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Francis Sultana is an ex-teacher, thinker and writer who
wrote quite a number of poems both in Maltese and
English. Recently he also published “Minn Qtar Haddejk
f' Ghajn Salem” a book with a varied selection of
Maltese poems.
Francis
was born in the village of Ghajnsielem, just before dawn of the 19th August
1935, at his parents’ house, No/30, Fountain Street, and
baptized before the sun had set on the same day. He was the
fifth among seven siblings, all male, except one. |
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Just before World War 2, his father, like many other young men, went overland
to Cardiff, England, from where he used to embark as an A.B.
seaman on board Merchant Navy vessels. But in April 1943, he, together with all crew members on the S.S
Lancastrian Prince were lost at sea, after being torpedoed by an
enemy sub. Francis never forgot the day Mum received the
ill-omened telegram. She couldn’t cope with the mishap and he,
with two younger brothers were directed to St. Joseph’s Home at
Ghajnsielem. Francis believes that this move in a way served him
good especially since he became interested in music and learned
to play the clarion under Mro. Ganni Vella. He also played the
althorn and took part in band marches and programmes on several
occasions.
During this period, Francis Sultana
wrote several short experiences about the seven years spent at
the St. Joseph’s Home and these were broadcast on Radio
Lauretana where the Ghajnslemizi seemed to like them a lot.
Some are true experiences, others are mostly fictional.
1 -
2 -
3 -
4
(provided by Radju
Lauretana Podcasts)
Francis Sultana first attended the local village primary where
there he succeeded to pass to the Victoria Lyceum to get his
G.C.E.’s in eight subjects in one sitting. His favourite subject
was always the English Literature. Francis was admitted to St
Michael’s Training College in St George’s Bay, Malta, where he
graduated as a teacher. Incidentally, the College was a rather
spacious house which was later demolished and developed into a
Shopping Complex (Bay Street). Francis initially served as a
teacher at Qormi in Malta and later in Nadur and Qala.
Altogether he spent almost 30 years in the Education Department.
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After retiring from school Francis immediately took the
opportunity to move in New York for a couple of years to live
with his three sons. Since Francis used to have plenty of time
at his disposal, he decided to revert to his favourite subject:
The Literature. This ignited his desire of putting all his
thoughts in writing.
Francis Sultana
always insisted that he writes solely for pleasure. In fact he
wrote quite a number of poems, both in Maltese and English, some
of which appeared in magazines. He also published a book of
Maltese poems: “Minn Qtar Haddejk”. It contains a varied
selection of poems about Himself, Nature, his Country, his
native village, the War, his close friends, Religion, New York,
the Animals and various other subjects. Several of these poems
were also published in local magazines.
Francis Sultana is married to Maria, nee Xuereb and is father of one girl
and three boys. |
A selection of verses from his poems
About his Mother
You left us, Mom,
yet, still you are here,
in all that you taught us,
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as we remember
your gentle ways.
His Father
When at Fathers’ Day I look,
there’s also this dark nook,
of an orphan’s yearn for dad,
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a blank void, an empty card,
which to fill is so darn hard!
His grand children
I wish God will let me savour
grand children’s sweetest joys,
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I wish I’ll get to know them,
each one, and all, that be!
Love
For love, to die its natural death,
I wont shed tears
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Yet for love, to die in life, to wither,
I do lament, in tears.
New York
Hovering down to land,
Manhattan’s Apple lends
a twinkling, sparkling sight:
night-sky from earth ascends,
a billion stars a-glitter
in the Big Apple flicker.
Gozo, (during his
return from N.Y.)
In faith, I trust and hope,
that time and tide, once more,
will quickly wash me back,
on our Island’s shore.
Faith
God: He who is.
She who is!
God: All attributes.
Man: labelling sole attribute,
a simple pronoun,
gets me perplexed, mixed up:
a He --- a She --- a They ---
Being a Spirit ---
Who knows?
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