Oliver Friggieri (1947-2020) : poet, critic and educator

Abstract

When I discussed with Oliver Friggieri the inclusion of his much-loved collection of poems Mal-fanal hemm ħarstek tixgħel: poeżiji, 1961-1988 ( Your face lights up next to the lamplight: Poems, 1961-1988), chosen by Toni Cortis and published in 1992, in a national syllabus for 16 to 18 year old students studying Maltese language and literature, he was adamant: he would only accept on condition that ‘Biljett ta’ Suwiċida’ (1979), translated by Peter Serracino Inglott as “A Suicide’s Card,” was left out. The book had already been in this syllabus in the past and the poem had not been left out. It was also one of the 29 poems Philip Farrugia Randon, a personal friend of the poet, had chosen out of hundreds, to include in his readings of Friggieri’s poems published in a CD album. [excerpt]