Translator and poet Alfred Palma dies aged 86
He was mostly known for translating Shakespeare and Dante's Divine Comedy
Renowed Maltese poet, author and translator Alfred Palma has died at the age of 86.
Palma remains mostly known for his complete and rhymed translation of Dante's Divine Comedy for which he was honoured with the title of Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia by Italian president Sergio Mattarella in 2021. He also translated Shakespeare's 38 plays.
He was awarded the Ġieħ ir-Repubblika in 2009.
PEN Malta saluted the memory of “this prominent figure” in Malta’s literary field, expressing its “sorrow”.
Writing on social media, one of the author’s friends described Palma as a “truly great man … a truly great talent and an even finer man”.
“He will be dearly missed,” he added.
In his tribute, another friend quoted part of one of Palma’s poems from a book the author had signed 26 years ago:
Siekta sejrin...
Kiebja mnikktin...
Wara tebut lejn il-għalqa tal-mejtin...
B'uċuh sfajrin...
Bil-hemm mifnijin...
B'xemgħat u fjuri f'idejhom marsusin...
Oħrajn mexjin...
Mal-magħdurin...
Iqasstu t-talb u għajnejhom imxarrbin...
Kollha mdejqin...
Nofshom ħajjin...
Jibqgħu sejrin lejn il-għalqa tal-mejtin.