Poetry Night at Raymond Caruana Gardens – Gudja

Following the positive reviews that emergent poets received following their participation in the Malta Arts Festival in mid-July, the National Book Council invited a number of other young poets and writers to present their work to an altogether new public.

Thanks to the Gudja Local Council, Demelsa Grech in particular, Beverly Agius, Nigel Baldacchino, Keith Borg, Ryan Falzon and Matthew Schembri were able to read out their new work on the 22nd of August in the laid-back setting of Raymond Caruana Gardens in Gudja.

Invitation was open to all, including families from the vicinity and refreshments were provided by the Local Council during a short break in the event.

Here’s to more opportunities for young aspiring writers!

Following are a sample of the excerpts read on the night:

KLIEMEK – Beverly Agius

Meta kliemek jilbes l-aħdar,

nilmaħ il-ward fil-ġnien

jitgeżwer f’ ħarifa

u jidbiel;

nilmaħ ’l għajnejja nixfin

iwaqqgħu l-weraq.

Nilmaħni riesqa niġbor

il-petali lewn kruhatek

u noħlom.

Noħlom li nsir

rebbiegħa.

Rebbiegħa

li toħrof kliemek,

li tlibbsek l-aħmar.

Rebbiegħa

li tilmaħ il-ward

jerġa’ jiftaħ.

***

??? – Keith Borg

Kultant,

bir-riħ jittewweb

mal-kanali ta’ wiċċi,

insaqsi lill-qamar

x’hemm fuq in-naħa

oskura tiegħu.

Fil-muta kiesħa

tqattar minn ħalqu stirat

intiegħem it-tweġiba

li beżaq f’ħoġri:

hemm esseri

jistaqsi l-istess

mistoqsija ambigwa.

*

It-tweġiba rċevejtha

fuq tapit aħmar

meta ramla ramla,

meta stilla stilla

jitwaħħdu

f’verità safja.

***

excerpt from INSATAR – Ryan Falzon

“Le, ma rridx ninsatar skont kif jippontali dini. Irrid biss niġri bil- karozza bil-lejl, nitgħammed mid-dawl qawwi ta’ trailer mimli tiġieġ sejrin għal qatla, nsegwi karozza b’ xufier xurban ġo fiha, nidħol niekol m’ għand Ċiniż għajjien, grazzjuż daqs il-ħanut bla tabella tieghu, nieqaf nieħu grokk go bar mejjet b’ barranija zorra wara l- bank ssabbat id-drinks b’ vendikazzjoni u qatt ma’ jkollha żgħar, nara mara pulita b’ imsielet kbar taqlaghha go wiċċha mingħand ir- raġel ta’ magħha xħin nieqaf għal petrol, u npejjep sigarett waqt li narah jisbaħ.”

***

B’TIFKIRA – Matthew Schembri

F’Mater Dei

daħal Awissu

u nxteħet fuq sufan

bil-fannijiet iduru

u jħammġu jdejhom

bis-sapun

waqt li jgħarrxu facebook,

jaraw biss magni.

Awissu jċempel

filgħaxija;

mewta oħra ttir quddiemu

b’attakk polikromatiku.

U jħares lejha,

qatt ma jista’ jaqbad

il-lewn li jdawwal

x’reġa’

seta’

mar

ħażin.

***

excerpts – Nigel Baldacchino

Even though we fight the same crusade,

We run on separate horses.

Even though we share the same face,

Our tears run separate courses.

*

The restless road moves straight beneath us,

While we lie still, here,

Travelling.

*

We curated our own intimacy,

Paraphrasing each-other’s instincts,

Using only words we taught one another,

The first few days we met.