Poets International.com

Today is Boxing Day. Still, I had time to read some of my mail and discover yet another interesting website in relation to the world of POETRY. Poet and editor MOHAMMED FAKHRUDDIN manages this site named Poets International.com

I quote directly:

"Poets International gives global representation to literature in the English language through critical and scholarly studies, original poems and in translation. Particular emphasis is placed on comparative studies. It includes interviews with both established and rising poets, analytical and critical appreciation, new trends and blends in world poetry, and book reviews.

SUBMISSIONS FOR POETS INTERNATIONAL

We welcome Haiku and short poems (maximum up to 20 lines): Sonnet, Limerick, Ghazal, Free Verse, Villanelle, Senryu, Haibun, Tanka, Sitigotyo, Sequences, Renga or any other form must also be original and unpublished."

MOHAMMED FAKHRUDDIN:

He is a journalist, poet, film scriptwriter and film director lives in Bangalore, India. He has authored /edited / published so far over 27 books on poetry and poetics in English language. A recipient of honorary Doctorate in Literature (D.Lit.) in English, from the World Congress of Poets, in 1983, Mr. Fakhruddin has been conducting monthly Poetry Workshops, and All India Poetry Festivals every year, in Bangalore, India, since 1995. He established "Poets International" an exclusively poetry journal in 1983 and launched "Haiku Poetry Movement" in India systematically through his monthly journal "Poets International", since 1995. He coined “ZEN POETRY” that is being written in less than 17 syllables. He is the Founder-President of "The Haiku Society of India", established in 1998. You can read more about poet Dr. Mohammed Fakhruddin on the mentioned website.

A POEM:

MOTHER EARTH
-- a villanelle

Mother earth, mother earth, what makes thee spin?
On thy axis and revolve round the sun?
Oceans, mountains, lakes, rivers stay within!

Treasure-trove of nature forms thy domain,
Man has found diamonds in the classic urn,
Mother earth, mother earth, what makes thee spin?

In search of wealth, ruthless man digs deep in,
Digs out gold, oil, gas, petrol turn by turn;
Oceans, mountains, lakes, rivers stay within.

Man builds skyscrapers rupturing thy skin,
Linking river to river is no fun;
Mother earth, mother earth, what makes thee spin?

Watertight compartments of land chum in,
Man-made issues spurt as volcanoes burn
Oceans, mountains, lakes, rivers stay within.

Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Hurricanes strike in.
Civilizations rise and fall turn by turn;
Mother earth, mother earth, what makes thee spin?
Oceans, mountains, lakes, rivers stay within.

Well done Dr. Mohammed Fakhruddin, and wish you the best.
Visit: www.poetsinternational.com

Beautiful website and poetry from India

It's Christmas Day 2009! It's the perfect occasion to wish all my poet and writer friends from all over the world PEACE, HEALTH and INSPIRATION.

I myself have already received many Greetings from different poets and writers from various countries including Italy, USA, Romania, Greece, India, Hong Kong, Holland, Brazil, and Africa.
I have just visited a beautiful and interesting website from India, authored by Dr. T. Ashok Chakravarthy, D. Litt. The link is: http://www.poetrywaves.com/

Dr. Chakravarthy writes regularly and through his poetry he remembers important days and occasions such as the International Day of Non-Violence, Tree Day, Global Day of Climate Change, International Day of Peace, International Human Rights Day, and others.


One can also submit his/her poetry.


Well done Dr. Chakravarthy and Greetings to all poets and writers from India.

Other poems about Christmas - Teresinka and Louis Carlos Pereira

MAJESTIC HOLIDAY SEASON

Sounds of winter
Snow
Sleepless night
In the cold
Surrounded by family
A simple wish of hope
And a free soul
I whisper
My King is born
The sight of a star
On a cloudless night.

LUIS CARLOS PEREIRA


MESSAGE FOR THE SEASON

May the fire of love
crackle in your heart.
May your warmth embrace those
who approach you with or without words
or with hopeful eyes.

The holidays and the season of joy
can bring an implacable and sad memory
of the ones who left us alone
or the tedium and solitude with
all kinds of people around us
who don't understand our path.

May we give our best moments to them
and don't ask for anything.
Share our thoughts and our hunger
for life in order to feel more hopeful
and humanely peaceful.

TERESINKA PEREIRA
2009- 2010

Poezija dwar il-Milied ta' Raymond Grech

Il-Milied Taż-Żagarelli


Għaliex bejn fehmtna hemm firda żonqri ħajt
u jċarċru dmija li bħalhom qatt ma rajt?
Għaliex inqalbet dinjietna ta’taħt fuq
u t-tiċħid ħonqilna it-tindin tas-serduq?

Bħal meta stallett jinfed minn wara d-dahar
ħa jxoqq il-laħam tari tal-ħbieb w il-ġar.

Bħal meta l-pinna timtela b'rieq is-semm
u ssir xabla niffieda xxerred id-demm.

Bħal meta t-tfal jitilfu wiċċ il-ħlewwa
u jagħżlu jlejlu ‘l hinn mil-kenn ta' ġewwa.

Bħal meta ż-żgħożija tasal fi tmiemha
b'tingiża ta' labra, ġo sqaq bla ndiema.

Bħal meta ġuf jibda jinseġ tarbija
u sikkina tfellel l-għeruq moħbija.

Bħal meta r-razzizmu jagħsar qaswalla
ħalli joħroġ lewnu fuq tila tqalla.

Bħal meta jittertaq ġisem għall-ħelsien
ġewwa l-Palestina fuq għatba x’imkien.

Bħal meta jżernaq jum sabiħ mingħajr ċpar
u f'ħakka t'għajn ittir kamr'oħra tan-nar.

Għax il-Milied geżwruh biż-żagarelli
u ‘l Ġesù nsewh fl-infieq u fil-burdelli!
U l-vjaġġ qasir tagħna sboxxla mid-destin
u fuq ċattra sirna nixbhu klandestin!


Raymond Grech
Tas-Sliema

Christmas Cribs from Malta and Gozo

Every year at Christmas it is a local tradition to build different cribs for both islanders and foreigners to visit. The main reason is to remember the birth of Jesus Christ. But it is also a question of creativity.

Interested people can visit static cribs, mechanical and moving cribs, and even live cribs. This year one can see live cribs in Hal Lija (Malta) and in Ghajnsielem (Gozo), this year named Bethlehem f'Ghajnsielem. One could hear local and traditional music and see local crafts in the making.

Tourists can also ask for local Christmas sweets such as qaghaq tal-ghasel (honey rings), imbuljuta (a kind of hot drink made of chocolate, chestnuts and orange peel), but

also Chrismas log, mince pies, amongst others.

One can visit the local cribs both during mornings and evenings. If possible visit the live cribs during evenings when the lights are on
:-)

Nuovo Libro di Gabriele Venditti

Assiotea, la donna che sfidò Platone e l’Accademia

Martedí 5 gennaio 2010, alle ore 16, sarà presentato a Isernia, Biblioteca Comunale “Michele Romano” (Piazza S. Maria, 5 - tel. 0865.50772 e-mail bibliois1@virgilio.it), l’ultimo romanzo storico, dal titolo “Assiotea, la donna che sfidò Platone e l’Accademia”, di Adriano Petta, l’autore di “Ipazia, vita e sogni di una scienziata del IV secolo”. Il libro è edito da Stampa Alternativa, collana “Eretica Speciale”

Interverranno, oltre all’autore, Gabriele Venditti (scrittore e direttore della Biblioteca), Giuseppe Napolitano (scrittore, poeta), Amerigo Iannacone (scrittore, editore), Ida Di Ianni (poetessa e giornalista), Francesca D’Uva (saggista).

Adriano Petta, nativo di Carpinone, vive a Ladispoli. Studioso di storia della scienza e di storia medievale ha pubblicato numerosi libri. Quest’ultimo libro, costituisce, con “Eresia pura” e “Ipazia, vita e sogni”, una trilogia sul tema della lotta tra ragione e religione.

Siamo a Fliunte, Ellade, nel 350 a. C. Un misterioso assassino uccide per impossessarsi di un antico codice. Forse nel “Grande Ordinamento” di Leucippo si nasconde un terribile segreto. E mentre nelle miniere d’oro della Tracia gli schiavi rinvengono statuette dal bel volto di fanciulla che elevano a simbolo di libertà, nell’Accademia platonica di Atene, l’astronomo Eudosso di Cnido con quelle statuine sta costruendo una strana mappa. Assiotea, inconsapevole eroina, si ritrova al centro di un intrico che farà di lei la prima donna ammessa all’Accademia. Aiutata da personaggi eccezionali come Iperide, Diogene e Focione e avversata da giganti come Aristotele e Platone, lotta per far abolire la schiavitù e mutare la disumana condizione della donna, e nello stesso tempo per svelare il mistero delle statuine e dell’antico codice di Leucippo. Ma un implacabile “Guardiano” vigila affinché il segreto non venga svelato, uccidendo chiunque si avvicini troppo all’arcano della “casa del cielo”.

COME UNA FIABA di Ilaria Cervo

E` appena uscito il libro Come una fiaba, di Ilaria Cervo.

Ilaria Cervo, maestra di scuola primaria, laureata in Scienze dell’Educazione, vive a Caiazzo.

Nella Prefazione al libro, Amerigo Iannacone, scrive cosi:

«“La vita è mistero” scrive Ilaria Cervo. Un mistero di fronte al quale non tutti siamo portati ad assumere lo stesso atteggiamento e a comportarci allo stesso modo. La vita è un mistero che ognuno tenta di risolvere secondo la propria sensibilità. Ma per dare un senso alla vita bisogna anche sentirsi partecipi della vita degli altri, sentire la loro sofferenza e adoperarsi per lenirla. Questo è uno dei messaggi che scaturiscono dalla lettura di questo libro. [...] Nel volumetto non troviamo che messaggi positivi. Ma, al di là dei messaggi, questo libro, piccolo e intenso, è anche piacevole da leggere. Uno stile limpido e accattivante. Si legge “come una fiaba”, appunto. È un racconto garbato e fluente: le sue pagine si possono scorrere in meno di mezz’ora, ma non ci lasciano indifferenti. Qualcosa in noi cambia, perché il testo tocca le nostre corde piú intime e ci lascia sperare in un mondo migliore».

Carmel G Cauchi - Poezija

NITĦASSEB

Dak li dari kien vulgari
illum arti fuq il-karti!
Min mhux spint se jibqa’ lura,
xogħlu mhux letteratura.

Il-Milied ħelu ta’ dari
sar festa oħra, mhux Milied,
fejn l-Imwieled xejn ma nsemmu
biex ma’ ħadd ma jkollna nkwiet.

Dak li dari kien maħbub
għax għalina kien mislub
illum żejjed inqisuh
u ninsistu li nwarrbuh.

U nixegħlu xemgħa oħra
f’ġieħ id-dinja tal-progress
fejn iż-żwieġ meqjus legali
bejn persuni bl-istess sess.

Imma jien, raġel ta’ dari,
ma nifhimx dak li madwari
qed iseħħ ma’ kullimkien
u nitħasseb
jekk hux kollox rasu ’l isfel
jew inkella rasi ’l isfel
qed ngħix jien.

Carmel G. Cauchi
10.12.2009

Il-ktieb bhala rigal ghal dan il-Milied

Il-ktieb huwa kumpanija għal min kiber miegħu. Għal min il-ktieb ma kienx parti minn ħajtu sa minn meta kien ċkejken, dan huwa diffiċli ferm biex jifhmu. Il-ktieb huwa ħabib, u jingħata bħala rigal mingħand min huwa verament ħabib tiegħek. Għal min qed jistenna fi kju li ma jispiċċa qatt hemm il-ktieb biex jgħaddilu siegħa sagħtejn żmien li mingħajru jkun żmien moħli u li ta’ min tinsieh. Għal min jinsab mitfugħ f’sodda għal jiem twal ta’ konvalexxenza, il-ktieb huwa kumpanija leali u li tgħinu jinsa ftit mill-piż tal-waqt. Għal min qed jivvjaġġa fuq tal-linja filgħodu kmieni, jew qed jaqsam il-fliegu lejn ix-xogħol jew lura lejn id-dar hemm il-ktieb bħala kumpanija. Il-ktieb jgħin lil dak li jkun jinqata’ mll-ħajja ta’ kuljum anki għal ftit waqtiet qosra u jidħol f’dinja oħra, b’personaġġi u b’avventuri oħrajn.

Ktieb verament tajjeb jgħinek tinqata’ mill-istorbju ta’ madwarek u ssib l-ekwilibriju ġewwa fik, minn dak li mhuwiex influwenzat mill-ebda ħaġa esterna. Il-ktieb huwa ħabib li min verament japprezzah jirritorna għalih kull waqt ħieles li jkollu, anki biex isib ftit waqtiet ta’ serħan, ta’ riflessjoni, ta’ sliem.

Ta’ min niftakru li għal dan il-Milied nistgħu nagħtu rigal differenti, rigal li jibqa’, rigal li jista’ jintuża minnek u anki minn dawk ta’ madwarek, u ta’ warajk: mela agħti ktieb bħala rigal. Mill-ġdid prosit tassew lill-KNK għal din l-inizzjattiva sabiħa tiegħu.

Photos from Gozo

The beautiful valley and bay of Xlendi:

The narrow streets of Rabat (Victoria)

and corners of Medieval City, the

Cittadella:

Ktieb gdid ta' Mario Azzopardi

Mario Azzopardi ghadu kemm hareg gabra ta' rakkonti gdida: L-Ahhar Granet ta' Ciorni u rakkonti ohra.
Ara dan il-link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR7K2XqbsJ8

Give a book as a present for Christmas

Una poesia natalizia da Amerigo Iannacone

NATALE STRANO


Sogno un Natale strano

senza neon alieni

ma solo con la luce delle stelle

senza rumori rudi

ma solo con la musica del vento

senza doni in scatole di plastica

ma solo con il dono dell’amore

e un manto bianco

che protegga il grano

in erba

e nel camino antico la poesia

di un grosso ceppo scoppiettante

che ti fa compagnia.



Amerigo Iannacone

POTIS KATRAKIS - more poetry from Greece

My Greek friend, poet and translator Zacharoula Gaitanaki, recently sent me a new poetry collection from Greece: The Unforseen, by Potis Katrakis, published by Lexitipon editions, 2009 (ISBN: 978-960-6823-70-1).

The Unforseen is a collection of 88 concise, well-written and reflective poems. The book has a Forward written by Dr. Shujaat Hussain, who is an Indian prolific book reviewer, poet and critic. The themes discussed by Potis Katrakis are various: the relation between God and mankind, destiny, war and peace, the role of the poet in today's world, the natural environment, power, politics, propaganda and mass-media, old age, youth and the role of education towards a civilised society, dreams and death, real happiness, sincerity, and much more.

The Unforseen is ideal to read bit by bit, say two or three short poems a day, and leave ample time for reflection. Dr. Hussain writes thus about Katrakis's poetry:

"He gives gifts to the world through his poetical philosophy. He leaves something behind for coming generations. His words are roses and the books preserve them, get eternity. He touches the majestic heights due to his sincere efforts and remarkable creations."

Yes, I agree with Dr. Hussain that true poetry is giving and leaving something positive behind.

About Potis Katrakis:

He was born in Demonia of Laconia, vice President of the "Bar Association of Piraeus", a Life Member of the WAAC/World Congress of Poets" (which awarded him the title of Honorary Doctor of Literature), a member of the Academy Ferdinandea (Italy), of the IWA (International Writers Association), of the World Poets Society (WPS), of the National Company of the Greek Writers, and other associations.

Many of his poems have been translated in foreign languages including English, French, Italian, Chinese, Russian, Albanian, Bulgarian, Mongolian and Spanish. He has published more than 200 literary books, and his poems are included in varous national and foreign Anthologies. Katrakis has collections of short stories, theatrical pieces, essays, novels, and a travel book about the Soviet Union. The forms he uses for his poetry are basically traditional, modern and meta-modern, including verses for songs. As a lyric writer he has produced seven compact discs: Equality, Plan of a Meeting, Loves of Sea, Islands Passions, Folkloristic Belly Dances, Love Songs and The Eyes that I Loved.

Potis Katrakis curriculum vitae is included in the Encyclopedia of Modern Greek Literature of Charis Patsis. Studies about Katrakis are: Potis Katrakis - another voice, an essay by Moschos Kefalas (Athens, 2000), and Potis Katrakis - a prolific writer, a critical essay by Zacharoula Gaitanaki (Athens 2003).

Poetry of Potis Katrakis:

With my Verses

With my verses

sometimes I draw pictures of dreams

to embellish

and to make brilliant the beauty,

sometimes I compose sounds of music

to make the chords of souls

to vibrate delightfully

and sometimes I engrave messages

in the memories of the people

to light their way

to a better future.

With my verses I become

painter, musician, teacher.

The Poets

Prosper those poets

that poetry chooses them

and not those poets

who choose the poetry.

The Great Poets

The great poets

can be equal to gods

and win

even the death

making divine achievement.

The Word of God

To be persuasive

the word of God

must be taught

mainly and firstly

with the example.

The speech by pulpit follow.

Land of the Mediterranean

Land of iridescent light

and colours,

of calm of souls,

of hothouse of dreams,

of the eternal spring

of our feelings.

Land of the Mediterranean.

It's nothing to be surprised

because you were, you are

and you will be

the cradle of Gods, of civilization

and of the music of angels.

Natale e la Poesia - IL LARIO

Natale arriva non solo per stressarci riguardo i tanti regali che dobbiamo comprare e i tanti soldi che dobbiamo sborsare per ricambiare amicizia vera o superficiale.
Natale non arriva solo per frequentare feste, per sbronzarci e per fingere di essere contenti insieme al gruppo.
C'e' chi ha pensato di dedicare un intero blog alla POESIA e IL NATALE in relazione al LARIO.
In questo riguardo si puo' visitare il link: http://nataledicomoinpoesia.blogspot.com/
Natale arriva anche per riflettere su ricordi, sentimenti, persone che amiamo intorno a noi o che non ci sono ancora (ma restano nel nostro cuore), avvenimenti piccoli e grandi, ambienti diversi.
Un grande AUGURI a tutti quelli che ancora credono nel vero significato di Natale.

Tragitti - Gabra gdida ta' poeziji

Għadha kemm ħarġet ġabra ta’ poeżiji ġdida mill-pinna ta’ żewġ poeti żgħażagħ, Patrick Sammut u Andrew Sciberras. L-isem tal-ktieb huwa TRAĠITTI (2009, 95 paġna, mitbugħ għand il-Five Star Printing and Design Ltd.), u jiġbor fih 30 poeżija ta’ Sammut u 30 poeżija oħra ta’ Sciberras, kollha bil-Malti. Traġitti għandu daħla kritika mill-professur Oliver Friggieri u ritratti tal-fotografu Aaron Bonniċi.

X’qal il-Prof. Friggieri dwar il-poeti:

“Is-silenzju huwa valutat u skopert bħala kisba aħħarija, aktar milli bħala nuqqas ta’ elokwenza bikrija. Ma huwiex telfa iżda akkwist. Hemm dimensjoni lil hinn mill-kelma, mit-taħdit, u mill-poeżija nnifisha li Sammut jippreferi – anki jekk, paradossalment, huwa jissokta jikteb. Għalhekk din il-poeżija ta’ Sammut tista’ titqies bħala kompromess, soffert u kuntrastanti, bejn il-kitba u n-non-kitba.”

“Il-poeżija ta’ Sciberras toffri eżempju tad-duwalità: il-kelma u l-att. Kollox jindika li l-poeta jimraħ fl-ispazju mibni bejn il-kelma miktuba u l-azzjoni mġarrba. Minn ħdan iż-żewġ estremi, kważi nieqsa minn kull ħjiel ta’ konċiljazzjoni bejniethom, huwa jerġa’ jew aħjar jissokta jfittex is-sens, dak kollu li jista’ jispjega u forsi jiġġustifika l-kitba tal-poeżija f’epoka li hi minnha nnifisha post-poetika jew saħansitra anti-poetika.”


Traġitti se jkun qed jinbiegħ bil-prezz ta’ 7 ewro. Min ikun irid jirċievi kopja jista’ jikkuntattja lill-awturi fuq sammutpatrickj@yahoo.com jew patrickjsammut@hotmail.com jew artistand666@yahoo.com

Tragitti (2009, 95 pages, Five Star Printing and Design Ltd.) is the new poetry collection of Maltese poets Patrick Sammut and Andrew Sciberras. It is a collection of 60 poems in Maltese written in free verse. The book also exhibits a number of photographs of photographer Aaron Bonnici, and has a critical introduction by Professor Oliver Friggieri. The book is selling at 7 Euros. People interested in buying a copy can write directly to the authors: sammutpatrickj@yahoo.com or patrickjsammut@hotmail.com and artistand666@yahoo.com

A book as a gift for Christmas 2009

ORA! Volumes 1 and 2 reviewed on The Sunday Times of Malta

Alfred Palma - poet and translator - on Italian website

Poet and translator Alfred Palma has been hosted on e-magazine TELLUSFOLIO of Sondrio (Italy). See the following link:

http://www.tellusfolio.it/index.php?prec=%2Findex.php&cmd=v&id=10067

Alfred Palma is also taking part in the Maltese Poets Assocoation 'Bookmarks Project'.

Il poeta e traduttore maltese Alfred Palma e' ospite dell'e-magazine TELLUSFOLIO di Sondrio. Visitare il link:

http://www.tellusfolio.it/index.php?prec=%2Findex.php&cmd=v&id=10067

Alfred Palma sta anche partecipando al Progetto Segnalibri varato dall'Associazione dei Poeti Maltesi. 19 poesie in inglese di 19 poeti e membri dell'APM sono state pubblicate in formato segnalibro. Le poesie-segnalibro saranno distribuite negli alberghi e nei negozi frequentati dai turisti nell'isola di Malta. Cosi i turisti avranno un'idea della poesia maltese contemporanea.

Poetry in bookmarks

The Maltese Poets Association has launched yet another successful project. 19 poets, all members of the MPA have participated in this project. Their poems, all in English, have been chosen to be published in bookmark format. The bookmarks are being distributed in hotels and other places frequented by tourists here in Malta. The aim is to give foreigners a taste of contemporary Maltese poetry. The selected poems all vary in theme and style. The poets taking part in the project are Dr. Karmenu Mallia, Salv Sammut, Mario Attard, Emmanuel Attard Cassar, Therese Pace, Margaret Attard Baldacchino, Lino Grech, Dr. Joe Zammit Tabona, Alfred Palma, Alfred Massa, Patrick Sammut, Miriam Camilleri, Raymond Grech, Omar Seguna, Charles Magro, Jane Micallef, Godwin Cini, Mary Doris Chircop and Jonathan Balzan. The project was sponsored by the Bank of Valletta.

Please see: http://www.ghpm.netfirms.com/

L-Għaqda Poeti Maltin għadha kemm nidiet proġett poetiku ġdid. Dsatax-il poeta, kollha membri tal-Għaqda, ippubblikaw poeżija bl-Ingliż kull wieħed f’forma ta’ bookmark bil-għan li dawn jitqassmu f’lukandi biex it-turisti jkollhom idea tal-poeżija kontemporanja lokali. Is-suġġetti u l-istili huma varji. Il-poeti li ħadu sehem f’dan il-proġett huma, Dr. Karmenu Mallia, Salv Sammut, Mario Attard, Emmanuel Attard Cassar, Therese Pace, Margaret Attard Baldacchino, Lino Grech, Dr. Joe Zammit Tabona, Alfred Palma, Alfred Massa, Patrick Sammut, Miriam Camilleri, Raymond Grech, Omar Seguna, Charles Magro, Jane Micallef, Godwin Cini, Mary Doris Chircop u Jonathan Balzan. Il-proġett kien sponsorjat mill-Bank of Valletta.

ara: http://www.ghpm.netfirms.com/