Kwadru Iswed

Halluni!

Hlibtuni.  Storbju jsaffar f'widnejja

Nies zugraga f'ghajnejja

Sturdewni, ghajjewni.

Itilquni.

Sparixxu minn quddiemi u ieqfu bikkuni.

Tghajtulix, tkellmunix.

Halluni ndub fis-skiet li jkebbibni

Kobba fid-dlam taht salib li jwiddibni u li

hawwadni, saddadni.

Imkien ma sibt farag, dmugh biss ixarrabni.

Nixxejjer mar-rih bhal qoxra mitlufa

Titqalleb fl-imwieg, ghar-rih ivenven mikxufa.

U x-xita ssawwatha

Kull mewga ssabbatha.

M'hemmx tama ghall-aghma

Li ttarrax u mmuta

U spicca bhal brimba mhabbla f'ghanqbuta.

Xemgha

Ilsienha jitlieheb, jikwi,

beda jehmzu u jinkih,

jizfinlu gharwien,

jizzegleg grazzjuz

minghajr xejn misthija.

U xeghellu w dawwallu

harstu sewda fuq wiccu.

Qanqlu sew u hass fawra,

sa ghaqqad il-ponn.

Heddidha b'nofs korla,

li k'darb'ohra tghajbu,

jghallaqha, jkeffinha.

Ma twerwritx ix-xemgha,

u biex bhal tisfida,

carcret tismot fuq idu.

Fit-telfa rribella,

B'heffa bezlaq sebghu

U f'nifs lewielha ghonqha.

W'hemm ma tniffsitx aktar.

U hu baqa' wahdu

fil-hemda tad-dlam,

b'sebghu mahruq.

.MANETTI.

Hariglu jdejh
Mghannqin bil-lest
Biex jorbothomlu
Bil-griz ileqq
Lewn il-kesha
Bhal halq imbexxaq
Imgewwah biex jigdem.

Libbishomlu.
Ghalaqhomlu.
Sakkarhomlu.

B'hoss ta' tlink!
Il-bieb issakkar
U qafel barra l-liberta`.

Taret mar-rih.
Daghbet fil-ksieh.

'Mma ma deherx qalbu maqtugha
Bhal cert l`ghad jaraha darb'ohra.

The Heart of the Earth - Single Now Released!

Music Composition & Production: Brian Vassallo
Lyrics, Vocal Line & Vocals: Amaryllis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0_XB1yE-i0&feature=player_embedded

"It's the heart..
.. Of the earth..
Beating,
Breathing,
Sighing,
Burning.

When you feel her
Breath inside of you,
Do you sense her
Strugglin' on and on and on?

Hear her whisper
Inside your mind,
Your soul,
Your heart,
Your all.

Hear her sighing,
Hear her crying
For your love,
For your compassion.

Feel her heart,
Fly away the pain,
Give to her
Your heart,
Your mind,
Your soul,
Your all."

Episodju ta' zewg ahwa ckejknin fix-xemx

Arah, arah kemm jiehu hsiebha,
Ghedt lil sehbiti b'tbissima,
Dawret wiccha 'l fejn urejtha,
Kien hemm tifla zghira u huha,
Tnejn ckejknin, hi bilkemm timxi,
Imm'hu ragel zghir, xejn bluha,
Qabdilha idha u ggwidaha,
U x'hin tfixklet dlonk refaghha,
Forsi kellu kemm, tmien snin?

X'hin bdiet tibki, qaghad jismaghha,
Poggiha f'hogru, bil-mod, bilqieghda,
Qaghad jghannaqha sa ma lestiet,
Sa ma fil-bandli, kien hemm biss skiet,
Imbaghad qabditlu wiccu f'idha,
U faqqghet dahka ta' fessuda,
Meghket imnehirha f'sidru,
Jghallmuk, ghadhom bilkemm jidhru.

Ejja imxi, sar il-hin,
L-ohra qaltli w bil-mod gibditni,
Kont bqajt niccassa lejn ic-ckejknin,
U fejn il-memorja kienet haditni,
Iccaqlaqt izda mhux qabel,
Harist lejn imhabbithom issahhar,
U b'ghajnejja ghedtihom, tlabthom,
Qisu li tibqghu hekk sa l-ahhar.

It-Tina ta' Quddiemi

Kont ilek Xitwa,
Vojta gharwiena,
Kwazi tindara,
Zkuk biss,
Thares fiss,
Monotona,
F'daqqa wahda,
Rajt l-erba' werqiet,
Li l-Harifa l-ohra tfiet,
Werqiet ckejkna hodor,
Qeghdin jinbtu,
U fraht bil-hajja,
L'int bdejt twelled,
U qghadtlek ghassa,
U kuljum bdejt ninnota,
Kif hi u ddur ir-rota,
Int bdejt tiffolla,
Bil-weraq haj,
Ahdar jghajjat,
Fil-jum tal-lum,
Kwazi nksejt,
Tarmi l-gmiel bdejt!
Ftit ohra fadal,
X'tghatti zkuk mghaddam,
Eh din ir-Rebbiegha,
Kif ittik il-hajja,
Fadal biss it-tin,
Tajjeb u fin,
Illi ddendel inti,
Imma dak fis-sajf,
Sabiex it-triq tisbieh,
U l-frott tieghek tgawdih.
Mel'allura
Anka ghalik,
Kull jum hu varju,
Hemm granet ta' niket,
U anka ghalik,
Hemm granet ta' fjur,
Trid jew ma tridx,
Ikollok timxi mac-ciklu,
Daqqa gharwiena,
U daqqa tfur.
Imma li jiswa ghalissa,
Huwa li wasal zmien il-hdura,
Zmien l-unur u l-kulur.

Rebbiegha

Merhba, helwa Rebbiegha,
Kont ili herqana nistenniek,
Waslet tieghek is-siegha,
Il-fjuri stenbhu fuq ix-xwiek,
Ix-xemx qed tizreg fl-oghla sema,
L-ghasfur qed jghanni fil-fergha ghall-berah,
U t-tbatija issa ghaddiet,
L-iswed kien, u ghadda u miet.
Gimgha, jum u stagun gdid,
Jimmarka llum, wiehed u ghoxrin,
Hallina issa ngawduk ftit,
U nduqu tieghek il-frott bnin,
Mieghek gibt il-hena f'qalbi,
Iz-ziffa tfissed b'hlewwa wkoll,
Il-kesha tishon u tizvinta,
Il-fjur jiddakkar, lis-silg iholl.
Mel'ejja, u imla' l-imnifsejn
B'din l-ghanja helwa w riha tfuh,
B'l-ilwien b'kollox jixeghlu mieghi,
Halluni maghkom nibda nizfen,
W ghal ftit zmien issiru tieghi.

Lill-Ommi f'Gheluq Sninha u fl-Gheluq l-Anniversarju Taz-Zwieg!

Mhux ghax illum specjali
Se nghidlek dal-kliem jien,
Mhux ghax int l-ideali,
Karattru mimli lwien,
Int haqqek kuljum tifrah
Sidt qalb tad-deheb bhal dik,
K'ma tapprezzakx tkun iblah,
B'hekk poezija ghalik.

Llum jahbat gheluq sninek,
Ghadd'iehor ma' l-ohrajn,
Nofs hajtek tajtni hinek,
Widinti kont, u l-ghajn,
Zmien jghaddi w le jistenna,
Ghadda jigri u m'ghadniex zghar,
Nitlob biss l'int tithenna,
Ghax il-passat issa ghadda w mar.

Erbgha u tletin sen'ilu,
Ghalaqt int tnejn w ghoxrin,
Hadt b'zewgek lil missieri,
Tezor iehor, kristallin,
B'rihitkom jien hawn qieghda,
Niktbilkom dal-kelmtejn,
Waqt li naghmlilkom wieghda,
Li ma hdimtux ghalxejn.

Grazzi ta' kulm'ghamiltu,
W'ta' li taghmlu anka llum,
Kemm twissu, tghannqu u taghdru,
Ir-rispett kemm haj indum,
Jibqa' hemm go fija lejkom,
Ghax intom iz-zewg bnedmin,
Li kulma jien ghamluh idejkom,
Nibqa' nhobbkom tul is-snin!

A Splash Of Colour

Green and blue
Expose nature's heart so true,
Grass and skies,
Happiness and sighs,
Walks in the countryside,
Show me earth colours,
Although they're all sprayed,
With colourful flowers,
White is for pure,
Blood points at red,
Of which my country's sure,
Our old fathers shed,
But deep red's also passion,
Ambition and progression,
Courage, risk and determination,
In fulfilling our obligation,
Pink soothes me to softness,
I close my eyes,
Feel its childish, sweet caress,
For it represents innocence,
Of a child, thoughts so mild.
Oranges and yellows,
Bring sunshine to mind,
Brightness, stars and happy hellos,
Of every morning, a blessing find,
Lastly, into my purple I plunge,
All kinds of lilacs, violets,
Indigos and plums,
For 'tis the colour that massages my soul,
The colour of music,
Where depth and serenity flow,
The colour which finally,
Will lead me to them,
The seven hues of the rainbow.

Inkwadru Morr

L-ahhar li ratu kien xi gimgha qabel.  X'hin qalulha li kellhom johduh ftit l-isptar minn fuq ix-xoghol inhasdet ftit, imma heqq, kultant kulhadd ikollu jasal wasla s'hemm donnu.  Missierha qalilha li kien se jwassal lil ommha xoghol u jibqa' sejjer l-isptar jarah, u ddecidiet li tmur mieghu.  Lanqas lahqet rifset il-bieb ta' l-emergenza li ma ratux fil-genb fil kuritur, bilqieghda go sodda tar-roti, jistenna biex jara fejn kienu se johduh.  Kien liebes flokk isfar li kien gab minn xi safar.  Wiccu kellu harsa xipli fuqu, harsa ta' tifel zghir li jkollok aptit tghannaq u tbus.  Marru flimkien mieghu fil-kamra fejn kienu se jzommuh u zammewlu ftit kumpanija.  Beda jitghawweg u jzomm zaqqu bl-ugigh, sa ma donnu l-likwidu li kienu injettawlu beda jaghmel tieghu, u bdiet tmur ftit ghajnu bih.  L-ewwel bisitu hi fuq haddejh, imbaghad biesu missierha, u ghal xi raguni li ma saqsietx x'kienet, ratu jaghmillu salib fuq mohhu.

Filghodu mas-6am qajjimhom it-telefown.  Wiegeb missierha u qalulu li t-tifel kien hassu hazin.  Iz-zghira kienet qieghda tilbes ghax-xoghol, imma x'hin rat hekk telqet kollox u marret mieghu.  Xeghel il-hazard lights u beda jsuq qisu ghafrid, bhall-imgienen.  Bus lanes, traffiku u sriebet ta' karozzi, lil kulhadd bdew jaqbzu.  Bintu, li s-soltu kienet dejjem tippridkalu biex isuq bil-galbu, dakinhar ma tkellmet xejn.

Hassitha stramba kif malli dahlu flok hallewhom jibqghu sejrin dritt hdejh, qalulhom biex jidhlu go kamra faccata.  Tat harsa 'l fejn qalulhom biex imorru, rat statwa ta' Madonna u bukketti ta' fjuri quddiemha, imma xorta ma fehmitx.  Sa ma rat wiccu, wicc it-tabib.  "Kif inhu Dott?" staqsieh missierha.  Lanqas twegiba, harsa biss.  U missierha nfaqa' jibki, jibki bhal tarbija.  U bintu baqghet iccassata thares lejh.

Kelma li hi kelma ma lissnitx.  Ghajnejha bdew iharsu fil-vojt, iduru l-ghajnejn ta' l-erbgha min-nies li kien hemm madwarha wiehed wiehed, tipprova forsi taqra x'qed jghidu.  Harget wahidha mill-kamra u baqghet sejra tfittex l-ewwel sink li ssib.  Ghamlet l-isbah kwarta wahidha hemm gew u llum tghid illi li kieku waqghet bomba hdejha dak il-hin ma kinitx tismaghha.  U li kieku xi hadd qataghlha rasha, ma kinitx tohorgilha qatra demm.  Regghet lura hdejn missierha u t-tabib, u b'ton ta kmand qaltlu, "Hudni hdejh.  Irrid narah."

"Xena ohra li ha nibqa' ngorr mieghi," qaltli hi u tirrakkuntali.  Qalet li kien mghotti kollu b'lizar abjad, u t-tabib kixiflu wiccu.  Abjad karti, abjad bhal-lizar.  Mielet rasha fuq sider huhha u ma felhitx aktar.  Splodiet tolfoq, ilfiq ta' qsim il-qalb.  Qalet li qabel telqet, bisitu fuq haddejh; u haddejh kienu keshin bhas-silg, bhal irham fuq qabar.

In-nies ghall-funeral tieghu gew bhad-dud, imma minn daqs dawk nies hi riedet biss lilu.  Xtaqet li jqum u jmur mixja maghha bhalma kienu jaghmlu kwazi kuljum.  Xtaqet tiftah qalbha mieghu fuq kulma kienet qed thoss.  Xtaqet tghajjat mieghu talli ta dil-qatgha u ghamlilha din ic-cajta.  Izda ma hallihiex.  Minflok, halliha quddiesa shiha ticcassa lejn it-tebut, tipprova tifhem kif gisem zaghzugh bhal dak qieghed f'kaxxa u mhux barra minnha.

Ma riditx tghidli dak li hasset ic-cimiterju, hi u tarah niezel minn fejn qatt ma kien se jerga' jitla'.  Qaltli biss li qabel, kien ta' spiss johodha fuq l-istess qabar biex jghidu talba lil nannuhom li hadd minnhom ma kien lahqu.  "Mur ghidlu min kien imiss," qatli b'dahka falza.  Illum, m'ghadhiex tqum tibkih bil-lejl jew ticcassa lejn ir-ritratti tieghu minn filghodu sa filghaxija.  Imma ismu migruf f'qalbha, u huma spissi l-mumenti fejn tkun tixtiequ hdejha, fejn taghti gidha biex tara l-mobile idoqq u ssib messagg minn tieghu. 

Minkejja dan, huwa wens ghaliha li taf illi huha l-kbir baqa' jiehu hsiebha bhalma kien ghamel sa minn ckunitha, minhabba li kien hemm ftit tas-snin mhux hazin bejniethom. "Inhossni ferhana li wiehed mill-ahhar messaggi li baghtli kien out of the blue.  U kellu miktub biss "** inhobbok **", qaltli bi tbissima qabel ghalqet il-bieb warajja.

Blu

Ja blu,
Ma nixba qatt nikteb dwarek,
Int wisq sabih,
Kemm niehu gost meta nhares 'il fuq
u nsibek hemm!
Tittawwal 'l isfel,
Tirrenja fuq 'l art,
Int tfisser Rebbiegha,
l-istagun gdid!
Tax-Xitwa u x-xita,
tikxef il-gid!
Ghax il-fjuri jitmattru,
Malli jhossuk,
Jikbru u jinfethu,
Halli jpaxxuk,
Jilaghqu x-xemx tahraq,
Titbandal tahtek,
Waqt li bla shaba,
Int thossok f'sahhtek.

Anka nhares 'l isfel,
insibek hemm!
Blu differenti,
Seren u profond,
Nixtieq nintefa' fik,
nghidlek car u tond,
li tant kburija bik,
Hallini mela,
insir parti minnkom,
Inkun bejn sema u ilma,
Maghquda maghkom,
ghal dejjem taghkom,
Ma' l-ikhal u l-blu
X'ma nitpaxxiex,
Li rahal twelidi
mill-bahar izraq,
hu welled ismu!

Lil Kull Mara

Tghid meta Alla halqek
minn ta' mhabbtek il-kustilja,
kien jaf minn xiex se tghaddi,
matul taz-zmien il-milja?
Tghid meta rak titbissem,
bil-ferh ghall-ewwel darba,
kien jaf kemm ghad trid tibki
w bid-dmugh se tkun imxarrba?

Kien jaf w apposta sawrek
b'dal mod kif int imsawra.
Kien hemm bzonn l'int tkun b'sahhtek,
biex mad-daqqiet li l-hajja ttik,
int titghawweg sew bl-ugigh,
habba l-qalb kbira li ssib fik,
'mma tliet darbiet ma jilhaqx jidden,
ghax int tqum tigri,
bit-taghbija li tkun ghabbejt,
u minkejja li sahhtek hlejt,
dlonk terga' tixref it-tbissima,
f'dahka mfaqqa' inti tbiddilha,
tinsa r-raguni ghalfejn tkun bkejt.

Ragel jinzerta jhares lejk,
Jibqa' mistaghgeb, ma jifhimx,
Kif dil-hlejqa tidher fragli,
Mbghad ghandha intern li daqshekk sod.
kif dil-mara xejn ma jigiha facli,
imma ghadamha le jirtoghod,
anzi ghajnejha jidhku lejh,
jimlewh bil-ferh!
X'ma jridhiex hdejh?

Girja san-naha l-ohra

Bdiet tipprova tiftakar, imma ghalxejn.  L-unika memorja kienet ta' xi hadd jghidilha "Ibqa' kellimni, Dorianne! Dorianne! Taghlaqx ghajnejk, ibqa' kellimni, kellimni!"  Pruvat tobdi, imma bhal dalma waqghet quddiem ghajnejha u ma semghetx aktar ilhna.

Sikta.  Rih u ziffa ma' wiccha.  "Fejn qieghda?" hasbet bejnha u bejn ruhha, "possibbli mitt?  Jew forsi rieqda.  Imma ghalfejn ma nistax inqum?" bdiet tirraguna. "QUM," kmandat lilha nfisha.  Xi haga donnha ma bdietx thalliha.  Bdiet thossha qieghda ttir f'direzzjoni ghad-dritt imma ma setghet tilmah xejn.  "Kieku mitt, m'inix qed nara dak id-dawl illi jghidu illi jaraw?  Ma tkunx idea hazina kieku narah.  Ili bil-kurzita, mqar ghal ftit," kompliet thewden.  F'daqqa wahda r-rih siket ukoll u hassitha wieqfa.  Tat harsa hafifa madwarha u ghad li dawl kien hemm kemm kemm tara, lemhet forma ta' bniedem.  Kien liebes l-abjad, izda ma kellux gwienah.  "Fejn qieghdin?" staqsietu b'arja.  "Dalwaqt tkun taf," wegibha l-iehor b'ton newtrali ghall-ahhar.  "Poggi hawn," rega qalilha.

Intefghet fuq il-banketta zghira li ppuntalha lejha u hekk kif regghet harset 'il fuq tilmah lilha nfisha f'gheluq sninha ta' madwar hames snin qabel.  Kienet ghalqet tnejn u ghoxrin sena.  Rat wiccha mixrub u abjad u ftakret li dakinhar kien kellha glieda papali m'ommha u missierha, u kienet qabdet bagalja u telqet minghajr ma kienet taf fejn kienet se tmidd rasha dak il-lejl.  Kienet iz-zghira fost hamest ahwa izda kienet taf li kienet l-iktar wahda li tathom inkwiet.  Bi skola qatt ma riedet taf, u lanqas b'xoghol.  Ommha kienet tniggizha li d-dar kienet ghamlithielha qisha lukanda, dhul, ikel, irqad u hrug biss.  "Ma nsibek ghalxejn!" spiss kienet tghajjarha, "minghajr m'ghandek xejn x'taghmel, tigri 'l barra biss!  Mur imqar ghand ta' Baxir, qalli li ghandu bzonn wahda tghinu fil-hanut!".  Kien dardarha dal-kliem.  Kienet thossha ghaddejja tajba u ma setghetx tifhem ghalfejn missierha kien spiss jimbuttaha biex issib xoghol.  Il-ftit flus li kienet tinqeda bihom kienet iggibhom minghand l-irgiel li kienet tiltaqa' maghhom kultant.  In-natura kienet hanina maghha u fizikament qatt ma naqasha xejn.  Kif kienet issib ruha bil-portmoni vojt, kienet tintefa' f'bar barra r-rahal, tiehu grokk ma' min jinzerta jghaddi s'hemm dak il-lejl u malli jittantawha, iccapcap f'qalbha.

Ma kienx ikollha fejn tistahba, imma wara l-kantuniera kienet tinqeda tajjeb.  Il-flus kienet titlobhomlu fit-triq, waqt li tkun ghadha qed tisseducih u rari sabet problema.  Meta tinzerta xi wiehed li ma jkunx galantom daqs 'l ohrajn, kienet iddendel ix-xoffa u tghidlu li sejra d-dar, u kif ikunu se jitilqu ghal rihhom, jerga' jdurlu u tghaddi taghha. 

Kienet ghoddha se tibda titbissem hi u tara dan kollu, meta qataghlha hsibijietha r-ragel li kien baqa' hdejha fuq il-banketta.  "Gmielek," ikkummenta.  "Ma kontx hekk qabel," iddefendiet ruhha hi malli ndunat li donnu qieghed jippregudikaha.  "Hekk ghadek imma," tennielha.  Ma wegbitux.  In-nofs tbissima ta' fuq fommha kienet ghebet.  "Jaqaw jien mitt?" staqsietu.  "Se tibghatni ... se tibghatni l-infern?  Jaqaw veru jezisti l-infern?"  Il-vuci taghha bdiet tirqaq u toghla.  Ghamlilha sinjal biex terga' thares quddiemha.

Din id-darba rat 'l ommha tibki, u 'l ohtha tipprova ssabbarha.  Kienet liebsa l-istess hwejjeg ta' dakinhar li telqet mid-dar bil-glied.  "Nithassarha," bdiet tghid l-omm,  "qisha mitlufa, ma tafx xi trid, kollox idejjaqha, dejjem tfittex, u tfittex fil-bnadi l-hziena.  Jien naf kif qed tghix, imma ma rridx nimbarazzaha," kompliet tolfoq ommha sakemm ix-xena regghet ghebet fix-xejn.

"Ommi taf? Taf kollox??" staqsietu mdehxa.  "Ghala?" inkiha dak, "mela kont qed taghmel xi zball?"  Ma felhitx twiegbu.  'L ommha kienet ratha mikduda wisq.  Kwazi ratha ghaxar snin ixjeh milli fil-fatt kienet u hassitha kolpevoli.  Hutha l-ohra kollha kienu hargu ta' xogholhom, u meta kienet tinkwieta ghalihom, kienu jkunu affarijiet ferm zghar hdejn taghha.  Donnha kienet qieghda tifhem.

"Ghidli li mhux tard wisq," lissnitlu bil-mod.  Ghall-ewwel darba rat il-bixra ta' wiccu tiehu daqsxejn xghira differenti, u strahet. 

"Dorianne, qum, qum," semghet lehen jokrob fil-boghod.  Gharfitu, kien lehen ommha.  Hadet sahhitha biex kmandat lill-ghajnejha jitbexxqu harira.  "Dorianne!!!!!" Din id-darba ommha werzqet bil-ferh.  Dorianne tbissmet kemm kemm felhet.  Ma kinitx taf jekk kinitx holmot jew le izda bilkemm tinstema' u batuta, harset f'ghajnejn ommha u staqsietha, "Ma, ta' Baxir ghad ghandu bzonn wahda fil-hanut?"

It-Tarag tal-Hajja

Il-linji fini fuq mohhok,
Jimmarkaw ghexieren ta' snin,
Ifakkru miljun emozzjoni, il-biki,
ir-rabja. Ma' dawk ukoll id-dahk u l-ferh,
tajjeb u hazin.  Jikxfu kollox, iwerzqu s-sigrieti,
igibu l-memorji - antiki, godda, xejn ma nsejt, la fallimenti
u lanqas glorji.  Targa targa, inti bnejt hajtek, gawdejt tfulitek, dhalt
f'zoghzitek.  Skola ma tghallimtx, imma hdimt daqs baghal, biex rabbejt it-tfal,
Habbejt il-martek, partrijott t'artek, kemm flaht hdimt ghalihom, u nvestejt fihom,
Biex ikunu ahjar minnek, int kont tghidilhom.  Ghax int dejjem batejt, rajt
hafna u sofrejt, xemx u xita, sajjetti u nida, dejjem fl-ghalqa, tizra' u
tahsad, taghzaq u thawwel, tballat u ssaqqi.  F'ghajnejk hemm triq
twila w se tkompli tikber kif ilha, dejjem thares fil-boghod, xhud
ta' karattru sod.  Fuq mohhok it-tikmix, u fuq idejk, fuq
haddejk, imma sodisfatt lilek rajt, ghax targa wara
targa, issa li kwazi spiccajt, inti tista' tiftahar, li
fraht u weggajt, li hsadt dak li zrajt..
li dil-hajja issa tlajt.

Lejla sajfija fil-bidu tad-disghinijiet...

Kulhadd barra jien kien ikun qieghed jiehu dik is-sjesta li tant tinzel ghasel fis-sajf wara l-ikel.  Jien kont ninxtehet fuq is-sodda taparsi rieqda, imma fil-verita', kont inzomm ghajn wahda mbexxqa ghassa mal-minutiera ta' l-izveljarin.  Malli mbaghad jiskorru l-erbgha, arani noqmos minn fuq is-sodda ghal isfel, incaqlaq lil hija biex iqum (noqghod mal-genb u ntawwal biss idi, f'kas li nara xi ponn mghaqqad jispara 'l fuq) u niftah il-gwardarobba biex nohrog l-affarijiet, bl-iktar storbju u cekcik possibbli.  B'rajja din il-procedura kienet issir hafna qabel l-erbgha, imma ommi kienet dejjem tinsisti biex ma nixirfux barra qabel tiddghajjef il-qilla tax-xemx.

Malja, flippers, maskla u tank ilma biex nitlahalhu wara.  Dak kont nimlih fil-bitha biex isibuh lest u ma jkollhomx skuza jiddawru naqr'ohra biex nitilqu.  Ommi kienet tibghatni ngib il-picnic cooler minn gol-kamra ta' l-imbarazz u kienet timliha sa fuq.  Juice tal-laring (dak li thallatlu l-ilma mat-trab, sa ma aktar tard bdejna nixtru l-Coolee), luminata, flus zghar ghall-parker u ghall-borza chips jew gelat li dejjem kienu jhajru lili u 'l hija ahna u tielghin, hobz biz-zejt u affarijiet zghar x'innaqqru.

X'hin kollox kien ikun lest, immorru nintasbu fil-Hunter bis-seats jaghlu, u nerhulha ghall-Wied, bin-nanna b'kollox.  Il-vjagg qasir (zewg minuti kollox) sa Wied iz-Zurrieq, ghalija kienet tkun wahda mill-isbah bicciet ghax kont inkun naf li quddiemi kien se jkolli xi 6 sieghat nitbahrat u nizzaghbel.  Lanqas konna nilhqu nipparkjaw... girja wahda biex nilhaq ic-cinta tas-soltu, ninza qabel kulhadd u nhalli l-hwejjeg gozz biex titwihom ommi u .... CLUFF, naqbez jien l-ewwel, u erhili noqghod ninkihom u nghidilhom kemm hu shun il-bahar, halli mbaghad noqghod nidhak bihom wahdi narahom b'ghajnejhom imqabbzin xiber il-barra malli jhossu l-kesha ta' l-ilma.  Ghad li kien ghad ghandi xi 5 jew 6 snin, il-muscles (il-kelma trainers ma kinitx tezisti dak iz-zmien) kont ili li warrabthom.  Il-bahar tal-Wied kien l-isbah bahar ghalija, ghax kien fond u kien hemm il-blat.  Ir-ramel qatt ma flahtu wisq.  Kont noghxa naqbez go dak il-blu, l-aktar meta kien ikun tant car li tara sal-qiegh.  Imbaghad x'hin jigi d-dell kien jiswied, imma dak kien il-bahar tieghi u qatt ma bzajt minnu.

Kont nibqa' nilghab "Ċoma ċoma" minn fuq 'il-ponta' mat-tfal l-ohra sa ma tinzel ix-xemx, u ma nibbastax nitla' qabel ommi tkun ghajtitli xi mija u hames darbiet (u ghal kull ghajta nwiegeb "Ta' l-ahhar! Ta' l-ahhar zgur!" waqt li naf li nini nini ma naqbizx 10 qabziet ohra) u tibda theddidni li jekk se jsir aktar hin se naqbdu u nitilqu d-dar.  Allura mbaghad kontra qalbi kien ikolli nitla', tixxuttani u tbiddilli u nitilghu it-tarag, sal-gnien.

Ma kinitx xi haga hafifa li ssib bank, ghax dak iz-zmien hafna familji kienu jaghmlu l-istess.  Imma dejjem inqdejna.  Il-bahar mielah tal-Wied kien jifthilna aptit ta' baghal, u kulhadd kien joghdos gol-picnic cooler halli jfittex isib il-hobza tieghu.  Tieghi ovvjament kienet tkun tintaghraf ghaliex il-hass, il-basal u l-kappar ghalija seta' ma jezistix.  U hekk ghadu sal-gurnata tal-lum.  Imbaghad kont inhalli 'l kulhadd igedwed bilqieghda, u jien immur nintasab mal-balavostri, nittawwal ghal fuq il-bahar li sa dak il-hin kien ikun beda jsir griz bl-ahmar, sa max-xemx tghib ghal kollox u ma kien jibqa' jidher xejn hlief ir-rigg.

Mhux l-ewwel darba li kont naqleb xi tazza luminata ghal fl-art, u nahrab nigri wahdi biex ma naghtix cans lil missieri jibda jzarrat.  L-hena tieghi kienet illi nitla' t-turgien u nsib il-passaggi fis-sigar li ma tantx kienu juzaw in-nies.  Ommi kienet tibghat lil hija warajja ma jmurx nintilef u erhilna tielghin u nezlin it-tarag (li kien jaghti ghal-latrini) xi miljun darba, taparsi ghandna dar fil-haxix.

X'hin kont nghajja mbaghad, kont immur nintefa' fid-deckchair tieghi u noqghod inkantalhom, sa ma n-nanna ssikkitni u tibda zzebbeg il-kuruna tar-ruzarju li kien ikolli nghid bilfors u bl-infih.  Mal-litanija generalment konna nkunu ntlejna nida, u kien ikun sar il-hin biex nergghu nippakkjaw kollox u nitilghu 'il fuq.  Dal-hin kulhadd burdata hazina kien ikun.  Li kien ghalija konna nikkampjaw hemm.  Xejn xejn inserrah mohhi li mhux ha jisbah filghodu u ommi gejja tbellaghli l-extra work (ma jmurx nittraskura l-iskola fis-sajf)!!  Imma l-kamp qatt ma nxtara, ta' l-anqas mhux ghall-familja, u dejjem bqajna nikkuntentaw b'dawk is-6 sieghat. 

Ghaddew mat-tmintax-il sena minn dak iz-zmien 'l hawn.  L-affarijiet inbidlu, minn 5 min-nies, gejna 3, ix-xoghol u l-intrigu zdiedu ghal kulhadd u l-picnic cooler spiccat fuq ir-raff.  Anka l-bankijiet tal-gnien inbidlu.

Imma dak iz-zmien huwa stampat f'mohhi u se nibqa' niftakru kif kien, bil-bankijiet l-antiki b'kollox.  U f'gurnata xemxija bhal tal-lum, jew f'xi gurnata rih isfel minn t'Awissu, mohhi joqghod jerga' jdawwar it-tape u jerga' joqghod jara dal-film wahdu, film li jirrakkonta zmien zghir helu minn tfuliti.  U min jinzerta jhares lejja, inhallih jipprova jaqta' ghalfejn qed nitbissem wahdi...

The Star I'll Catch For You

If I could have just one wish fulfilled,
I would make us fly to the top of the world,
On its edge we would sit,
Side by side, dreams unfurled,
We'd watch shooting stars sprinting by...

...And then I would pick a bright one for you,
The most glistening of them all,
I would hand it to you heartily, gently,
An appreciation token,
Never to be broken....

.... For the love you showed me throughout the years,
For believing, trusting, wiping my tears,
I will watch you glow,
Unnecessary for words to flow,
Beneath the sky we both will shine,
While we whisper to each other...
....I'm so proud you're mine.

L-ghasfur li fissidni

Dalghodu stenbaht ghal tpespisa t'ghasfur,
Smajtha gejja mill-ventilatur, donna apposta
biex ma' l-ghodwa, qalbi bi tbissima tfur,
Tisfira helwa, qisha melodija,
Li lil widnejja kmieni ghamlet unur,

Bqajt mimduda b'ghajnejja miftuhin,
Ingawdi l-hoss ta' gurnata gdida,
Sakemm fuq ghajnejja beda diehel ir-ragg fin,
Tax-xemx li ttawlet minn xaqq il-purtiera,
Donnha riedet twissini biex inqum ghax sar il-hin.

Qomt bilqieghda, u l-ghasfur izjed ma nstemax,
Dmiru kien ghamlu u lili kien qajjimni,
Xtaqt xorta li baqa' naq'ohra hdejja ghax
hoss in-natura daqshekk ghal-lum,
Il-hin jitlob li hlief kitba u karti ma narax.

Wara zewg gallettini u tazza halib,
Illum ix-xoghol ma jidhirx li se jkiddni,
B'hekk bdejt il-gurnata bir-radd tas-salib,
Ghax dalghodu ghasfur fettillu fissidni.

Lill-Muzika

Inti li twennisni, inti li tmellisni,
Irridek qabel norqod, ghandi bzonnok malli nqum,
F'hajti ghal dejjem int se ddum.

Inti li ssabbarni, inti li ssawwarni,
Irridek kull x'hin nghajja, ghandi bzonnok jien fil-ferh,
Ghax ta' mohhi inti s-serh.

Fik jien nizvoga, fik jien nizbroffa,
Il-ferh, il-gmiel, l-iswed u d-dmugh,
Ghandek jien nigi, sabiex intaffi l-guh.

Ghal dejjem jien tieghek, ghal dejjem int tieghi,
Inti twelidt mieghi, ghentni nikber, nimmatura,
Waqt li noghdos fik, hemm nara hajti tiehu s-sura.

Tezori Kkuluriti

Kuluri, fjuri,
Lilek jien irrid nuri,
Kwiekeb u xmux,
Sofor daqs il-lellux,
Natura, hdura,
'Il fuq lanqas hajbura,
Izraq il-bahar,
Li bih ta' min jiftahar,

Nitfaghhom kollha f'kaxxa,
Bihom noqghod nitpaxxa,
Nerfaghhom taht is-sodda,
Sabiex dawn jibqghu godda,

Jonkella nurihomlok,
K'joghgbuk jien intihomlok,
Biex jixeghlu nara ghajnejk,
U t-tbissima fuq haddejk,

Mel'ejja halli tara,
Ta' dal-gmiel pur ix-xmara,
Dat-tezori la tahlix,
Tibdilhomx int mat-tgerfix,
Timrah fihom inhallik,
Jekk thallini nafda fik,
Tgawdihom, iddakkarhom,
Ghozzhom izda le sakkarhom.

A Children's Tale

I used to watch the world go by everyday, from my shelf.  Well, Monday to Saturday, since on Sundays the environment around us hibernated.  We would sleep our way through the day until 8.30 a.m. sharp the following morning.  It had taken me ages to get used to the chime that Mr. Buzzlefair had placed over the door.  The sound had been too startling.  Listening to it each time a client came in had been far from my favourite past-time.  I had overheard old Mr. Buzzlefair explain to his irritated wife, after she'd taken the chime down for the nth time (God bless her), that it was useful for them to be aware of clients coming and going. 

Mr. Buzzlefair's little toyshop was not always a busy one and I did not like standing and staring all day on Mr. Buzzlefair's shelf.  I had tried more than a few times to run away while Mr. Buzzlefair wouldn't be looking.  THAT is the real reason why I hated the door chime so much.  It was a threat to my freedom.  As soon as I opened the door, Mr. Buzzlefair would come running and find me lying still on the floor, and then he would wonder for ages how on earth I had ended down there. 

My friend Beatrice used to scold me frequently.  She was a very obedient and quiet little doll.  I loved Beatrice to bits, she'd always been the sweet one.  I...I was the ambitious one.  We used to spend hours chatting on our shelf side-by-side, until one day she was bought by a poor, shabby, little girl.  It had been a nightmare for me.  I still remember the way I had trembled in alarm and fear of being picked by that little brat.  That wasn't the way I had planned for myself to end up.  I had always dreamt of belonging to a nice, rich family who could take proper care of me.  "Can I take this one please?" the girl had asked respectfully to her mother.  Beatrice had been chosen.  I wasn't surprised.  Her sweet smile never left her cheeks.  I still feel tears welling in my eyes when I recall her smiling, blowing me kisses from the counter and whispering goodbye, while the door chimed open & she was carried away.

Now I was alone.  I kept refusing to look charming to all the little girls who came in and I did my best to hide myself behind all the balls and the dirty boyish toytrucks, who were always calling me a stuck-up; anything as long as I wouldn't be bought.  I had fancied no-one as the person who would play with me all their life. 

One quiet day, while I was bored to death fumbling with the trimmings on my dress, I heard the bells chime.  I looked up with disinterest and saw a very pretty girl, dressed stylishly despite her young age.  I straightened up and gathered that her father had brought her to our toyshop to buy a nice gift for her birthday.  For the first time in weeks I decided it was time for me to smile.  I watched her studying all of us in a row, while I kept my fingers crossed behind my back.

The first few days as Casey's doll were a dream come true.  I was treated with respect and my little mistress showered me with affection everyday, until one day I woke up to a huge row coming from downstairs.  I heard Casey shouting at her mother and running up the stairs.  She slammed the bedroom door open and started throwing all her other toys across the floor.  "Thank God, she loves more more," I thought.  Then, to my extreme surprise she grabbed me and pulled out my right hand.  I felt myself being flung in the air and out the window!  I fell for what seemed like ages and finally hit the ground with a thud.  The world went black.

I dont know how many hours passed till I regained consciousness.  I woke up, battered and bruised.  It took me all effort to get up on my feet and start walking.  I was never going back to Casey's again.  Was this how wealthy girls took care of their dolls?  I made my way through the wood and found myself by a river.  As I was going to sit down and rest for a while, I spotted a little girl playing.  She looked familiar.

I approached them curiously and when I was near enough I recognised them.  There was Beatrice being pampered with plaits on her head that her mistress had just made.  I was too embarassed to call out, but Beatrice spotted me and she jumped up.  "Oh look another doll!"  Mary told Beatrice.  "Poor thing, look how dirty she is.. and she's got no arm!!"  She lifted me up.  "Let me take care of you sweet thing," she whispered in my ear as she kissed my face.  "Mommy won't say no to you.  We don't have any money to buy you new clothes, but you will be safe with me," she smiled.

Beatrice looked overjoyed.  "This is where love and care come from," I could feel her teasing.  Too bad my arm had to be pulled off before I could realise what should really mean to me.  At least now I was safe, and more importantly, back with Beatrice.   I wanted to tell her about all that had happened but Beatrice shushed me fondly.  "You're tired.  Just feel safe.  We'll talk later."  And I closed my eyes and let go of my thoughts as I concentrated on the sound of birds and the river and opened myself to a poor girl's love.