Child of Empire, he freely starved in Valetta
Free to resent the many fat priests
Free to go
Desperate, hoping

Stowaway to Istanbul
Free to be beaten by the Ottomans
Sent back to hunger
Not stopped yet

Stowaway to Britain
Set loose in Imperial London
Free to prosper
Free to work

Free-diver repairing Brighton’s Pier
Freely volunteered in 1914’s Expeditionary Force
Free to marry,...

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THE BOMB THAT DIDN'T EXPLODE

It’s still remembered today

The bomb that didn’t explode

That crashed through the church ceiling

During the Second World War

Sparing some three hundred lives

A replica may be seen

Here in the vestry corner

At St Mary’s in Mosta

With photos of the soldiers

Called to make the real bomb safe

And despite votive candles

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In Qala (pronounced Ah-la)

I stopped opposite the steps

of the ancient church.

Time to chill, relax

take in some sun,

some local beer.

The smell of Gozitan cuisine

wafting on the promise

of a reasonably priced menu.

The lady who runs the place

leaning through the hatch in the door

explaining her purpose.

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