Poet for international festival

Inizjamed co-ordinator Adrian Grima has been invited to represent Malta at the third edition of the Literair Paspoort International Poetry Festival in The Hague, The Netherlands, later this month.

He will be reading his poetry at the residence of the Maltese Ambassador to The Netherlands, Adrian Strickland. The poems will also be translated in Dutch.

In addition to its regular Dutch-language festivals, the foundation Dichter aan huis has organised international poetry festivals in 1998 and 2002. These festivals are called Literair Paspoort (Literary Passport) and both were highly successful. In contrast to large-scale stage performances the festival formula is to attain direct contact between the poet and the public.

The festival locations are 24 ambassadorial residencies or embassies in The Hague - 48 poets will be participating.

The theme of this year's edition is United by Diversity: A Poetical Journey through Europe.

The organisers consider literature, and especially poetry, as "an excellent instrument to express the uniqueness of the various cultures within Europe."

The festival contributes to the mutual dialogue and exchange between the cultures of EU member states and other European countries.

To mark this international event a book of poetry has been published with one poem from each participating poet in the original language as well as the Dutch translation.

Mr Grima's poem published in this book is called Distanzi (Distances).