AdrianGrima

Even though he also writes and contributes to current affairs and contemporary debates, he is somewhat suspicious of the notion that poetry could be an ideal medium to trigger social and political change. Rather, it is what one does with the language that ultimately matters. With reference to his latest collection, Grima considers the perception that poetry should be politically charged. He is aware that his work is labelled as socially engaged, which he admits is warranted, but this has also led him to reflect on the impact of such labels. Ultimately, Grima and his poetry are attuned to social realities, so there is an understanding that context is essential, and that language cannot be as detached as one hopes from ideologies.

In addition to the social aspect, Grima is also drawn to universal themes, such as love and death, but frequently adds an interesting twist to them. For instance, he is intrigued by what happens to love over time; whereas in relation to mortality, he focuses on how he dealt with his father’s terminal illness and its aftermath. He delves into this delicate subject with courage and honesty, and it offers him an opportunity for introspection. He concedes that the therapeutic and cathartic aspect does not resolve the pain but enables one to grapple with mortality through language, poetry, and literature in general.

From a linguistic point of view, Grima aims to transcend stereotypes and common usage of the language. He does this by breaking the Maltese language, stretching it, and experimenting with its codified rules. He is spurred on by the challenge to reinvent the language, refuse the established turn of phrase, and be more inventive with idiomatic expressions. Ironically, his poetry veers towards both the timeless and the time-bound. Asked what his legacy might be, he suggests he would like to be remembered as a poet who reinvented or somehow honed the Maltese language.