A collection of poems by Joe Saliba published under the title Spiralwas recently launched at the Old University theatre in Valletta.
Spiral is an anthology of over 100 poems and 201 haiku, written by Joe Saliba between 1995 and 2010 and follows from a previous collection published under the title Vjaġġ.
The anthology was written in the 15 years he held the post of Nationalist Party general secretary, a particularly significant time in the life of the poet.
In his introduction, Friggieri points out that notwithstandingSaliba’s political career, he continued to write poetry “as though this was his first and true vocation”.
This is evident in a number of his poems which have clear references to Saliba’s political life and the constant pull towards poetry.
In his foreword, Fr Peter Serracino Inglott describes the vision that emerges in Saliba’s poetry “like a path, or as a way of being elsewhere, or even as a different way of being, which drives Saliba to continue writing poetry notwithstanding his other commitments which most people probably view as more worthwhile”.
The recital consisted of various forms of artistic expression through which a selection of poems and haiku were presented.
Philip Farrugia Randon’s narration was accompanied byPaul Portelli and Liliana Portelli’s theatrical interpretation.
A few of the poems were also adapted into songs by singer and songwriter Vince Fabri, performing on guitar, accompanied by a group of young musicians made up of Michelle Paris on piano, Daniela Said on violin, Laura Cioffi on flute, Lindsey Mallia on base, Samwell Attard on percussions, with Maria Azzopardi and Fabri on vocals.
The publication was produced in collaboration with Klabb Kotba Maltin and contains an introduction by Joe Friggieri and foreword byFr Peter Serracino Inglott.
Saliba’s first anthology of poems, Vjagg, was published in 1995. Most recently he won first prize in the Konkors Nazzjonali tal-Poeziji 2010.
Saliba has written, adapted and directed a number of theatrical works, including multi-media performances. Among them, popular works such as Id-Dritt mhux Mgħawweg (1986), Fil-Parlament ma Jikbrux Fjuri (1987) and Fantasart (1988).
He is well-known for co-producing the television series Aħn’ Aħna jew M’Aħniex (1987) and others such as L-Aħħar Logħoba tat-Triq (1996) and Xhieda (1998-1999).
Saliba is also editor of the publication titled It-Tieni Mewt ta’ Lazzru u Reċti oħra għaz-Zuntier (1995) written by Fr Peter Serracino Inglott.
Spiral is on sale from bookshops and www.sierra-books.com.