Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1534095
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 6 APRIL 2025 3 CULTURE Stanza Azzurra: Maltese poetry in Italian THE Maltese literary scene con- tinues to expand internationally with the publication of Stanza Azzurra – Inventario, the Ital- ian translation of L-Inventarju tal-Kamra l-Kaħla by Leanne El- lul. The translation was carried out by Virginia Monteforte, with editing by Valerio Cruciani. The book was published by Capire Edizioni under the curation of Renzo Casadei and Davide Ron- doni. Originally published in Mal- tese by Merlin Publishers, L-In- ventarju tal-Kamra l-Kaħla is a collection of around 85 poems that explores themes of love, loss, and the sea. Ellul's writing is known for its experimental nature, while also bringing in- timacy and vulnerability to the forefront. The book takes the form of an inventory, listing not only objects but also emo- tions, colors, and even preposi- tions that might be found in this symbolic blue room. The Italian translation, which reads beauti- fully and naturally, allows these themes to reach a wider audi- ence, introducing more readers to contemporary Maltese litera- ture. The Italian edition is avail- able for purchase online and in well-known bookstores across Italy. Poems from Stanza Azzurra have already gained recognition in Italy. In 2021, a selection from the collection reached the sem- ifinals of the Premio Internazi- onale Rainer Maria Rilke, and in 2023, another selection was named runner-up for the same prize. Beyond Italian, poems from the original Maltese collec- tion have been translated — and some also published — in Eng- lish, Arabic, and Greek. Leanne Ellul stated that she believes every translation, whether to or from a language, allows that lan- guage to grow in new directions. She emphasised that while book sales are not the measure of suc- cess, even the smallest contribu- tion plays a role in shaping and expanding the Maltese literary landscape abroad. This is not the first time Vir- ginia Monteforte has translat- ed Leanne Ellul's work. When interviewed, she claimed that: "I loved the way Leanne plays with words and contexts since I translated Noé u l-Iskojjatlu bla Kwiet, how she manages to com- bine different worlds and images with what Calvino would have called a 'thoughtful lightness'. Her poems were an intriguing challenge, a labyrinth of mul- tiple impressions, feelings and sensations in the space of a room which often becomes a deep blue sea". With the support of the Na- tional Book Council, Noé u l-Iskojjatlu bla Kwiet — original- ly written in Maltese by Leanne Ellul and Stephanie Bugeja and published by Merlin Publishers — was translated into Italian as Noè e lo scoiattolo giocherellone and published by Verbavolant Edizioni in 2022. Leanne Ellul is a poet and writ- er from Malta, known for her work in poetry, fiction, and chil- dren's literature. Over the years, she has received several literary awards and remains dedicated to the Maltese language and its development. Virginia Monte- forte, a translator, writer and an- thropologist, has built her career around fostering connections between cultures through lit- erature, making Maltese works more accessible to international audiences. The full collection of poems, published in 2025, was support- ed by the National Book Coun- cil's Book Fund, which plays a crucial role in promoting Mal- tese literary works beyond local shores. Thanks to this initiative, Stanza Azzurra can now engage with new readers and contribute to the growing appreciation of Maltese poetry on an interna- tional scale. New philatelic issue: Cats Series II MALTAPOST launches a new set of postage stamps to cel- ebrate the love of cats in the Maltese Islands. The collection of 4 stamps was painted by lo- cal artist Andrew Micallef. The €0.20 stamp shows a close-up of a cat with a tri-coloured coat sitting re- laxed in the countryside with a view of the Gozo Ċittadella in the background. A white tab- by cat is depicted on the €0.45 stamp, lying down at the fish- ing village of Marsaxlokk, with the parish church of Our La- dy of Pompei towering above the houses. The €1.00 stamp shows a painting of an orange tabby cat posing on an out- door wrought iron bench, with the chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes standing on the promontory overlooking Mgarr Harbour. The €1.91 stamp features a long-haired Tuxedo cat with the village of Siggiewi and its parish church, St Nich- olas, in the distance. This set will be issued in a sheet of 10 stamps, with each stamp measuring 44mm x 31mm, a comb perforation of 14.1 x 14.2 and bearing the Maltese Cross watermark. The sheets measure 115mm x 182mm and were produced by Printex Ltd in the offset process. The issue consists of 100,000 of the €0.20 stamp, 500,000 of the €0.45 stamp, 50,000 of the €1.00 stamp and 100,000 of the €1.91 stamp. The stamps will be available from all Post Offices in Malta and Gozo from Friday 4 April 2025. Orders may be placed online at www.maltaphilately. com or by mail from the Philatelic Bureau, MaltaPost p.l.c., 305, Qormi Road, Marsa, MTP 1001; by telephone 2596 1740 or via e-mail info@mal- taphilately.com