Poetry
Ap-a-ta-pa-tit
Stench lingers beneath my arms
stretching knuckles against smooth white,
it speaks to me, saying—steady, steady.
Filling the hollow of my hips—more, more, more,
shattering my lower back—down, down, down.
In pieces,
it articulates me into a grid of water,
falling,
split,
a drowned box.
mirth mirth mirth
I wish kl-oding myself were easy,
as resurrection from a life.
I wish I could button up my mouth/eyes
so they wouldn’t see me, wouldn’t hear me,
would let me hide—
a specter in the streets,
running naked, reflecting in windows.
The streets of Valletta are narrow and long
so that t h e y have a hard time running,
ba-drowing through.
I say strange words like Triq Villegiagnon.
I spell them out,
hurl the letters—whispers, whispers,
And you turn to catch them.
you spell pressure/lambda/letters
p h y s i c a l l y.
Ħaley Xuereb
Ħaley Xuereb (2006) is a Gozitan poet, book reviewer and law student with a deep passion for literature, language, and culture. Her work explores themes of identity, embodiment, and memory, often weaving personal and historical narratives. She has been published in Leħen il-Malti and has participated in various writing programs, including Kjażmu. She co-founded and co-edits Mgħawġin, the only active Gozitan literary zine. Beyond poetry, she is actively involved in student organisations and community initiatives, blending her love for academia with artistic expression.