This island's parched - Clare Azzopardi

They fed her a scrap of bread —

and tendrils of injera clung to my fingertips

with stories

of sleepless nights in Safi cells

spent thumbing the darkness.

You should have brought some earth with you. l said.

it would remind you

of cheeks baked coral red. This island's parched —

if everyone made an offering of earth

then every livid memory would yield

a new fable.

Here, she said, look, and spread her palm.

I saw fear gripped against the cold nightface

on a boat scratching its course on a Mediterranean blue

and, cleaving to the roof of her mouth

the many words from stories without end,

her eyes brimming with anger, trickling

sequins

on her cheek.

---

Clare Azzopardi (born 1977) Malta

Translated by Albert Gatt

Source: Mediterranean Poetry

Injera is a sour fermented pancake-like flatbread traditionally made of teff flour

Safi cells refers to a detention centre in Malta for irregulare immagrants