A collection of poems by Joe Saliba published under the title Spiral was recently launched at the Old University Theatre in Valletta. The recital consisted of various forms of artistic expression through which a selection of poems and haiku were presented to the audience. Philip Farrugia Randon’s narration was accompanied by Paul Portelli and Liliana Portelli’s theatrical interpretation. A few of the poems were also adapted into songs by the singer and songwriter Vince Fabri, performing on guitar, accompanied by a group of young musicians made up of Michelle K. Paris on piano, Daniela Said on violin, Laura Cioffi on flute, Lindsey Mallia on base, Samwell Attard on percussions, with Maria Azzopardi and Vince Fabri himself on vocals.

The publication was produced in collaboration with Klabb Kotba Maltin and contains an introduction by Professor Joe Friggieri and foreword by Rev. Professor Peter Serracino Inglott.

Spiral is an anthology of well-over a 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 during the 15 years in which he held the post of Secretary General with the Nationalist Party, a particularly significant time in the life of the poet.

In his introduction, Professor Joe Friggieri points out that notwithstanding Saliba’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, Reverend Professor 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 publication is for sale from leading bookshops and from www.sierra-books.com.