John P. Portelli, originally from Malta, is a professor emeritus in the Department of Social Justice Education at the University of Toronto. He has taught in Canadian universities since 1982. He has published eigth collections of poetry (three in Maltese and English, one in English and French, three in Maltese, and one in Greek, The Loves of yesterday) , two collections of short stories (one translated into English and published as Everyday Encounters) , and a novel, Everyone but Faiza (Burlington, ON: Word and Deed,2021) . His lateset collection of poetry, HERE WAS, was published in August 2023 by Word and Deed Publishers, Canada. His literary work has been translated into Italian, Romanian, Greek, Arabic, Korean, English, Farsi, Portuguese, and Polish. Four of his books have been short-listed for the Malta Book Council Annual Literary Award. He now lives between Toronto and Malta, and beyond! See, www.johnpportelli.com
My Fair Land
I am not apt to embrace your wounds and truths my fair land we have dwelt too long afar
Onto you I bestow my love yet those eyes will not see at morn your heavy breath reaches my ears lusting evermore
I hear your laughter in twilight born howling like a temptress in rapture
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