Author: poetryfest

Watch the Poetry Reading:

Genre: LOVE

Narration by Val Cole

Get to know the poet. Interview by Matthew Toffolo

1) What is the theme of your poem?

Well of course, the theme of this poem is about romantic love. The poem When two lovers meet again is about two lovers who meet again after many years, after fate has seperated them. It is a moment of longing but also a strange situation where lovers find themselves together, breaking barriers whatever it was that seperated them . The passion may be there, it might have never died, or died. Whatever, it is an interesting moment, of reliving again the love story and retrospection, of holding on or letting go.

2) What motivated you to write this poem?

A writer cannot give what he or she does not have and this applies to poetry too. Every poem and writing is influenced by personal experiences and the emotions provoked by these experiences. Then these moments are relived and produced on paper, forming a mysterious mental voyage. That makes it a beautiful experience, having the capacity to put that emotion on paper and be able to share it. And, yes, the poem might be a personal experience.

3) How long have you been writing poetry?

Poetry is a personal journey and my journey in poetry started back to my school years. Since, primary level we, pupils were introduced to Maltese poetry and perhaps this planted a seed within me to write. And it worked as I gave it a try. Then by years it became a routine. I found myself writing poetry to express my emotions and what I see around me. The journey also included perdfectiing and mastering the language.
Since then it never stopped.

4) If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

If I were to have dinner with one person! There is more than one but if I had to really I would choose, Brazilian writer Paolo Choelho. This great author has written several novels which are mystical and about the spiritual journey of life.
His novels are not only a lesson but its like a mirror in our life s’ journey apart from being captivating. His writing is unique and novels always carry that special philosophical message.
I would entirely enjoy discussing with him his novels and what inspired him to create such masterpieces.

5) What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

Apart from painting and writing I also love acting and at one point I wanted to study acting. In my younger days I did some small parts here and there, so having my poem performed fulfilled this dream. I was very emotional when I heard it being performed. There is a saying, that a poet cannot read his/ her work maybe because of emotions. I think in my case its so true. When one of the most successful and acclaimed Maltese producer, Chris Micallef introduced me to the Poetry Festival I was more than intrigued.

6) Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?

I write novels, poems and articles. I am author of four novels in Maltese and three in English. My latest novel Voices in the Dark was published in 2022 and dealt with mental health. Voices in the Dark is story with a mixture of intrigues but also with psychological battles experienced by persons suffering from multiple disorders. I wanted this to be the main message, to make it thought provoking for readers.
Individuals who suffer multiple disorders face different realities which for us may sound strange or even absurd.
Also, my poems poetry have also been featured in International magazines and Anthologies. I am also artist and I have participated in International art exhibitions on line and even locally. My favourite theme is the female figure, but I also experiment with fabrics and colour.

7) What is your passion in life?

My passion for life is for travelling, knowledge, Spiritua Growth, Art and everything which brings me happiness.

The choir of light, they sing tonight, in brilliant harmony,
Each shining ray, a part to play, to bring one voice to me.

The choral lead, the sun indeed, sends light in every way,
Diffraction bends through droplet lens, adds sparkle in the spray.

Translucent clouds, the light enshrouds, revealing shades and hue,
Reflecting ground, turns up-side-down, and duplicates the view.

Opaque the rock, the light to block, disclosing solid form,
Unseen behind, the rainbow finds, refracted colors warm.

Scattered light, precedes the night, as rays pass through the air,
The reds get through, but not the blue, except up high and fair.

The final gleam, lights one last beam, then silent far too soon,
But look up high in night’s dark sky, ‘it lives’ resounds the moon.

The choir of light, they sing tonight, in brilliant harmony,
Each shining ray, a part to play, to bring one voice to me.

Performed by Val Cole

Performed by Val Cole

I withdraw, despite everything,
in healthy benevolence,
in a delicate permissiveness
that protects me,
my mood is zen.
Oh self-indulgence!
Now, stretched out on the sofa
self-pity invades
I shield myself a little,
I forget the judgment of others …
For a moment I refuse to be
the one responsible for anyone’s destiny
And I pamper myself….
more and more,
again and again……!

(After all…..
I’m simply the author
of a short moment of bliss!)

It was a dark and lonely night. I remember,
When the sky turned red, my heart sang to me,
Inside this cold and lonely closet,
All these dreams and all these other weird things,
Nothing but a bunch of loud words from dishonest friends
No clothes on my back, just my words to defend
I remember I didn’t forget I gave all I had down to the last
Drip. What about for you? What about for love? What about for God in the heavens above?
You and I had this dream inside this heart of our apple tree,
But man a trade with his soul,
In a woman, half his apple in her hold,
But now she is just too dam bold
From all this knowledge I’ve shared with her,
Look, oh my God, behold, a woman has half my apple in her hold!
Maybe I should take what I have and hide,
Run like hell to the other side,
Maybe over there, I might find some fresh water to give this old tree a fire burning hotter,
Just maybe I might get another chance,
If I can keep up my house, I might get a new pair of pants!

Written by Gary Maverick Morton
©️ 1986

I cried myself to sleep last night, because this world has grown so cold, and the youth my never live to be old. For the future of this country, and because wealth is based on money!

I cried myself to sleep last night, for all the Mike Browns, Eric Garners, Trayvon Martin’s, and Sean Bells. For the ones who have been murdered, but the no snitch rule says you bet not tell.

I cried myself to sleep last night for we want equality, but we’re dying off real soon. I asked God why so many of our young men have to die in their youth.

I cried myself to sleep last night for all the senseless crime and murders. Leaning on my own shoulder, wondering what we can do? I cried so bad hoping that you would hear my cry and start cry too.

I cried myself to sleep last night for bestiality, rapes and homosexuality, thinking really this has become our new morality.

I cried myself to sleep last night wanting to take a powerful stand, hoping you won’t be the next black man, starring at a gun and pleading please don’t shoot.

I cried myself to sleep last night because the KKK is growing stronger, and with that being true, pretty soon love will be out numbered.

I cried myself to sleep last night for humanity’s sake, asking God to get rid of all this hate, because so many innocent lives are being taking at a rapid rate.

I cried myself to sleep last because I have two boys, hoping and praying that they would be able to survive and make it in this dying world.

I cried myself to sleep last night because of wealth’s new meaning, in the middle of my cry, I was hoping I was just day dreaming about what I was seeing.

I cried myself to sleep last night because education is becoming obsolete, and for all the people dying on these evil streets.

I cried myself to sleep last night for all the kids without a father, thinking to myself how these dads are such cowards.

I cried myself to sleep last night for the girls who have to twerk, it’s sad because they think their life is such a joke.

I cried myself to sleep last night because they can’t understand their value and being on world star has become “America’s” new idol.

I cried myself to sleep last night thinking of a master plan and saying to myself my people just don’t understand.

I cried myself to sleep last night thinking of all the wings that won’t soar and how come so many people don’t believe in themselves any more.

I cried myself to sleep last night because we all could really just get along, all while listening to and singing them old Negro songs.

I cried myself to sleep last night wondering why we can’t get this right, Police brutality, education and these stupid street fights.

I cried myself to sleep last night saying a movement won’t come, until it’s their son, who die by the hands of a murderer who was hired to protect them.

I cried myself to sleep last night wanting change, the reason I cried is because I know things will remain the same!

I cried myself to sleep last night with a heavy heart, trying to figure out what will it take for us to start, getting along and loving one another…because truth be told we are all really just brothers.

I cried myself to sleep last night thinking of the prisons and trying to understand the man’s vision. Check this out please understand and hear me clearly, their building more jails, yet closing schools, this should really tell yawl what they think of our youth.

I cried myself to sleep last night saying if we all got on the same page, it would help to get rid of all this rage.

I cried myself to sleep last night because human life has lost its value, any time you can shoot a man down and your only defense is standing your ground. Even when you were told to mind your own business but you took the law in your own hand, and figured you would just end it. A life so young and a promising future. But we rallied and marched. Yet where did that get us. Only more lives were taking after that and it crazy because were sleeping and can’t see the dominion affect.

I cried myself to sleep last night how could we not get it. All the pain, some people think it’s just a game, and the rap music makes no darn sense it’s driving me insane. It glorifies drugs, guns, sleeping with tons of women and materialistic things. Yet you never hear them rapping, I went to college got a degree. But I’m the one you want to silence because no one wants to hear me, the truth, and how we can save today’s youth!

I cried myself to sleep last night for the guilty men walking free, asking God how could this be. How can murder be justified, saying they have created a new genocide, thinking we can’t let this ride, it’s time to get rid of this pride.

I cried myself to sleep last night thinking of how our true leaders were selfless and cried out Lord you have to help us because of the war that’s going on. Give us all wisdom, to know if we would just come together and stand strong, then and only then we can right this wrong.

I cried myself to sleep last night but I’m only one person I can’t do it alone. I need help a lot of help, for it to be all over, the crimes, rapes, stupid fights, and the senseless murders.

I cried myself to sleep last night and when I woke up it was all the same, the only thing I could do was call on Jesus Christ’s name. Asking him to help you see that what is going on affects your own community.

I cried myself to sleep last night hoping that you would get it soon and want to help. Because we all are in the same gang, and need each other to survive. Like Nino Brown we have to ask ourselves are we really our brother’s keeper?

But this is not a movie this is real life you see, even on the back of a dollar it says” in God we trust”. He has the answers that you and I need and we must seek his guidance because we definitely need his help.

I cried myself to sleep last night hoping you would join the movement, if not our youth, our communities, innocent lives will just keep being ruined.

I cried. I cried for our future. We won’t have one pretty soon. I cried hoping that the entire world would hear me, and see, that it’s time to stop crying; start doing; start loving; and start caring; We must come together, and do what’s needed to be done! Then and only then, will love outnumber. We can all yell the victory is ours, we won…Let me ask you a question is can you please help me to stop crying?

My acacia tree the grand umbrella sun heat and shade the mix of you……..I the beast using the loins flesh a small morsel for clearing my pallet.

I the pale Rider have made the dark continent my own in soul to spirit. I ask for nothing but life itself to see what should not be seen, from heaven to dust. To many I death personified by sight, to others an other worldly spirit…shunned and venerated which is me.

Desert Sands and the lonely place never the permanent home for the nomadic. The constant March two steps forward one back we call the pulling.

The singing sand it’s haunting I hum alone……..always alone the loneliest of sad songs. The lullaby of the heart I call it, for me, then me, and just me.

It’s the way of it for the dark continents diversity, it like the pulling of the sheets in the mind changing always on the horizon. From north to south and all in between eyes wide to the magic the myth of her.

The soil deep red offers little for the following fool, as without a justification for sweet nectared coffee flowers and honey, the weak Parish withered, in skin wraped bones contorted the empty vessels strewed around me like so many leaves.

It’s to the wondering eyed soul my spirit world, a destiny on the Serengeti doing the whispering to eachother in silence and scene.

Feeling the infrasound of the elephants talking from end to end the deep rumblings, I cry humble tears I the speck amongst the mighty.

Tall grass and you my wind blown Dusky hued Maiden in Morning mist and willdabeast dance. The Horizons filled and fields vultures on the meal of yet another’s flesh. There There is a beauty to the beasts…..predator……pray…….then scavenger’s.

To Kilimanjaro the phallic center of my Africa, your Africa, ours, as I do share not the shellfish one, to our end into the cloud forests and the wild things surrounding us.

The cool place where we fire the heart sweat, and the sweet thigh.The next meal, you my sweet as it’s In the tasting in small portion’s That will last forever plus one…..my sweet dessert. No way to be closer than to consume you complete till there is no more wanting……..which is never.

Upper canopy the new unbrella of sheltering lifes green gift.The air cool in the moment…….as the fires needed we listen to the peacock talk our soothing, forest sounds the accompaniment the Orchestra the world travelers delight.

The enemy of my enemy I say not, but flesh of my flesh more fitting, as once consumed we two… will be one…. and no more…… I shall ride the black beast to continents end, as I the owner Africa my Africa, no enemy of my enemy flesh of my flesh no longer.

I love and treasure my body? hell no.
Not in this lifetime.
Is food my jam or not my jam?
Food is a fat girl’s jam.
Skinny girls,
Crack or wine? A pack of smokes.
Instead of telling me what to do, or what to eat,
Just duct tape my lips already.

Uber eats. A fat girl’s bacon
Food on demand is just to easy.
Robbed.
Of health and money.
Just stop. Stop it. Duct tape my lips.

Weight watchers in elementary school.
A lifetime of yo-yos. A stupid toy and
A stupid diet. Diet is to starve is to eat more
is to become fatter.

Pizza house worker, lose weight
Eat lots of pizza and chicken fingers.
Fattest calves, don’t wear a skirt.
Don’t want to be fat
Be invisible but be visible
Slap a smile, crack a joke and be the
Best damn actress. Rock the stage
She’s earned the time to shine, so
Remove the duct tape just one night.

More trauma. I’m a pro. Stuff it down.
Add icecream on top. All flavors.
It’s bad to discriminate. Equal opportunity
Flavors and bad news boys.
Bad boys are good reminders
Of self-hate and voicelessness.

Voiceless? Not me. Not me now.
I’m a loud and proud feminist. Or am
I? Maybe I just put on a show.
I can’t say my lines.
Is duct tape working? Nah.
Just don’t care. Who cares?

I want to be skinny.
Enough to run around the house?
Hell no, I might twist my ankle.
Exercise is dangerous.
Save the fat girl.
Duct tape her lips