We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the successful launch held on Friday 9 October 2015 for Edwin Lanfranco and Guido Bonett’s publication Wild Flowers of the Maltese Islands. This poem was recited during the launch by Guido Lanfranco, which we would like to share.
ĦBIEB MIDFUNA
(Versi miktuba f’Wied Mejxu, San Ġiljan, 2-III-1997)
Abjad, ġdid, jidher il-bini
Nieżel dejjem mal-widien,
Iżda jien sad-dmugħ jaqbiżli
Meta maħseb f’dak li kien…
Taħt il-bini hemm midfuna
Ħbieb antiki li naf jien,
Kienu jħaddru l-blat tax-xagħri,
Juru fjuri kollha lwien…
Berwieq, sagħtar u ħobbejża,
Ferla, garni u peprin,
Il-fiġġiela u l-kaħwiela,
Il-busbies bil-weraq fin…
Għansal għoli u fidloqqom,
Fejġel, klin, narċis ifuħ,
Ħabb il-qamħ, bebuna ċkejkna,
Xatbet l-andar mar, qerduh…
Dawna kienu ftit minn ħbiebi
Mal-blat xagħri mifruxin,
Iżda l-wied sar ċimiterju
Fejn hawn ħbiebi midfunin…
Guido Lanfranco
