Louis A. Buttigieg: The Clock Tower. Carmel Dimech. 2012. 89 pp.
This book is actually both a tribute to the poet and the doctor within the man. Louis A. Buttigieg (1913-1964), born in Vittoriosa, served as general practitioner in the city and also as District Medical Officer in other localities. He pursued his medical specialised studies in Geneve.
The idea to put together an anthology of the doctor’s poetry was conceived by his daughter
Besides being the charming “It-Tabib Ġiġi”, he was also a talented poet, leaving a rich repertoire of poems that all demonstrated his mastery of the English language and his creative imagination. Most of these poems were published in this newspaper.
The idea to put together an anthology of the doctor’s poetry was conceived by his daughter, Maria Louise Dimech. The project was also supported by Carmel Mallia from the Esperanto Academy; Dr Mallia in fact adds a discerning prologue and literary appreciation to the anthology.
Dr Buttigieg’s poetry echoes his maturity and experience and distinctly bears the imprint of his patriotism, and especially his esteem for his native city of Vittoriosa. The doctor fit well within the city community, having been also appointed president of the Duke of Edinburgh Band Club, which was later renamed St Lawrence Band.
The book is fittingly entitled The Clock Tower, printed on a picture of the squat, medieval clock tower that once dominated Vittoriosa Square. Vittoriosa lost this symbolic landmark in the last war and has ever since yearned for its resurgence.
The historic city was still emerging from the frightful ravages of war when Dr Buttigieg, along with the late Francis Mallia (a former museum curator) and myself co-founded the Vittoriosa Historical and Cultural Society in 1954.
Dr Buttigieg was appointed first president of the society and I have fond memories of him leading the committee meetings at the society’s first premises in a room within the Inquisitors’ Palace. The very first initiative of the society under his presidency was a memorandum to the authorities pleading for the re-building of the Clock Tower. He sorrowfully lamented that “...though I may not live to see the tower in the Square” maybe his progeny would one day hear its chimes again on their way to school.
Under his guidance, the society revived the commemoration of the Great Siege Victory at the foot of the original Victory Monument in Vittoriosa Square. For him, September 8 is the day when “prayed we for our dead, and mindful of their glory we rejoiced”.
Dr Buttigieg’s horizon goes beyond Vittoriosa: he shifts his thoughts to “proud” Valletta, “stern and stately” Mdina, Floriana with its “lion’s steady stare” and far-away Gozo where “men have something that seems lacking here”. He speaks with nostalgia about the fading Maltese traditions, like the disappearance of the milking goat from our streets. He also comments on the surging craze in the 1950s for cinema and TV.
Dr Buttigieg cannot avoid his religious upbringing and writes emotionally about St Lawrence (patron saint of Vittoriosa) and his martyrdom; St Paul’s shipwreck; Our lady of Ta’ Pinu and Tas-Silġ. With his exposure to the afflictions of his patients as a doctor, he muses about the after-life, but in this he is rather more optimistic than his contemporary doctor-poet Rużar Briffa.
The city of Vittoriosa is thankful for this initiative which gives the opportunity, not only to re-live the memory of one of its distinguished sons, but also to savour the serenity and musicality of his poetry.