoni. F'jum sajfi ta' l-1966, imbaghad, intfajt nghaddi z-zmien fuq kopja qadima tad-Divina Commedia ta' Eugenio Camerini (1883) u fettilli nittraduci l-ewwel ftit versi ta' l-Infern. Ittantajt nirrimahom u rnexxieli, u temmejt ix-xoghol kollu 20 sena wara, fl-l986, ezawrit u mkisser, izda sodisfatt ghall-ahhar!

2. Kemm ippubblikajt kopji tad-Divina Commedia bil-Malti? Sibt ghajnuna finanzjarja? Fadal kopji ghall-bejgh?

Ippubblikajt elf kopja ta' dan ix-xoghol. Ghajnuna finanzjarja xejn, u minghand hadd! U mn'Alla kien is-Sur Paul Zammit tal-Palprint Press li ndahal biex jistampahieli (spejjez tieghi) ghax kieku dan ix-xoghol ghadu fuq l-ixkaffa. Illum fadalli biss xi ghaxar kopji, u qieghed nibza' ghalihom.

3. Inghatajt xi tip ta' rikonoxximent lokali ghal progett kolossali bhal dan li hadlek 20 sena minn hajtek?

Rikonoxximent lokali? Xejn! Anzi bosta intellettwali dehru li nhasdu bix-xoghol tieghi u halfu li jinjorawh sa mill-bidunett. Jien iben haddiem umli tat-tarzna u wara ismi ma ngibx ittri. Ghalhekk l-intellettwali, mhux minghajr doza qawwija ta' ghira, halfu li jinjorawni, u din il-halfa zammewha sa ftit jiem ilu, meta Roberto Benigni zar Malta biex jinghata l-Honoris Causa. Imma jien kont naf li ghamilt xoghol tajjeb, u l-mostru ta' ghajnejh hodor QATT ma bezzaghni; anzi dejjem kattar fija l-kuragg biex nissokta sejjer minkejja kollox.

4. Kif hassejtek meta sirt taf li l-Universita` ta' Malta stiednet lil Benigni biex jirrecta partijiet mid-Divina Commedia (u taghtih rikonoxximent akkademiku gholi), u anki lil professur barrani biex anki jbiegh kopji tal-verzjoni tieghi tad-Divina Commedia bl-Ingliz, u lilek ma ftakritx fik? Tixtieq taghmel xi osservazzjonijiet rigward dan?

Weggajt hafna; mhux tant ghalija milli ghal Malta u ghall-Ilsien Malti. U ghadni nwegga' hafna meta nara lil Malta imkasbra mill-istess uliedha, li ghalihom ghadha Cinderella, u postha fil-kcina! Ulied ingrati, mkabbrin u suppervi, allat zghar tat-tafal, li ghadhom jilghaqu u jincensaw dak kollu li hu barrani, jiccekknu quddiemu huma u jcekknu maghhom lil Malta, li tibqa' tibki fil-kcina!

5. Gieli inghatajt jew se tinghata xi tip ta' rikonoxximent minn barra ghax-xoghol tieghek fuq id-Divina Commedia bil-Malti? Tixtieq tghid xi haga dwar il-Progetto Dante f'Ravenna?

Rikonoxximent formali minn barra ma kellix. Izda sa mill-1991, meta hrigt dan ix-xoghol, sibt hafna ghajnuna morali u rikonoxximent informali mill-Ambaxxatur Taljan ta' dak iz-zmien, Dott. Marino Fleri, li xtara ghadd kbir ta' kopji tat-traduzzjoni tieghi biex iqassahom lil bosta personalitajiet, fosthom lill-Presdent ta' l-Italja, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro.
Dwar il-Progetto Dante 2008, li fih inhossni kburi li int se ssehibni, tifhem li din l-okkazjoni unika ma setghetx giet f'mument aktar ironiku minn dan. Hija tabilhaqq katarsi ghalija, balzmu fuq il-ferita li, jekk Alla jrid, f'Settembru li gej, go Ravenna, ftit passi boghod mill-qabar ta' Dante, se jkolli l-okkazjoni li nzid isem Malta ma' dawk tal-pajjizi l-ohra li ghandhom it-traduzzjoni taghhom tad-Divina Commedia. Iva, habib, dakinhar, int u jien se nohorgu lil Malta taghna mill-kcina!

(May 2008)

Interview with poet and artist Stephen Morris

1. Stephen Morris today is both a poet and a painter. From where did this love of verse and art come ?

At the age of three I was separated from my parents to live in Somerset, in the South of England, for five years. I didn’t speak until I was seven years old and on reflection I detested my childhood. My grandfather, with whom I lived at that time, was a brutal man who would discipline my brother and I with verbal abuse, beatings and sometimes keeping us tied up like dogs. Dirty boots would stimulate frenzied thrashings. I hated and loved my grandfather, but I had little respect for him.
I now believe that because of those early traumas I lived from an early age in my head and with my own imagination, Perhaps in many ways I still do. Academically, I was backward at school. I failed my grammar school entrance examination, aged 11 but at 13 I passed an entrance examination to a junior art school in Birmingham. Because of my August birth date I was always the youngest child of my academic year which had advantages and disadvantages. Art was, I believe, my way of communication but as I was not very successful at art school I left to work in a series of dead end jobs mostly in factories. One such job was in Cumberland, in the North of England.. One Sunday, I remember when aged fifteen, I caught a bus from Workington to Keswick a small town right in the heart of the Lake District. It was there discovered William Wordsworth and I stood on the very spot where he wrote his famous poem Friars Craig. These events, I think were the initial stimulation for both my art and poetry and from there they grew in the fertile pastures of my imagination.. There were certainly no teachers to guide me and I have always been a self motivator. I am , for me, the most reliable person I know, believing the old maxim, if you want something doing, do it yourself.

2. The reader of your poetry and viewer of your art soon understands that there is something special in your production which puts it somewhere between the simple and the beautiful. How do you react to such a statement ?

The question throws me a little and I will try to avoid a pretentious response. I have always believed that an artist, in the broadest sense of the word, must be able to communicate his work if he or she doesn’t what is the point ?. People naturally react differently to different things, Some people are determined to find hidden meanings in anything and in the past have read ideas and symbols into my work that consciously I have not been aware of. I don’t mind this at all as there are certainly a number of levels that I do operate on.. On the one hand there is the series of paintings that I did on the Holocaust following what was for me quite a traumatic experience when I visited Auschwitz-Berkineau in Poland. In that instance the paintings were totally in the face of the viewer. Bang, no punches pulled.. A political, an artistic, a sociological, a psychological, a racial, an historic and an emotional statement ,take your pick. Not long after I produced a series of paintings about Stonehenge, which attracted so many interpretations especially on the theme of twelve. I used twelve colours in the paintings, there were of course twelve paintings that were subdivided into twelve. Twelve months of the year,, twelve disciples, who followed Christ, There were twelve Greek and Roman Gods and on it went. The exhibition opened on mid-summers day in Salisbury which is quite near to Stonehenge. I had really hoped that a flying saucer was going to land but it didn’t. The paintings though did stimulate many interpretations which I found both flattering but also mystifying.
Yes I do try to be simple without been simplistic. I find beauty everywhere, both in the physical and the abstract. Oddly, and this maybe for some, a controversial statement, I found even in the ugliness of the twin towers attack in New York there was something hypnotically beautiful. The images of the planes as they flew into the building, The mesmerizing effect of people jumping to their death, to be followed by the collapse of the buildings. Finally, the twisted metal that remained created by the collapsed girders, could have been interpreted as an staggering piece of sculpture. What I feel is that beauty can be everywhere but I hastily add I never saw any beauty in Auschwitz not for a single moment.

3. What do you think about the relationship between the poet/artist and society/politics?

Historically in totalitarian political regimes, poets and artists are often the first to be imprisoned or executed. Artists and poets have imaginations, the rulers know this for they could be dangerous as they make people think. Dictators don’t want people who think. The true artist, in my opinion, not only should reflect the society he is in, but should be critical of it and attempt to change it, especially if that society is corrupt and restricts freedom. The pen and the paint brush are mightier than the sword, nes pas?

4. Apart from the social and political issues you write and paint about love. Which of these is most important for Stephen Morris ?

Love like wine comes in different bottles and has different tastes. I am not sure that it gets better with age though. Loving my children, as I do, is obviously different to loving a woman. With the latter I don’t think I have been very good at it and this may be due to a deep insecurity. I have bruises, scars and wounds to prove it. A couple still bleed as well. I think romantic love is an art form created by man, not women, they are too practical for that. Men write all the love songs and the love poems and seem to suffer more. My time for all that hopefully ran out ages ago thank goodness. I don’t ever want to go through being in love again even if it did stimulate within me some interesting work. So to answer the question , right now social and political issues are more important but when I was younger and the sap was rising through my body continually, love was.

5. Does Stephen Morris as a poet/artist believe in art for arts sake. Or does he believe that there must be something else behind the words and colours ?

I think that what is behind my motivation is compulsion. I have to create full stop and for most of my life I have. There was a period from 1985 to 1995 where I didn’t create anything, well very little. It was one of the darkest periods of my life where I came to the brink of life and death a few times. I sought relief in alcohol, sex and an insane and somewhat idiotic life style. I partially saved myself by going to work in a Children’s Home in Birmingham,. The young people there , were in every way, far worse off than myself.
If there are things in my work to detect it is for others to find . I have never thought of art for arts sake . There are many motives for creating art. Some artists make art for fame, others for money. There are some who use it a therapy and some to make a political statement as I previously covered . However, for whatever reason, to be a creative artist can be agonising but then there are times when it is ecstatic. Depending from which direction you are coming . I certainly believe a true artist has to suffer but maybe it is not obligatorily i.e. you don’t have to suffer to be a true artist. Some of my heroic figures certainly suffered for their art and in some cases died for which has to be interpreted as a futile gesture under any circumstances..



6. You write verse, short stories, paint and travel a lot. Why is travelling important for an artist?

I can only answer for myself. I travel for inspiration and a desperate urge to see over the next hill. Travelling can also be a drug. At the moment I am quite content to be living in the South of France. I mean who wouldn’t be ? I have though in the past been greatly influenced by travelling. My series of painting on the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley in the U.S.A. bear witness to that, just as Stonehenge was and my visits to the Holocaust death camps for which I wasn’t really prepared for, emotionally that is.. However, the natural phenomena of The Grand Canyon and Monument Valley are the two wonders of the world I would urge people to see before they die.

7. What do you think of poetry evenings and art exhibitions. And about the role of art and poetry magazines, internet and the media in general when it comes to expose to the public the artist ?

Poetry readings are fine, There has to be an instantaneous rapport though with the audience. Over the years I must done over 1000 plus readings and its only now that I do not become nervous. It was always a few slugs of whisky before I went on stage , but never these days. Reading poetry has also enabled me to visit the strangest and wonderful places and to move in to literary circles that would have been impossible to experience. It also gave me the opportunity to meet and make friends with other poets especially when touring. They were great days which I do not regret at all. Exhibiting is another ball game entirely . There is no personal performance. The work is there on the wall to be scrutinized and criticized. With a poetry reading you would move on to the next gig virtually as soon as it was over. With exhibitions, the work is there hanging on the wall waiting to be condemned by anyone and everyone and that has occurred a few times in the nightmare past.
I am not sure about the net. I suppose it will take over everything eventually, Shopping, banking, films, meeting partners, hopefully wars will be fought on the net rather than in reality. It is a technology that I will never catch up with but I acknowledge its importance and its value and I am still amazed by it. I do hope that poetry magazines will survive as I think they will. I love the idea of seeing my name in print underneath a poem that I have written. Fantastic. I am still so interested in ideas, in working at projects in all kinds of means of expression and medias. I worry about death only because I want to do so much and really I want to live until I am one thousand, and even that wouldn’t be long enough.

8. Stephen Morris and his visit to Malta. Reflections and future projects.?

My recent visit to Malta was so good. I found everyone to be very helpful, generous and kind. When I was young I had a pen pal who lived in Sliema. We were, and I still am, Aston Villa supporters so I was aware of Malta from an early age as well as for the heroics in the second world war. In the seventies I was invited by the President of the Country, ( who was a poet ) to visit Malta. For many reasons I did not take up the generous offer which I regret it to this day. Of the many artists I admire the one who comes head and shoulders above the rest is Caravaggio and incredibly he lived in Malta, This makes the country extra special for me. I have been on the trail of Caravaggio for many years making special trips to Rome and Florence and Paris to see his work. This artist inspires me and my love affair with his work began many years ago in Dublin when I first saw his painting called ‘The Taking of Christ’ It is an extraordinary and magnificent piece of work with a brilliant use of light.. I am looking forward to my return visit to Malta at the end of September, when the Maneol Theatre are showing my exhibition called ‘Homage’ I hope also to be giving some poetry readings as well during my visit.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to express myself and I hope it was something such as this that you imagined.

(May 2008)

About Esperanto

Regarding my post "Another poetry evening by Maltese Poets Association", Brian wrotr the following:

"I thought that your comment about Esperanto was somewhat disparaging."Even Esperanto" Can I add therefore that Baldur Ragnarsson, from Iceland has been nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature, 2008.You might like to check out http://www.Esperanto.net ".

I fully agree with Brian. However, what I really wanted to mean with that "even" was that during our Poetry Evenings people attending have also the privilage of listening to poetry read in Esperanto. No offence then.
Thanks Brian for your positive comment.

NOSSIDE - Premio Internazionale della Poesia - data di scadenza 30 giugno 2008

Nella foto si vedono il Prof. Pasquale Amato e il poeta e ambasciatore del Nosside, Giuseppe Cardello.

Il Viaggio del Nosside 2008 da Reggio Calabria al Mondo nel Montenegro, in Sardegna, a Malta e a Santo Domingo


Dopo il felice avvio alla Fiera Internazionale del Libro dell’Avana e la splendida seconda tappa nell’Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Città del Messico, il “Viaggio del XXIV Premio Internazionale di Poesia Nosside 2008 da Reggio Calabria al mondo” - http://www.nosside.com/ - è andato avanti toccando altre tappe: Podgorica capitale del Montenegro, Olbia in Sardegna, La Valletta capitale di Malta e Santo Domingo capitale della Repubblica Dominicana.
A Podgorica il Terzo Evento del Viaggio si è svolto nella storica Libreria Karver. La poetessa montenegrina Svetlana Kalezic, Vincitrice Assoluta del Nosside 2003 e Ambasciatrice del Premio nel mondo, e la prof.ssa Maria Teresa Albano, Presidente del Centro Italiano di Cultura, hanno illustrato gli elementi caratterizzanti della XXIV Edizione. Sono seguite le Letture delle poesie della stessa Kalezic e degli altri due poeti montenegrini premiati dal Nosside negli anni scorsi: Andrjia Radulovic (uno dei 4 Vincitori del 2005) e Milena Moskov (tra i 4 Vincitori del 2006).
Col Patrocinio del Comune, Olbia ha ospitato nel suo nuovo Museo Archeologico il Quarto Evento del Viaggio. Ha avuto per protagonisti i Poeti sardi che sono stati Vincitori Assoluti nelle 23 edizioni del Premio. Hanno presentato l’Edizione 2008 il Poeta di Berchidda Antonio Rossi – Ambasciatore del Nosside e Vincitore Assoluto del Premio nel 2001 – e Cristina Ricci – Presidente dell’Associazione italo-tedesca ACIT di Olbia. E’ stata poi la volta delle letture di poesie dei sardi Vincitori Assoluti: lo stesso Antonio Rossi, Giovanni Fiori di Ittiri (III Edizione del 1986), Rosario Porcu di Nuoro (VI edizione del 1989) e Giuseppe Tirotto di Castelsardo (Vincitore del 2002). Le Letture sono state intervallate dai “soffi di clarinetto” di Pietro Uleri e si sono concluse con un Recital del Coro Folk Santu Sabustianu di Berchidda.
A Malta il Viaggio del Nosside ha fatto tappa nella bella sede dell’Istituto Italiano di Cultura. Ha introdotto la Direttrice dell’Istituto Anna Maria Di Marco, mentre il Premio 2008 è stato illustrato dal Presidente Fondatore prof. Pasquale Amato affiancato da Tatiana Vavachin, componente della Segreteria del Premio per l’area anglofona. La seconda parte dell’Evento è stata dedicata all’esibizione del Poeta Cantastorie siciliano Giuseppe Cardello di Lentini, Vincitore Assoluto del Nosside 2000 e Ambasciatore del Premio.
La più antica città coloniale ispanica di America, Santo Domingo, ha ospitato nella sua XI Fiera Internazionale del Libro la presentazione del Nosside 2008. Protagonista dell’Evento è stata la poetessa Rosa Silverio, Vincitrice Assoluta del Nosside 2005 e Ambasciatrice del Premio. Ha presentato la nuova Edizione ed ha poi curato la lettura di poesie sue e di altri poeti.
In tutti gli Incontri sono stati esposti i risultati del Nosside 2007 e illustrate le conferme e le novità del Nosside 2008, evidenziando che il Nosside, unico concorso globale di poesia inedita, ha in corso le iscrizioni sino al 30 giugno.
E’ stato anche precisato come si può partecipare con opere inedite al Nosside 2008: si apre il sito http://www.nosside.com/ e si invia a info@nosside.com e segreteria@nosside.com una e-mail con Allegati i seguenti files: 1. scheda di iscrizione compilata; 2. a) per il partecipante nella poesia scritta tre poesie a tema libero ciascuna non superiore a 50 versi; b) per il partecipante nella poesia in video un’opera non superiore a 4 minuti con video in jpg o media player; c) per il partecipante nella poesia in musica una canzone in MP3. La quota di partecipazione - diversificata in base al Paese di appartenenza e senza obbligo di spedire copia della Ricevuta - può essere versata attraverso due canali indicati nel Sito: pay-pal (valido per tutti, ma consigliato soprattutto agli extra-europei) o Conto corrente postale (consigliato soltanto agli Europei).
Il Vincitore Assoluto otterrà 2000 Euro, la Targa Nosside in Argento di Gerardo Sacco e tre poesie nell’Antologia multimediale (Libro+DVD) “Nosside 2008” ; ciascuno dei 4 Vincitori 1000 Euro, la Targa Nosside e una poesia in Antologia; ciascuno dei 6 Menzionati Speciali 500 Euro, la Targa Nosside e una poesia in Antologia; ciascuno dei Menzionati l’Attestato Nosside e una poesia in Antologia.
Le Premiazioni si svolgeranno a Reggio Calabria il 28 novembre, seguite da due altri Eventi: un Seminario di Studi a Messina e un Recital dei Poeti Premiati a Roma.

Another Poetry Evening by Maltese Poets Association

Photos: people standing - Therese Pace, Rita Debono, Andrew Sciberras, Patrick Sammut, Lino Grech and Raymond Grech. People sitting facing camera are Alfred Massa and Charles Magro.

Last Friday 16 th May 2008 at 7pm the Maltese Poets Association held another Poetry Evening. The venue this time was the Razzett tal-Markiz Mallia Tabone, Mosta.

Members present read poems in English, Maltese and even in Esperanto. The Evening was presented by MPA's Secretary Charles Magro, while President Alfred Massa made his introductory discourse.

During the interval Patrick Sammut, the vice-President, had some time to present his new poetry book (co-authored with Stephen Cachia) Zifef u Rwiefen, reading a couple of his poems to those present.

Among those who participated through their poetry reading were Charles Magro, Alfred Massa, John Mallia, Maurice Mifsud Bonnici, Joe Abela, Therese Pace, Raymond Grech, Joseph Bonnici, Andrew Sciberras, Lino Grech, Salv Sammut, Rita Debono and Dr. Joe Zammit Tabona. The poems read presented a variety of themes and styles.
Member Lino Grech talked briefly about three of his new books in Maltese and English (prose and poetry) which will be soon out.
Thanks to the Ghaqda Filantropika Talent Mosti for the venue. For the Maltese Poets Association visit http://www.ghpm.netfirms.com/

A Maltese novelist in Australia

Lou Drofenik was born in Malta and lives in Victoria, Australia, with her family. Her great interest in Maltese identity and Maltese women's migration saw her completing a Masters degree and a PhD in this area. I met her in December 2005 here in Malta during a literary evening held by Iniziamed. She is author of three novels: Birds of Passage (2005), In Search of Carmen Caruana (2007) and Of Cloves and Bitter Almonds (2007). Hers is a perfect example of Maltese literature abroad.
See http://www.birdsofpassage.com.au/

1. Lou Drofenik emigrated to Australia years ago but hers is still a strong link with the Maltese islands. This can be seen in her three novels Birds of Passage, In search of Carmen Caruana, and her latest novel Of cloves and bitter almonds. From where comes this strong tie with the Maltese islands?

I am Maltese through and through. I was born in Malta. I was educated there and my formative years were spent there. When I came here as a young woman my identity was Maltese, and no matter how many years I spend here I will always be Maltese. Though I have changed in my ways, deep down I carry within me whatever I brought with me from Malta – the language, the stories, the superstitions, the values, the memory of the landscape and of what we did and didn’t do. This tie does not diminish with time, on the contrary it increases and for me, who is able to look in as an outsider/insider, the culture and all that went with it has become clearer and I also feel that now I am better equipped to write about it.

2. Three important themes in your novels are emigration, the past and women. Can you elaborate re such aspects?

First of all I come from a background of women’s studies where I researched and studied women’s issues especially migrant women’s issues and where I was involved with other people who were on the same track as myself. This I suppose put me on a path which was rich in migrant women’s stories and as you can imagine Australia being a nation of migrants there are innumerable stories from every place on earth. Though each of my novels deals with migration to Australia, with women’s experiences and with the past, the underlying themes in the three novels are totally different.
When I was writing Birds of Passage the way Maltese culture repressed women was always at the fore of my mind. Throughout the writing process the women’s voices in the book were very strong in my head and though I didn’t know what they were going to do, or what was going to happen to them, I knew what they were saying and what they wanted.
When I was writing In Search of Carmen Caruana the notion of silence and shame in Maltese culture was very strong in my head. I also didn’t know how the book would end or what would happen along the way, all I knew was that Carmen’s sufferings were inflicted by her father because he didn’t want the world to know what happened to his daughter. The events that happened along the way and the characters in the book all enterer into the story through that one thought.
Now for my third novel Of Cloves and Bitter Almonds. Though this also deals with the migration story of a young married couple, Steven and Sylvia, it is a very different novel from the other two. When I was writing this book the Maltese landscape was in my head, the brown soil, the winding narrow streets and lanes where I grew up in Birkirkara, and the houses. One house especially where I used to play when I was little. It kept coming before me, never leaving me alone and I kept wondering what was the history of that piece of earth where the house once stood. What people lived in it, what did they experience during their lifetimes? The women’s voices in this book were also very strong and as I write in the novel, they were insistent on having their story told. So there you are three novels and three different aspects of Maltese/Australian life.

3. I've noted various similarities between the pen of Lou Drofenik and that of international women-writers such as Italian Dacia Maraini and Isabel Allende. How do you react to such a statement?

Unfortunately I’m not familiar with Dacia Maraini’s work. I’m very familiar with Isabel Allende’s work and I love her writing. She writes from the heart and her characters come to life and are well remembered by the readers. I suppose it is very pleasing to hear one compared with such a wonderful writer. Perhaps rather than Isabel Allende I’d think my writing was influenced by Grazia Deledda, the Sardinian writer of last century. I’ve read and re-read her novels many times and I find her fluent and simple style of writing very much to my liking. Her themes too, are seemingly simple and down to earth yet when you start unfolding them, are deeply complex and full of human pathos. And of course all set in that tough Sardinian culture of her day which is reminiscent of Maltese culture of the past.

4. Is there a common factor which links your three novels?

I am a story teller, I come from a family of story tellers. I love listening to stories. I love telling stories. I love writing stories and making them up. My characters wake me up at three in the morning so that when I start writing at six my first sentence is already there waiting to be jotted down. I think the many stories within my novels, stories which go here there and everywhere and manage to come together at the end (often surprising me) are the common factor in my work.

5. You write about the Odyssey thousands of Maltese had to face during the years of emigration. Yours are stories of separation, hardship, failures, humiliation, but also about love, mutual help, perseverance and optimism. Your reactions to all this?

Life is a messy business, and we who are in the middle of it have to deal with it whether we stay in our own country or travel away from it. We fall in love, and we fall out again, we have moments of sublime happiness and months of misery, we are curious, vindictive, charitable, pessimistic, optimistic, you name it. We are burdened by our culture, by memory of things past, by fears of our future. Writing fiction is one way of exploring the way we live life wherever we happen to land.

6. The style you use in writing is very fluent, down to earth and simple. You write in English but use a number of words and phrases in original Maltese. How do your readers react to all this?

First my readers are mainly Australian. Before Birds of Passage many of these readers knew Maltese people, lived next door to them, or worked with them, but didn’t have a clue that we had our own language and our own culture. Many didn’t have the faintest idea where Malta was. I did a quick check and one person told me it was near Portugal, another near Greece. I write in English because now after forty-four years in Australia I think in English and I dream in English and though I speak and write Maltese fluently I don’t think I’m able to use the Maltese language the way I’m able to use English in a long piece of writing. Yes I do use many Maltese words in my writing because that’s the way I feel during the writing process. It’s almost an automatic response to something within me. Hard to explain. My readers haven’t complained about the Maltese, on the contrary I’ve been told that it makes the characters authentic. Both men and women who have read my two previous novels said they couldn’t put them down until they finished them. And though I always felt women would like to read my novels I have received more emails and letters from men telling me how much my books have touched them.

(May 2008)

New co-authored poetry book is out

Zifef u Rwiefen (Breezes and Gales) is now out. It is a collection of 40 poems in Maltese (some in English) written by Patrick Sammut (1968) and Stephen Cachia (1976). The two poets write about a number of themes such as war, love, social problems, the self and natural environment. The book has a critical introduction written by Dr. Charles Briffa (Univ. of Malta) and a comment by journalist and poet Charles Flores. It also has a set of beautiful and strong sketches drawn by the late Norwegian artist and teacher Olaug Vethal (to whom the book is dedicated). The cover was designed by young artist and art teacher Hilary Spiteri.

Patrick Sammut, Stephen Cachia, Hilary Spiteri and Olaug Vethal are all teachers at the De La Salle College in Cottonera, Malta.

Poetry from North Italy - Paola Mara De Maestri

The following are three poems of Paola Mara De Maestri which form part of her poetry anthology L’Amore Parla Piano. She was born in Sondrio in 1970. She teaches, and writes poetry. She is also editor of a monthly literary supplement (Bottega Letteraria) in ’l Gazetin. In year 2001 her first poetry anthology came out, Dentro la Vita.
Visit her website: www.geocities.com/paola_mara70

A MIO PADRE

Percorro chilometri
con la mente
e ritorno in quei giardini
di marzo.

Rivedo
la stessa montagna,
roccia mai scalfita dal tempo...
il mare o forse il cielo
in fondo a quell’azzurro,
uno sguardo che traspare
e spesso cerca di mitigare
quell’onda prepotente,
che dentro me spinge
verso terre lontane.

Non mi perdo
se quella voce ascolto:
mi parla d’altri tempi
e di un mondo rimasto
ancora
incantato.
A mio padre.

SENZA PAROLE

Non una parola
non un respiro
in questa stanza
il silenzio.
E vorrei parlare
ma nei tuoi occhi
vedo il mare,
nero, profondo,
e sento
dentro di te
tutto il mio mondo.
Senza parole
ti amo.

POESIA D’AMORE

Il tuo azzurro
riempie d’infinito
questo cielo
e tinge il mio mare
di sconosciute arcobaleni.
Sensibile al tuo dolce richiamo,
non riesco piu` a tacere
l’immenso.

Una nuova pubblicazione da Amerigo Iannacone

Amerigo Iannacone l'ha fatta ancora. Questa volta con un librettino (Edizioni Eva, Euro 7,50) intitolato Dall'otto settembre al sedici luglio (2007). E' una pubblicazione di una sessantina di pagine, tascabilissima, ma interessante, anche perche' ci offre uno sguardo indietro nel tempo e ci porta ai giorni della Seconda Guerra Mondiale e tratta anche del destino di migliaia di soldati italiani dopo l'8 settembre 1943.

E' un bel libro anche perche' Amerigo figlio rida' vita al padre Michele, che nel passato non tanto lontano aveva narrato al proprio figlio queste vicende storiche vissute in prima persona .

La pubblicazione e' composta da prosa, brevi poesie di Amerigo, foto e anche qualche documento. La Prefazione e' di Carmelo R. Viola, dalla quale traggo una parte:

"Amerigo Iannacone e' un pensatore ed uno scrittore di tutto rispetto e dalla parte positiva dell'evoluzione: con queste pagine rende il meritato onore al suo precedessore - alla conditio sine qua non del suo modo di esistere. In altre parole, egli, dopo avere attentamente ascoltato dalla viva voce del padre la rappresentazione della di lui vita militare nella Seconda Guerra Mondiale e della di lui prigionia nei lager tedeschi, ed avere accuratamente annotato fatti e date, coglie l'occasione per ripercorrere a volo d'uccello la vita paterna mentre gli fa narrare, a sua volta le di lui vicissitudini belliche, particolarmente perigliose e quasi eroiche dopo l'armistizio con gli Angloamericani e l'inizio delle ostilita' con gli ex alleati nazisti... Ogni pagine si legge d'un fiato... anche perche' la lingua di Amerigo Iannacone e' lessicalmente precisa, formalmente forbita, a volte poetica e toccante specie quando rievoca i ricordi infantili..."

Amerigo Iannacone e' nato (1950) e vive a Venafro (Isernia). E' direttore del mensile letterario Il Foglio Volante da lui fondato nel 1986. Ha a suo attivo piu' di una ventina di pubblicazioni, tra poesia, narrativa, saggistica e traduzione. Insegna nelle scuole superiori, e' fautore del movimento esperantista, collabora a varie testate, e si occupa di editoria.

Epitaffio

Sempre

sarai con noi

nel tempo

quotidiana presenza

nostra vigile guida

nostro angelo custode.

(22.11.1997, l'anno in cui e' morto il padre Michele)

Per contattare Iannacone:

To contact Amerigo Iannacone:

edizionieva@libero.it

http://www.amerigoiannacone.wordpress.com/

Raymond Grech - a Maltese Poet

Raymond Grech was born in Sliema, Malta in 1953. He was educated at St. Catherine High School, Stella Maris College and at Sir Temi Zammit Sec. Tech. School. He started writing poetry at an early age and writes both in Maltese and English.
For the last fifteen years he has been managing his own firm. Raymond is a Lecturer of computer related subjects. He specializes and consults in Computerized Accounting and Business Administration. He studies the Holy Scriptures, Theology, Psychology and Philosophy.
Raymond Grech is an active member of the Maltese Poets Association and the Maltese Literary Society. He is a producer and presenter of radiophonic literary programs.
The poems of Raymond Grech are published in various anthologies, newsletters and newspapers locally and abroad as well as being aired on radio programs. More of his poems in Maltese and English can be viewed on his site, http://www.freewebs.com/raygrech
He is married with three sons.

Interviews on radio:

Aug 12 2005 Radju Matrici Stella Maris - Raymond Grech interviews Patrick Sammut
Aug 12 2005 Radju Matrici Stella Maris - Patrick Sammut interviews Raymond Grech

Following are highlights of his poetry awards:

18th October 2004 – First-prize winner of the Malta National Poetry Competition for 2004 with the poem Paceville Insomnja in the Maltese category.
30th September 2005 – First-prize winner of the Malta National Poetry Competition for 2005 with the poem Nostalġija in the Maltese category.
27th October 2006 – First-prize winner of the Malta National Poetry Competition for 2006 with the poem Fossils In My Sanctuary in the English category.

POETRY:

Tsunami-Ravaged Southeast Asia

(The December 26 disaster in the Indian Ocean nations, when a massive earthquake triggered tsunamis that devastated coastal areas of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand and killed people as far away as east Africa.)


Plenty horses coming all white-feathered run,
Charging, crushing all those lying under sun.
Plenty horses roaring through the coastal sand,
Scaring natives, pilgrims, devastating land.

Whipped by quake and making waves to ravage wild,
Impetuous, devastating even child.
Abodes float on torrents rising from below,
Chorus cries of anguish vanish in billow.

Plenty horses gallop all black-feathered tolls,
Drawing stately chariots full of lifeless souls.
Plenty horses marching the stilled copious flow,
While gravediggers trench the slaughtered earth in throe.

Land-Lord, you saw it all going down the slope…
Plenty horses send in rainbow garb for hope!


Raymond Grech
10 January 2005
Sliema - Malta.

This poem won a prestigious award in the United States.

I AM Always Here For You!

The North wind slaps my naked face
Cold needles creep beneath my skin
Boreas vows to thwart my grace.

Derailed, I pray… What Shall I do?
A silent whisper comes within
“I AM always here for you”!


Raymond Grech
25 January 2006
Sliema - Malta.

Boreas
In Greek mythology, the personification of the north wind. He carried off the beautiful Oreithyia, a daughter of Erechtheus, king of Athens; they lived in Thrace as king and queen of the winds and had two sons, Calais and Zetes. To show his friendliness for the Athenians, Boreas wrecked the fleet of the Persian king Xerxes off the promontory of Sepias in Thessaly; in return the Athenians built him a sanctuary or altar near the Ilissus and held a festival (Boreasmos) in his honour. In works of art Boreas was represented as bearded, powerful, draped against cold, and winged.
Copyright 1994-1999 Encyclopædia Britannica


The Surviving Seeds

The wild wind blows ruthlessly
Across the ploughland,
Cold and insensitive
Moves on to batter in spiral gusts,
Foreboding dreary overtones...
Protrudes
To mounts and valleys,
Bending palm trees,
Plucking weak shrubs,
Dispersing seeds to life and death.

We are the surviving seeds
Of the Sower,
Escaped and unharmed,
Tossed and shaken,
Shaped and chiselled
By the wild wind.
Sprouting to eternity!


Raymond Grech
9 April 2005
Sliema – Malta

Best Wishes
(To my closest friend,
Barry Bourne - Southampton UK.
A Pastor and a Gentleman.)


I wish I lived in paradise
Where angels shout for joy.
I wish I roamed the galaxies
Beyond my spaceship toy.
I wish I hopped the midnight stars
To Mars and Saturn clime.
I wish I rode the Milky Way
To earth return in time.

I wish I walked in pain-free paths
Rejoicing in my heart.
I wish I lived in blissfulness
With many smiles to part.
I wish a world adorned with peace
Where child will never die.
I wish unchained humanity
Utopia pray for aye.

I wish volcanoes spewed out milk
To calm the churning sea.
I wish storm clouds dripping honey
For land to flow so free.
I wish seaquakes brought good tidings
To surf to shore on wind.
I wish swords turned into crosses
And mankind never sinned.

I wish Best Wishes constant came
To finish my hard race.
I wish to sing and dance all day
Before the Throne of Grace.
When I shed my earthly garment
My wishes will come true!
I will fly in newest heavens
Where God awaits you too!


Raymond Grech
1st April 2005
Sliema - Malta.

Best Wishes is a memorial to my friend the late Barry Bourne. Barry inspired me to write this poem, whenever he corresponded with me he ended his messages with Best Wishes. His last words to me were Best Wishes. In this poem I share my thoughts with Barry and I detail my best wishes to him which were also his best wishes.

Therese Pace - A poet from Malta

I got to know Therese Pace through my involvement in the Maltese Poets Association. She is an active member of the Association and writes in three languages: Maltese, English and Italian. Therese Pace is amongst some of the best contemporary women poets in Malta.

Mother of three Therese Pace was born in Rabat, Malta. She has published an anthology in Maltese entitled ARPEĠĠI (ISBN 99932-0-246-0), for which she was awarded first prize by the National Book Council. Other poems can be found in anthologies in various languages, in newsletters and newspapers. Award winning poet in various contests in Malta and in Italy. She is an active member of the Maltese Poets Association and a member of the World Poets Society. She took part in a literary project in conjunction with the Maltese Poets Association and the European Union celebrating its 50th year of existence. She is currently working on a couple of new projects.

Links to her poetry www.freewebs.com/theresepace www.ghpm.netfirms.com

The following are some of her poems in English:

THIS TENDER MOMENT

There dwells a touch of magic, an all important air
around the way it happens. The resting of an eye
upon your countenance in an endearing manner; the
faintest smile bestowed whose radiance says it all

before it is rewound into its own self consciousness
as curling leaf that withers on the stem, short stoppages
in time as of a video pausing, transcending, presiding
over senses with aplomb. Short intimacy that secretive

enthrals, enfolding you in butterflies of warmth.
Powder like, it settles on your spirit with translucent
affability, as of some invisible hand reaching beyond
the barriers to touch you in quick flirt, eloquent

in its silence. You marvel at this moment imploding
your whole being, As you wallow lingeringly in its
fleeting splendour, you will become aware of your
astounding luck in having intercepted it.

SHOES

These shoes are not your type. The kind that give you
blisters from bad choice, no matter how you wax and tax
them for quick comfort. When you put them on you limp
and falter, strutting like the ugly duckling of fairy tale fame,
making them creak a vociferous protest like door hinges,
an all time declared misfit they shake off on the way.

The other kind are kind. Incumbent time moulds them for
the format of your toes, with stress pads to buffer against
potholes or sore spots. With perseverance they conform
resigning themselves to a life of slavery. When they settle
down they fit you like your skin. Laces tied in place show
total disposition, obedience to your feet portrays your
imposition. You walk them, they oblige, adapting.

Fully fledged, they ogle environs, testing, until it’s time to
soar, redeemed from the old confined spaces, growing well
versed projections towards newer heights, new embraces.
Only now, almost too late, do I realize the sky is their limit.

My disciplined shoes have grown fit for posh places.


TO CATCH THE STARS

Enchantment blends me with the chic surroundings. I
do the catwalk stunt on the red carpet Naomi Campbell
style, all poised to catch the stars for just one night.

Chiffon Cinderella gown rustles like plastic in the wind
as hanging mirrors reflect another me, tilting me sideways
to imbalance. Soft light dispenses with the shadows, steals

the mystery from my face. None of the exotic birds hanging
on the Gobelin tapestries show me any slight recognisance.
I can almost hear them twit their disapproval of cheap eau de

toilette as my bare back walks tall. Inside, the crowd breaks
the ice in shimmering parures that thin the average pocket.
I remind me of a fish out of the water, as mind slips back to the

sleek limo that brought me here enraptured in its voluptuous
belly. My body glistened on its panel . They must have licked
like mad to eke such torso glimmer. Like this Louis Quatorze.

I could cross my legs forever in relax on this armchair, kissing
Zwarowski crystal rims that quench vinotheque thirst. Usually
I scoff at silver service manners. Today I simply relish. Slightly

giddy from the Kleine Zalze Chardonnay and the fine prince
beside me, paté de fois de gibier tastes like Paradise lost and
found.. He swirls me round in a Viennese Waltz too rapid for

my tipsiness. I sway towards his midriff pretending to forget
flirting in public is an etiquette crime. When midnight strikes,
I will not drop a silver shoe behind me. Instead I’ll pluck a rose

from the arrangement left idle to observe, and pin it to my hair.
I’ve reason to believe its haunting tell tale scent will guide his
ferret nostrils directly to chez moi still enchanté tomorrow .

WILD DREAMS

We should employ a think tank to protect us
to reassess ambitions at their birth
that clawing at our skin with pointed talons
might rock the sound foundations of our girth.

We hover on the edge of their discretion
and feed upon the fragments that they drop
we may or may not have a say to topple
the scales to our advantage reaping crop.

They are a scheme whereby we shape existence
into a landscape of bubble gum and strass
their platelets dyed vermilion with enticement
our antibodies weaken in the fuss.

We stand exposed and vulnerable to currents
that try to force our wildest dreams to crack
as seeds upon the wind we are transported
to corners that allow no turning back.

Wild dreams are like the tide: its flow momentum
raises the levels higher than the norm
and in its outward ebb discards carcasses
displaying ugly lesions of the storm.

We pin our hopes according to perceptions
at times ignoring signals when they bleep
do not trust dreams, they are our worst allies
they buoy us then destroy us in one sweep.

Another poetry evening by MPA at Floriana

The participants of the Poetry Evening organized by the Ghaqda Poeti Maltin (Maltese Poets Association): myself, Salvu Sammut, , Joe Abela, Rina Camilleri, Frans Borg, Joe Bonnici, Lino Grech, John Mallia, Leanne Ellul, Emmanuel Attard Cassar, Raymond Grech, Therese Pace, Charles Magro and Alfred Massa. The man in orange with the guitar is Walter Micallef.
See: http://www.ghpm.netfirms.com/

Last Friday 28th March the Maltese Poets Association organized a Poetry Evening at the Centre for Frangiscan Culture at 7 p.m., in Floriana, Malta. Secretary, Charles Magro, presented the evening and included poetry crit during intervals. President, Alfred Massa, made the introductory discourse and asked if some day in the future here in Malta there would be organized a National Conference regarding Religious Poetry in Malta. Members and people interested actively participated during the Evening by reading poetry in Maltese, English and Italian. Poets who read their poetry were Alfred Massa, Charles Magro, Emmanuel Attard Cassar, Therese Pace, Raymond Grech, Leanne Ellul, Rina Camilleri, Lino Grech, Joseph Bonnici, Frans Borg, Joe Abela, Salvu Sammut, John Mallia and me.

I also read a short study about Saint Francis in Dante Alighieri's Divine Commedy. Folk singer and guitarist Walter Micallef sang some of his best songs at intervals.

The Group of Fangiscan Families offered a small reception after the Evening.

Another poem translated from Maltese to Dutch

The following is a poem which my friend Jan van den Hoek translated from the original in Maltese. It was inspired by a small accident some years ago: I was driving my car and a bird came crashing against the windscreen. It immediately bounced and landed in a field nearby. I stopped the car as soon as possible but could not find the bird. I immediately thought that it was dead. The bird is a small creature to which we give little importance. However, accidents can happen even to us human beings: today we may be healthy and alive, tomorrow we may be either in hospital or even dead. Just reflecting...
Again, thanks Jan for translating to Dutch my poem.

Een abrupte dood[1]

Een klein vogeltje dat vrij en onbezorgd
aan het vliegen was
werd geschampt door een passerende auto.
De bestuurder zag slechts ‘n grijs bolletje
op hem afkomen
hoorde niets meer dan alleen een lichte tik.
En hij keek in het spiegeltje en zag
hem levenloos naar beneden storten
op de grond midden op de weg.
Hij stopte niet!
De reis van de bestuurder ging verder
en die van het onbezorgde vogeltje
eindigde abrupt.

[1] Geschreven in februari 1999.

Science fiction - one of my favourites

One of my favourite genres is science fiction. Last week I watched on dvd three movies: I am legend (2007), directed by Francis Lawrence, Invasion of the body snatchers (1956) directed by Don Siegel, and Perfect Creature, directed by Glenn Standring (2006). I am legend (starring Will Smith) and Perfect Creature both treat the vampire issue. The movie I am legend caught my attention and so I ordered the novel by Richard Matheson (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Matheson) which was published in 1954. People who saw the movie weren't happy, especially those who read the novel before. Now I know why. Personally I found the movie gripping and having a nice mix of sci-fi, fantasy, horror, drama. But it is very different from the original novel of Matheson. I liked the novel more as it is a good read, very flowing (only 160 pages), and a classic. As good sci-fi books, this one seems to treat a remote issue or reality, but in fact it discusses present day problems such as isolation, solitude, evolution, different perspectives and interpretations, biological warfare and mutation.

Summary on the back cover of the novel (Gollancz Publications): "An SF novel about vampires... Robert Neville is the last living man on Earth... but he is not alone. Every other man, woman and child on the planet has become a vampire, and they are hungry for Neville's blood.

By day he is the hunter, stalking the undead through the ruins of civilisation. By night, he barricades himself in his home and prays for the dawn.

How long can one man survive like this?"

Two other short novels which are a good read are The Fifth Child and Ben, in the World by Doris Lessing.

A farewell to Arthur C. Clarke who left this world some days ago (19 th March) at the age of 90. He was best known for his work on the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey based on his story The Sentinel (1948). See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_C._Clarke

Poetry by Stephen Morris

Last 22nd February the Maltese Poets Association (http://www.ghpm.netfirms.com/) of which I am vice-President organized a Poetry Evening in Birgu (Malta). As usual members of the Association and the public in general were invited to read their poetry in different languages or just to listen and have a nice evening. Even though I was not present, I got to know that for this Poetry Evening there was a special guest, poet and artist Stephen Morris, who talked about his experiences as an artist and read some of his verse.

Stephen Morris was born in Smethwick, which is on the edge of Birmingham in the West Midlands of England. He attended Moseley Art School, Fircroft College, Marieborg Folk High School (Sweden), and the Universities of Cardiff and Leicester. His poetry has been widely published in the USA and Britain and it has appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers and periodicals, including The Sunday Times, The Observer, Peace News, The Daily Mirror, Tribune, The TES, Poetry Wales, Rolling Stone, and The International Times. He has undertaken poetry reading tours of the USA, Denmark, Holland and Sweden, as well as poetry readings in Britain, at Universities, Colleges, Schools, Folk Clubs and Poetry Societies. Stephen Morris has published over twelve volumes of poetry and has had numerous solo exhibitions of his paintings, visual poetry and sculpture. See also, http://www.stephen-morris.net/

(From The Kingfisher Catcher, Aquila Poetry, 1974, 1975, 1976)

AUTUMN IS A SEASON OF PAIN

Autumn is a season of pain
When the days slowly shorten
And the evenings come in early.
Cruel winds whisper Winter,
As they swirl fading leaves
In ritualistic dances of death.
The mornings are bleak and cold
And in the soft twilight
Coughing workmen hurry
For wet clean buses,
Thinking of warm white beds
And quietly dreading the day ahead.
The city carries to the country
Seeking common ground
But the farmers plant for Spring
And the squirrels hide for Winter.
It’s Autumn and the workers shuffle on
Towards a new year and the finality of death.

(From Limbus of the Moon, Pale Horse, 2005)

THE SONG NOT THE SINGER

Forget all the promises
Fold away the dreams
Close all the windows
Nothing is what it seems

The love no more than words
Coated in hypocrisy
The hiss of a seductive serpent
Ignored of course by me

Now months and years have passed
My ring it has no finger
The song was fine and wonderful
But not alas the singer

Forget all the promises
Fold away the dreams
Open all the windows
Nothing is what it seems

SUNFALL

Sunfall
Shutters closed
Aperitifs taken
Experiences exchanged
Late film
From bathroom
To bedroom
To bed
Warm body
Movements
Whispers
Caresses
Binding
Bonding
Savouring the other
To sleep
A peace
Broken by sunrise
A new day
To sunfall

DIRTY HANDS

Toy plunge your hands
Deeply, towards a greater good.
This provides the eternal dilemma.
The pitch-darkened waters
Shroud a bleeding heart.
Morality disappears in slaughter.
Scruples are extinguished in flames,
Acts of terror perpetrated,
Making you worse than your vanguished.
You then thread fear into the innocent,
To concede a truce of false promises.
Another circle of life is completed,
An icon of ideology shattered,
As the peace dream explodes
On distant hills.