The National Festivities Committee yesterday marked the 135th anniversary of the birth of national poet Dun Karm Psaila with a ceremony near the monument dedicated to him in Floriana.

The activity was held with the collaboration of the Floriana local council and the Antonio Galea primary school in Floriana.

The activity included the reading of poetry, a wreath-laying ceremony and a speech by Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech.

On Sunday, another activity will be held, this time including a commemorative address by President Emeritus Ugo Mifsud Bonnici.

Dun Karm was born on 18 October 1871 and became a priest at 23 years of age. In 1986, he published his first book called Foglie d’alloro, a collection of 37 poems in Italian which he had written between the ages of 17 and 24.

His most famous works include: L-Ghanja tar-Rebha, Lil Malta, Ghal Dun Mikiel Xerri, Lil Mikiel Anton Vassalli, Wied Qirda and l-Innu Malti (the national anthem.

It is argued that his best work is his poem Il-Jien u Lil hinn Minnu. Dun Karm died at the Blue Sisters Hospital on 13 October 1961, a few days short of his 90th birthday.