KUMMENTI DWAR IX-XOGHOL LETTERARJU TAL-AWTUR
MINN AWTURI OHRAJN, RECENSURI, KRITICI LETTERARJI U HBIEBU.
DAK LI M’GHAMILX GHALIJA HADDIEHOR QED NAGHMLU JIENA B’DAWN IS-SILTIET.
KARMENU VASSALO, fid-dahla tal-ktieb Ilhna tar-Rebbiegha, 19 ta’ Lulju 1965.
Li qalb Joe Saliba hi qalb ta’ poeta mit-twelid ma nafx min jista' jichdu. Ma' fantasija mixghula u immiginazzjoni qawwija -- zewg qawwiet jew setghat intellettwali li wisq drabi jqanqlu u jqabbdu fih kotra ta' lehmiet..jithalltu u jitwahhdu ta’ sikwit hsibijiet u ideat gholja fuq ghadd ta' problemi..tal-hajja..Ghalih in-Naturu hija ktieb miftuh Ii fih eghgubijietha mhux talli jinqraw bla tbatija ta' xejn, imma talli jnisslu waqt il-qari ghaxqa kbira. F'hin wiehed, il-filosofija u l-psikologija jgelglu 'l hawn u 'l hinn fll-versi tieghu.
C. TESTA, Il-Berqa, 30.9.1966, rivista tal-ktieb Ilhna tar-Rebbiegha, 1966.
...gabra ta’ poeziji, wahda mill-gawhriet li jaghnu u jzejnu l-letteratura taghna.
JOE CAMILLERI, L-Orizzont, 5.10.1966, recensjoni ta’ Ilhna tar-Rebbiegha, 1966.
Fil-bicca l-kbira, il-hsieb huwa gholi u mfisser tajjeb. Il-muzika tinhass titferfer bejn vers u iehor li jdoqqu hlejju ghall-widna Maltija.
DOREEN MICALLEF, ittra tad-19 ta’ Mejju, 1967.
Nixtieq nizzikhajr minn qalbi ghall-kopja tal-ktieb li ghogbok tibghatli: “Ilhna tar-Rebbiegha”. Ma nistax inzid wisq ma’ dik il-kuruna ta’ tifhir ezatt u sincier li tak il-habib taghna Karmenu Vassallo..Fil-kitba tieghek, hadt pjacir insib il-hsieb gholi, u l-hsieb filosofiku, li bil-kelma mahsuba ’mma sinciera, anzi semplicI u ddoqq, jirnexxilek iddahhlu f’kull mohh li jaqrah. Prosit!
MANWEL CASSAR, fid-dahla ghall-ktieb Ferh, Biki u Poezija, 1967.
Din l-ghanja samma “Ferh, Biki u Poezija” tigbor mill-gdid f'sensiela wahda l-esperjenzi, t-twemmin u l-gherf tal-poeta zaghzugh ta’ qribi li huma mfissra fil-ghanjiet l-ohra taz-zewg kotba tieghu.
NIKOL BIANCARDI, kartolina tat-8 ta’ Awwissu, 1967.
Wasalli t-tieni ktieb tieghek (Ferh, Biki u Poezija). Int Poeta awteniku Modern -- m’hux harbiexi...
IL-PROFESSUR GUZÈ GALEA, kartolina 1967.
Nifrahlek ghal din il-bicca xoghol tieghek (Ilhna tar-Rebbiegha) li tixhed il-genju poetiku li ghandek.
DUN FRANS CAMILLERI, ittra tad-29 ta’ Awwissu, 1967.
Minn xi poeziji tieghek li jien kont qrajt, mill-ewwel gharaft u hassejt li f’qalbek u f’ruhek hemm tbaqbaq tassew il-poezija...Bil-ktieb gdid tieghek “Ferh, Biki u Poezija” inti sahhaht il-fehma tieghi. Fil-poeziji li tajtna hemm il-lehma, l-immaginazzjoni, il-qawwa u l-gmiel ta’ kliem haj u milqut. Imma, fuq kollox, il-poezija tieghek hija sinciera...Minn issa qieghed nilmah fik wiehed mill-ahjar poeti taghna - zghazagh u xjuh. U bil-poezija tieghek jien ghandi qalbi qawwija li l-Letteratura taghna sejra tistaghna mhux ftit fis-snin li gejjin.
IL-POLZ TAL-MOVIMENT QAWMIEN LETTERARJU, ghadd 1, p. 6., Lulju, 1967.
Joe Saliba jikteb poezija mqanqla, mexxejja, b’muzikalità kwazi spiritwali.
KARMENU VASSALLO, fil-Vatum Consortium, 1968.
Poeta zaghzugh emigrat li fih Malta u l-Ilsien Malti ghandhom tabilhaqq nicca ta’ mhabba u gieh.
MARIO AZZOPARDI, L-Orizzont, 11 ta’ Novembru, 1971.
Joe Saliba ... id-djamant fil-qasam letterarju Malti fl-Awstralja.
JUDITH RODRIGUEZ, poeta maghrufa Awstraljana, tikkummenta fuq xi poeziji bl-Ingliz, wara workshop maghha,1971.
Capable of quite a lot.
IL-PROFESSUR GUZÈ AQUILINA, ittra tat-12 ta’ Mejju, 1982.
Tikteb poezija tajba kif gharaftek fil-bidu meta dahhaltek fi Il-Muza Maltija.
KARMEN MIKALLEF-BUHAGAR, ittra 311, p. 251, Ghaziz Karmenu..., 1982.
Wasluli wkoll iz-zewg kopji tal-ktieb, Ilhna tar-Rebbiegha, ta’ Joe Saliba. Fraht narah imzejjen b’ismek, u qrajtu b’dehwa kbira. Nista’ nghid, ghax inhossu, li l-poezija tieghu ghandha benna li taghzilha minn dik ta’ ohrajn.
JOHN SCIBERRAS, ittra tal-21 t’Ottubru, 1982.
“’Ilma’ tieghek kien wasalli xi ftit xhur ilu. Qrajtu malajr ghaliex, kif taf daqsi, il-lum rari tara ktieb ta’ poeziji ta’ dik ix-xorta. Kulhadd irid jinheba wara s-simbolizmu u l-oskurità...ma nafx min ghadu jikteb versi attraenti u mirquma bhal tieghek. Joghgobni l-mod kif toqghod attent biex, kemm jista’ jkun, taghzel l-ahjar kelma li jkollok bzonn biex tfisser il-hsieb tieghek. Barra minn dan il-poeziji tieghek ghogbuni wkoll ghaliex, fil-bicca l-kbira taghhom, huma qosra u bla verbosità li tghajji.
RIGU BOVINGDON, ittra tat-2 ta’ Marzu, 1984.
Nizzik hajr ukoll tal-ktejjeb “Ilma” li kompla wettqek kif sirt nafek jiena l-ewwel darba li qrajt il-versi tieghek bosta snin ilu fl-ewwel zewg kotba li hrigt. Qisu holqa li tissokta - ghad fadal bosta x’johrog minnek!
CARMEL G. CAUCHI, ittra tal-4 ta’ Settembru, 1985.
Kelli cans naqra sew il-ktieb tieghek “ILMA” u kull poezija ghogbitni shIh. Xi whud fhimthom mill-ewwel, waqt li ohrajn offrewli naqra ta’ sfida biex nifhem il-hsieb profond...Innutajt ukoll li l-istil tieghek ivarja minn dak tradizzjonali...ghal dak izjed modern. Ir-rima ma tuzahiex regolarment, izda meta tuzaha tkun dejjem naturali u m’hi b’ebda mod imgebbda. Aktarx li ghandek dejjem xi tema filosofika, u s-simbolizmu jirrendi l-versi tieghek hajjin u friski. Ghandek ukoll ritmu mexxej li jaghmel il-versi poetici tieghek tassew pjacevoli.
CARMEL G. CAUCHI, fid-dedikazzjoni tal-ktieb ko-awturat tieghu HOLOQ, 17.6.1985.
Lil habibi, Joe Saliba, poeta samm u awtentiku.
RIGU BOVINGDON, fl-istudju ‘Maltese Literature in Australia’ p. 84 WRITING IN MULTICULTURAL AUSTRALIA 1984: AN OVERVIEW Australia Council for the Literature Board, 1985.
His latest publication ‘Ilma’ (Water) displays a mellowed attitude to life’s outlook with undertones that still betray his youth. This recent collection of his is sure evidence of how the new environment has influenced his thoughts. The years spent in Australia, and the chronological gap between his last publication in 1967 and this one, are evidenced throughout this collection in his attitude to the world around him, although he staunchly persists, with a strong bond, to his masters’ traditional verse.
CARMEL G. CAUCHI, ittra tal-4 ta’ Frar, 1986.
Jiena cert li ma kienx ta’ b’xejn li sibt l-ammirazzjoni ta’ K. Vassallo, Manwel Cassar u l-kittieba l-ohra li fissru hsiebhom favur il-poezija tieghek.
CARMEL G. CAUCHI, ittra tad-19 ta’ April, 1986.
Il-poeziji tieghek tista’ tghid li huma kwiekeb ta’ gmiel li ghalkemm ma jiddux kollha bl-istess qawwa madankollu jiddu lkoll...Bejn l-ewwel zewg kotba tieghek u l-ahhar wiehed (“ILMA”) jien nara xi ftit tal-kuntrast. F’ILMA tinhass ir-ragel iktar matur u l-lingwagg huwa iktar qawwi u effettiv. F’dan il-ktieb tbiddel ukoll l-istil. Ir-rima naqset hafna u l-versi hielsa zdiedu. Napprezza fuq kollox element importanti hafna - dak li ggieghel il-qarrej igarrab it-tqanqiliet tieghek, jew ghall-inqas jifhem xi tkun hassejt int, meta ktibt il-poezija...Naghlaq billi nifrahlek b’mod specjali ghall-poezija “Ferh, Biki u Poezija”, li hija tajba hafna mhux biss f’dik li hi teknika, u ghall-versi mhallta li fiha, izda wkoll ghall-hsibijiet profondi li thaddan.
ALBERT AGIUS, The Times Saturday, Australian Newsletter, 16.5.1987, recensjoni tal-antologija ko-awturata Irjieh.
Joe Saliba strikes a serious note in his verses. His freshness and originality are healthy because he is so wholesome in his entire treatment.
DINA DOUNIS, fir-rapport ta’ seminar ‘Successful Readings’ p. 40, RAINBOW RISING, Victorian Association of Multicultural Writers, Summer/August Issue 1988.
Joe Saliba rendered some very powerful poems, characterised by complex imagery, brilliant in texture and intensity, and skilful use of language. These qualities were particularly evident in his excellent work, ‘The Serpent’.
RIGU BOVINGDON, ittra tat-28 ta’ Frar, 1989.
So deeply have your mellifluous phrases & choice of imagery (“Lamentations”) penetrated into my inner self, that I felt the need to answer you in English which, although it is my native tongue co-existing with my other native language Maltese, my letter will give your children the opportunity, if they are so inclined, to learn at first hand how intensely your artform is appreciated...This latest contribution of yours is no less worthy of praise than its three Maltese precursors of original verse. You have proved to be a master of the Muse in a tongue which semantically and structurally is so diverse from our semitico-romance thinking.
DR BARRY YORK, ittra tat-22 ta’ Settembru, 1989.
I read your “Lamentations” from cover to cover, over a period of time, and I particularly appreciated “Ceres returning from the Field”. I thought it was simple and concise at one level, but most powerfully crafted...There were a couple of others that impressed me with their strong imagery, particularly “No Through Road” and “Horns and Hornets” - vivid, indeed...A final favourite, for me, was “Suburban Blues”. I like the way in which the rhythmic flow of words conveys the meaning, or sense, of the poem as much as the words themselves.
IL-PROFESSUR GUZÈ AQUILINA, ittra tal-11 ta’ Dicembru, 1989.
“Lamentations of a Happy Man”... authentic poetry which I enjoyed reading.
JOE VASSALLO, ittra tal-20 ta’ Frar, 1989.
I was very pleasantly surprised to receive your booklet of English poems (LAMENTATIONS OF A HAPPY MAN)...I read it right through and was fascinated by your use of imagery. I have found only delight reading through your poems.
RIGU BOVINGDON, ittra tal-15 ta’ Mejju, 1990.
Ghadni kemm kont qed nimxi id f’id mieghek fil-kotba “Ilma” u “Lamentations...”. Joe, inti poeta mhux tal-waqt, mhux ta’ l-impressjoni, mhux tad-diskrizzjoni. Inti poeta fit-tifsira shiha tal-kelma u tal-kuncett assolut.
MANOEL DE VILHENA CULTURAL AWARD WINNERS 1995, fuq il-programm dwar ir-rebbieha.
One of the most important Maltese poetic voices in Australia. Joe’s poetry is an antiphony of song that elevates both the spirit and the beauty of the Maltese language. Joe’s work is widely published and his contribution to Maltese literature has been critically acclaimed both in Australia and in Malta.
ACHILLE MIZZI, ittra tat-8 ta’ Settembru, 1997.
Ma kellix sabar qabel qrajtu (“ALWETTIERA”) kollu minn qoxra sa qoxra u sibt iz-zmien biex niktiblek dawn il-kelmtejn t’apprezzament...Fil-fehma tieghi inti fost l-ahjar esponenti tal-poezija bil-Malti, mhux biss dawk li joqoghdu l-Awstralja izda anke dawk t’hawn Malta. Jidher li l-poezija ghalik mhix semplici burdata taz-zghozija izda impenn qawwi mnissel minn tqanqil gewwieni...Jidher li l-Malti tieghek ghadu sabih u mhux imtiefes, daqslikieku m’ghaddejtx dawk is-snin kollha boghod minn xtutna...Il-Malti tieghek ghadu safi daqslikieku ghadek fostna, biex ma nghidx ahjar minn ta’ bosta li qeghdin jiktbu hawn Malta. L-isem stess ta’ l-antologija huwa xhieda ta’ dan li qed nghid. L-alwettiera tfakkarni f’missieri li kien ukoll kaccatur u nassab u hija simbolu sabih tal-poezija bhala mezz tat-trasportazzjoni li ssehh waqt il-mument ispirat...Is-suggetti li tikteb dwarhom m’humiex tal-wicc il-wicc u taghraf tinzel ghal dak li huwa fundamentali u profond fil-hajja. Taghmel uzu tajjeb mis-sorpriza finali jew dik li bl-Ingliz jghidulha ‘twist’...Madankollu tista’ tghid li l-ghodda letterarja taf thaddimha ta’ mghallem...ukoll fejn tidhol l-ironija, il-paradoss ecc ecc...Kollox ma’ kollox il-poezija tieghek mhix nieqsa lanqas minn laqtiet b’referenza socjali li jirriflettu mhux biss ir-realtà Maltija izda wkoll dik Awstraljana...anzi nazzarda nghid ir-realtà Maltija kif mifhuma u interpretata minn ghajnejn Awstraljani. Ghaldaqshekk biss il-poezija tieghek fiha wkoll siwi bhala dokument ta’ tigrib spiritwali.
NAZZARENU ZERAFA, ittra tal-21 ta’ Mejju 1997.
Apprezzajt hafna fil-poezija tieghek (ALWETTIERA), fost affarijiet ohra, il-fidi soda u qawwija li ghandek f’Alla bhala l-kreatur suprem tan-natura u l-univers, il-filosofija tieghek tal-hajja bil-problemi u l-ferh li ggib maghha, l-gharfien wiesa’ li ghandek tal-Bibbja, l-imhabba u l-onesta fil-hajja familjari, l-assimilazzjoni tal-antik mal-modern tal-karattru Malti ma’ dak Awstraljan, tan-normal accettat mal-kuntrarju, u ta’ dak li joghgob ma’ dak li jixxokkja.
CARMEL G. CAUCHI, ittra tal-14 ta’ Gunju, 1997.
Il-poeziji tieghek (“ALWETTIERA”) jolqtuni hafna kemm ghall-hsibijiet profondi kif ukoll ghall-ghazla tal-kelma kemm hu possibbli Maltija safja. Jolqtuni r-riferenzi ghall-Bibbja...u s-sentiment religjuz...Helwin hafna wkoll huma l-poeziji qosra bi 3 versi fuq stil hajku. Nammira hafna fihom il-hsieb li jasal b’qawwa minkejja l-koncizjoni tal-kliem...Kollox ma’ kollox, Joe, ghandek ktieb tajjeb li jkompli jikkonfermak bhala poeta sod u samm.
GUZÈ CHETCUTI, ittra tal-24 ta’ Lulju, 1997.
Bro. Michael gabli l-lum il-ktieb tieghek tal-poezija Alwettiera, u digà sibt ic-cans naqra whud mill-poeziji li fih. Minn dak li qrajt ghandek poeziji li jisthoqqilhom tabilhaqq tifhir. Uhud minnhom fihom twist originali li ghogbitni.
ALBERT MARSHALL, ittra tat-2 ta’ Gunju, 1997.
Ghogobni l-istil frisk u mexxej kif ukoll l-istilistika informali, li kif taf, hija tipika tal-poezija tieghi miktuba f’dawn l-ahhar snin.
FREDU CACHIA, The Maltese Herald, Lulju 1997.
Din l-antologija gdida tinkludi xoghol mill-aktar fin, kemm fil-kliem kif ukoll fil-hsieb...Joe jolqot lid-dinja minn barra u minn gewwa f’kull ma fiha...”ALWETTIERA” hija antologija mexxejja, b’ritmu mghaggel, minghajr tlaqliq u bi stil li jpaxxi l-widna b’muzika sabiha li twassal fil-boghod.
IL-PROFESSUR OLIVER FRIGGIERI, ittra tat-30 ta’ Mejju, 1997.
Qrajt kwazi l-poeziji kollha (ALWETTIERA) u ghogbuni tassew. Laqtitni l-ghazla tal-kelma daqskemm ix-xehta lirika, sentimentali li turi f’bosta waqtiet.
NORBERT ELLUL-VINCENTI, The Times, 5 ta’ Awwissu 1997, recensjoni tal-Ktieb Alwettiera.
A genuine poetic voice from Australia is that of Joe Saliba...He is the poet with a musical ear, saying even well-known things in tripping feet and syllables. He has the observant eye, quickly noting every day life as it is lived, and making connections, drawing parellisms, allowing his inspiration to kindle, to flame and then, if it be the case, to burst into flame.
MONS. L. CACHIA, recensjoni tal-ktieb Alwettiera, 1997.
...poeziji tassew qawwija u koncentrati ta’ dan il-poeta tajjeb...kittieb li jixraqlu bid-dritt kollu l-isem ta’ poeta...Saliba ghandu hakma tajba tat-teknika tal-vers, kemm meta jikteb versi fuq ritmu tradizzjonali, li huma ftit u tajbin hafna, kemm meta jikteb b’mod aktar hieles. Ghandu wkoll grazzja specjali ghall-epigrammi li f’hafna minnhom jidher ukoll umorizmu li ghandu joghgob lill-qarrejja.
IL-PROFESSUR OLIVER FRIGGIERI, L-ISTORJA TAL-POEZIJA MALTIJA - IT-TIENI NOFS TAS-SEKLU GHOXRIN, 2001,
In-nostalgija ta’ l-emigrant, is-sens taz-zmien li jghaddi u jbiddel, il-paradossalità ta’ l-imhabba huma temi li Joe Saliba (t. 1941) jittrattahom b’bilanc bejn l-emozzjoni u r-raguni. Il-lingwagg tipiku tieghu huwa mnissel mit-tradizzjoni romantika Maltija li hu jgeddu u jhaddmu ghal ghanijiet personali.
PATRICK SAMMUT, recensjoni ta’ OCEGHANJA, ko-awturat, 2001.
Dawk ta’ Joe Saliba huma versi sinciera hergin mill-qalb. Ghandhom mis-safa tat-tfulija u mill-profondità ta’ l-univers li jdawwarna, mill-kobor u mis-seher tad-dezert Awstraljan, mill-kwotidjanità tal-waqtiet ta’ kuljum.
RIGU BOVINGDON, ittra tas-7 ta’ Settembru 2002, kummenti dwar is-sezzjoni tal-awtur f’OCEGHANJA.
...il-ghanja tieghek hi marsusa bis-sustanza ta’ qofol l-ezistenza u kliemek mirqum, imsawwar f’opra estetika li toghgob, tnissel il-pjacir, tirrilassak. M’hix tqila fuq il-widna. M’hemmx tqanzih. M’hemmx stunar. Il-kliem li taghzel jolqot, waqt li jinserixxi ruhu bhall-frak gewwa muzajk. Triqtek hi watja; ma tghajjikx. Il-piz iggorru int flok il-qarrej. Ghax it-tahbila tithalla suggestjoni. Isibha min irid u min tolqtu. Ir-rabta bejn il-kelma, ambjentazzjoni, stoticità, trobbija, injezzjonijiet ghorieb ghad-dinja Maltija fik (li ilek taf minn tfulitek), fdalijiet arkajci minghajr ma jzarzru, ilwien minn prizma friska u aktar moderna, wesghat bla tarf li ma jikklaxxjawx ma’ l-accettazzjoni tal-konfini tal-pajjiz minuskoli li gejt minnu, kliem baziku u kliem l-art li go Malta ta’ llum qieghed kulma jmur jintesa joqghod fit-tifsila bla diffikultà. Madankollu, wara tant snin gewwa din l-art, ma naqsitx il-klima t’hawn thalli fik il-ghelma ta’ pajjiz mill-aktar antik u li jitlob ir-rispett partikolari tieghu f’Wandjina.
STEPHEN CACHIA, imejl 20.8.2003.
Nghidlek minghajr tlaqlieq li l-poezija tieghek lili mhux biss toghgobni, imma ispiratni wkoll, u minbarra dan inqisek wiehed mill-aqwa kittieba kontemporanji taghna.
