Against the Graffiti,

she stood out like a Renaissance painting,

a heroine of the new Maltese dawn

and the hint of classical features

that delivered the final sermon of the day.

This heroine smiled broadly

as her words floated in the Valetta night

time breeze, hanging

in the air, as vibrant as the thunderstorm

clouds racing the mopeds round the

streets in time

to this Maltese songbird’s

thoughts and aspirations

of providing culture

in The Pub.

 

Against the physical Graffiti,

slang driven poetic phrases

and sly observations

of Island life,

she whispered with the voice of a giant

and I hear her now

in my dreams.

For Miriam Calleja on her birthday.

Ian D. Hall 2017.