INTERVIEW WITH JOHN P. PORTELLI, February 2025

John P. Portelli is a Maltese-Canadian poet and fiction author, and professor emeritus at the University of Toronto. Besides 11 academic books he has published 10 poetry collections, 2 collections of short stories, and a novel. His literary work has been translated into English, Italian, French, Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, Romanian, and Spanish. His collection Here Was was short-listed for the 2024 Canadian Book Club Award. He lives between Malta and Toronto.

1. Please share your thoughts about the future of literature.

For me literature is an essential part of being human. Its future? I am not a fortune teller! But I am afraid that the ultra capitalist and individualist mentality of our present way of living, to me, does not augur well for a healthy future for literature. For example, it is getting even harder to sell poetry books, and publishers are feeling in the pinch. But there will always continue to be literary authors. Whether they will be appreciated is another story.

2. When did you start writing?

I started writing poetry when I was 16 years old. My initial interest was in poetry and essays.

3 .  The Good and the Bad. Who is winning nowadays?

It depends in which area of life?  In general, however, I think we are on the verge of a new fascist period in the West. When I read authors like John Dewey and Bertrand Russell who wrote about the conditions in the West in the 1930s, unfortunately I see lots and lots of similarities to what is happening today. Unless you are part of the dominant conservative “culture” people are marginalised. Colonialism is still alive and strong! God help us.

4. How many books have you written and where can we find your books?

I have written 11 academic books, 10 collections of poetry (some published in translations), 2 collections of short-stories, and a novel. Some of my work is available from Amazon, others from Horizons Publishers in Malta and Word and Deed Publishers in Burlington, Ontario, Canada.

 4. The book. E books or hardcopies of books. What will be the future?

I think some people will still prefer hard copies of books. Given my weak eyesight, I prefer hard copies.  But more and more people are used to reading on line. For me, as long as people read, that is fine.

5. A wish for 2025?

True and lasting peace in the Middle East. The Palestinians do not deserve what they have been going through since 1948! And this wish does not mean I support Hamas.

6. A phrase from your book or a book you like?

“The opposite of a civilised society is a creative one”. Albert Camus from his essay “Summer in Algiers”.

7. Recent and future publications?

In 2024 I have edited a collection of poetry in Maltese on Gaza. And also I published a collection of poems with Ahmed Miqdad, a poet from Gaza. The profits from the sale of these two books have been donated to Gaza. I am now also editing a collection of poems in English by international poems on Gaza and Palestine. Again, the money from the sales of this collection will be donated to Gaza. The book will be published later this year by Horizons in Malta and Daraja Press in Quebec.

Thank you so much.. …. EVA Petropoulou Lianou Author Poet Greece

JUSTICE: OPA YEARBOOK 2025!

Contest sponsored by Our Poetry Association.

Is justice an utopia? Yes, it is an elusive concept. Both power and money can play a decisive role to achieve it. Without which, justice remain beyond the reach of the poor. What about the poets? How best can the poetic languages dive deep into the abyss of the moral dilemmas and ethical challenges that justice raises? How can one preserve an optimal balance between mercy and punishment? And the eternal battle between injustice and justice! I want to curate all these observations and the insights of the poets around the world regarding this elusive concept of ‘Justice”. 

Yes, the theme of the OPA Year Book 2025 is JUSTICE!

Please send only one poem written on the theme, “Justice” along with your short BiO with Country of Origin written in 3rd person narrative. All in English. A recent profile picture of the author is necessary, without that no poems will be published. 

The email address of the poetry submission for the upcoming OPA Year Book 2025 is: opa.anthology@gmail.com

Last Date of Submission: 30th April 2025

Probable Date of Publication of the OPA Year Book 2025: 10th July 2025

*** .pdf document or file will not be accepted!

We congratulate the first 60 poets participating in this year book, whose poems have been selected for publication. 

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Talk to Me About…

Talk to me about hope

because I see too many without it.

Talk to me about emotional pain

because it has taken the place of joy.

Talk to me about hate

because it has become too easy to spew.

Talk to me about our children

because what they are learning is unhealthy.

Talk to me about war

Because the innocent suffer the most.

Talk to me about truth

Because I have heard so many lies.

Talk to me about change

because without it we can not evolve.

Talk to me about life

because we are seeing too much death.

Talk to me about loving one another…

Because it is the one thing that can change

all of those other things I want to talk about.

***

Burn Me

Burn Me! Burn me with your touch

The pain reminds me I am still alive

Suffocate me with you Kiss

It is a sweet death and worth the cost

Cut through me with your gaze

So you can see me for who I am

Take away my memory of anyone before you

No memory is more beautiful than yours

Blind me from seeing the future

My dreams are all that I want to see

Bury me with your love

For only Heaven can compete with it.

***

Love

No monetary value can be placed on love

And with love, even a heathen can change his life

What love puts together can not be shaken 

and it is only through love that all good things come

In this life, things are given and taken away

and in the end, riches will mean nothing…

Only Love will remain

Kristy Ann Raines is an American poet and author born, Kristy Ann Rasmussen, in Oakland California, In the United States of America.  

She is an accomplished, International Poet and Writer.  Kristy has two self-published books on Amazon titled, “The Passion Within Me”, and  an anthology with a prominent poet from India, Dr. Prasana Kumar Dalai, titled, “I Cross My Heart from East to West.”

She has one children’s book coming out soon, titled, “Tishya the Dragon”, and a few other Children’s Stories to follow. Kristy is also working on finishing two very special books that have been in the works for a few years titled, “Rings, Things and Butterfly Wings” and “Princess and The Lion”.

Her biography and a collection of thoughts on her life called, “My Very Anomalous Life”, will be the last to publish. 

Kristy has received many awards for her unique writing style and also for her work as an Activist and Humanitarian around the world.

Kristy also enjoys painting, making pottery, writing song lyrics, and being with her family.  She is married, has two wonderful children, and is a proud Grandmother of three beautiful Granddaughters with one Great Grandchild on the way! 

Then She Said

“Look at this BS on the TV,” cried Riley from the sofa, scoffing at the cable news report one evening before supper.

“What is it?” asked Tricia, pausing in front of the set to stare at the female anchor.

Riley snorted “Some nonsense about rape.” he replied, pausing to drink from what was his fourth bottle of beer. On the screen, the anchor was relating the story of the forcible rape of a starlet by a fellow actor.

“Why is it nonsense?” queried his wife.

Riley’s face assumed a look of contempt. “Because that’s what it is,” he retorted with some heat. “Forcible rape! Look it,” he said, “not a mark on her. Now, if it was statutory rape, then I could see it, but heck, she’s at least nineteen, if she’s a day. And look as who she’s accusing. Jason Jax is a handsome movie star. He can have all the babes he wants who are better looking than Jan Jeffers.”

“Just because she’s not beat up doesn’t mean it wasn’t forced.”

He shook his head, unconvinced. “Don’t believe it,” he said. “If a woman wants to, she can prevent a man from raping her. Don’t all women take some self-defense class these days? She could have stopped him.” He took another drink of beer.

Riley rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean, Trish. She gave it to him.”

“Next you’ll be saying she asked for it based on her movie roles or how she dressed.”

He shrugged. “You saying I’m wrong?”

“You’re living in a dream world, Riley,” she asserted. “Just because a woman isn’t covered in black and blue doesn’t mean she wasn’t forced to have sex.” She looked pointedly at her husband.

“What’re you,” he asked skeptically, “an expert on rape all of a sudden?”

“I did date men before I met you, you know,” she pointed out cryptically.

The effect was instantaneous. “We’re you raped!” he said, his voice rising a little.

“It’s happened more than once before and after we got married,” she told him with a nonchalance that he found infuriating. He stared angrily at her, as though he might next accuse her of responsibility for the assaults.”

“Before I knew you a date got me drunk and raped me while I was unconscious. I didn’t file charges because I didn’t think I’d be believed, and I was afraid of the reaction of people who think like you.”

“Who raped you after we got married?”

“I’ll tell you,” she said, “but you have to promise you won’t hurt him.” He started to strenuously object, but seeing the look of determination on her face, he inhaled a breath of surrender and nodded.

“The only other man who has ever forced me, against my will, to have sex with him… is you.”

The silence hung heavy in the air for some moments, before he responded.”Trish, I never….”

She nodded her head. “Yes, Riley, you have.” He stared at her, disbelieving. “Both times it’s happened, you’ve been drunk. As much as you drink, I’m surprised it hasn’t happened more times.”

“Then why don’t I remember it?” he insisted. “Because I don’t remember a thing, and….”

“I remember,” she said simply. “You don’t think I’d make up something like this, just to make a point or to win an argument, do you?” He shook his head no. “I can only guess that you blacked out the experience because you were so loaded, or your brain won’t let you remember. I read up on it. You don’t form memories when you are blackout drunk. But,” she went on, “you wanted sex and you were going to have it. You didn’t hurt me, much, but for the emotional damage.” There was deep sorrow and regret in Riley’s eyes.

“God,” he said, with self-loathing, “you must hate me. Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“The first time it happened, when we were first married last year. Then, when it happened again over July 4th weekend. Both times, you’d been drinking. The first time, I told you I wasn’t in the mood, but you held me down and forced me. You hurt me. The second time I said no, but knew better than to fight. I asked my sister about it. She’s been married twice and said that’s never happened to her either time she’s been married. I was going to ask Mom but I was afraid she’d tell Dad and what he might do.” Riley gave her a hang dog look. “I love you, Riley, and I couldn’t let anything happen to you,” she said. “I was embarrassed, not sure you’d believe me. I’ve wanted so badly to….confront you about it. I wasn’t sure how.”

When Riley didn’t say anything for a long moment, Tricia broke the silence. She asked him, “What are you thinking?”

“I was remembering, when I was just a kid,” he said. “My brother and I used to listen to my Mom and Dad having sex in their bedroom. It was so loud! I remember thinking; he was forcing her to do it. I didn’t want to accept it and anyway, by the time I was a teenager, it had stopped.” She touched his shoulder. “Dad used to drink a lot, too,” he said quietly. He went on, “He also used to buy those magazines–you know, Penthouse, Oui, all the others. They’d have stories and letters and it always made it sound like the girl wanted it, she was a tease, and had a ‘rape fantasy’ I think they called it. I guess that was pretty stupid, huh? While we are being honest, I should tell you that I’ve been warned about coming into work drunk.”

Biting her bottom lip, Tricia only nodded. “There have got to be some changes, Riley,” murmured Tricia. He nodded gravely. She took a deep breath, released it. “Wash up, time for supper,” she said, walking back towards the kitchen. “Want another beer with supper?” she asked, turning back.

He shook his head no. “No,” he said, shaking his head no. “No,” he said. “That’s just one of the changes we’re going–I’m going to–have to make.”

…

CRONOS AND LA FLACA DANCING DANZON

She elegant,

The nervous, sober, older,

She smiling,

The eager, wise, actor,

And the ticking, endless between the two.

That ticking never stops

Dance to the rhythm of the danzón

So full of mischief

In ornament and transition,

He loses her in his fine steps

Conquer with your attitude

Taking the waist

With cadence and neatness,

She shows her blush

The more he wants to continue dancing,

She already forgets her duties, entangled in flourishes,

Has succumbed to his charm,

And meanwhile to the jarochos, if they are on the boardwalk,

Life and time are a gift!

An Unforgettable Day for Art Enthusiasts…
On February 24, 2025, under the initiative of our esteemed mentor, Abduvahob Qodirov, we, young enthusiasts of art, had the opportunity to visit the Botir Zokirov National Institute of Estrada Art. This visit was not only a chance to gain new knowledge but also an opportunity to meet and converse with living legends.

From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by a unique creative atmosphere. At the entrance, we met the renowned artist and devoted figure of national estrada art, Mansur Toshmatov. He welcomed us with sincere wishes and shared valuable guidance to deepen our love for art even further.

During the visit, we attended master classes conducted by great artists. In the hallway, we encountered the famous artist Yunus To‘rayev and were fortunate enough to have a long conversation with him. He shared his journey into the world of art, the challenges he faced, and his invaluable experiences. Every word he spoke inspired us, reinforcing the importance of perseverance in achieving our dreams.

We also had the privilege of participating in lessons at the institute. The kindness and sincerity of the instructors deeply impressed us. Each of them generously shared their knowledge with warmth. Particularly, the performance of talented young singers alongside Sevinch left a lasting impression on our hearts. Their soft and enchanting voices resonated deeply within us, sending shivers down our spines. Witnessing such extraordinary talent for the first time was truly astonishing. Gulyora Majidullayeva also captivated us with her melodious and mesmerizing voice, leaving us with unforgettable emotions.
The master class concluded with a magnificent performance by Abdumalikova Madina Alisherovna. In reality, we did not want to leave the institute.

At the end of our visit, the institute’s Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, Akbarjon Mirzayev, shared warm and sincere thoughts with us. His humility and kindness amazed us. Without any arrogance or pride, he told us about the history and activities of the institute.
This visit turned into a true celebration of art for us. The creative atmosphere, sincere individuals, and incredibly talented performers made a profound impact on us—words cannot fully express the emotions we experienced. Once again, we felt that this institute is not only a center for estrada art but also a true school of mastery.
With heartfelt gratitude, we hope to be welcomed again as guests in the future!

Nozima G‘ofurova, a 2nd-year student of the Travel
Journalism program at the University of Journalism and Mass Communications of Uzbekistan.