Pawlu Aquilina

Infobox Writer
name = Pawlu Aquilina


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birthdate = birth date|1929|8|28|mf=y
birthplace = Siġġiewi, Malta
deathdate =
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occupation = Headmaster, Poet, Writer
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Pawlu Aquilina (born August 28, 1929) is a Maltese poet and writer from Siġġiewi, Malta. He studied at the Archbishop's Seminary and St Michael's Training College for Teachers.

In 1950 Aquilina started his teaching career in the Maltese Government Primary Schools till 1957 when he was appointed scriptwriter with the Department of Information - Education Broadcasting Section. In 1959 he was appointed Master of Maltese at The Lyceum. In 1978 he became assistant headmaster and in 1986 was appointed headmaster. He retired in 1990.

Aquilina wrote various poems and essays, radio features and many educational broadcasts for school children. On request from the Jesuit provincial, the poet Fr Ġuże Delia S.J., he translated the historical-religious verse drama "El Divino Impaciente" from the English version 'A Saint in a Hurry' of the well known Spanish poet and writer José María Pemán. Other translation works: "St Vincent de Paule's Residence for the Elderly - The medico-social record", by Dr Paul Cassar, MD.BSc (Lond)., FRHist.S.(Lond)D.Litt.(Hon. Causa)(1994); "Il-ħobż Malti - Is-Sengħa tal-Furnar" by Monsieur Hubert Chiron(1994);"A Guide to the Passion - 100 Questions About the Passion of The Christ" by the Directors of Catholic Exchange" (2004).

Co-Edited with Ġużè Diacono the revised edition of the English - Maltese Dictionary (5 volumes)by Dun Karm Psdaila; (1991-1993).

In 1992 he published a selection of his poems in one volume "Mill-Beraħ ta' l-Għelieqi". He won various literature contests. In his poetry he managed to bridge the gap between traditionalists and modernists. Even in his poetry, Aquilina is language-conscious, exhibiting a characteristic of meticulousness in his diction.

Major Works

*"Mill-Beraħ ta' l-Għelieqi". A collection of poems written by the poet between 1946 and 1991. Forward study by Professor Oliver Friggieri. Published in 1992 by Publishers Enterprises Group (PEG) Limited and sponsored by Tug Malta Limited.
*"L-Għanja Tiegħi lil Ħal Xluq". Published in 2002.
*"Hawn Twieldet u Tibqa' Tħabbat Qalbi". A collection of writings about his home town Siġġiewi. Forward study by Professor Mario Vassallo of the Department of Sociology, University of Malta. Published in 2004 by the Siġġiewi Local Council and sponsored by Philip Agius & Sons Ltd.
* "Erġa' Semmagħli l-Għanja" - published in 2006 -- is a second collection of poems, now available from Klabb Kotba Maltin of 3A Strait Street, Valletta; Louis Stationery, St Nicholas Square, Siggiewi or directly from the author: 97, "Massabielle", Triq it-Tabib Nikola Zammit, Is-Siggiewi, SGW 3076 Malta. The book is sponsored and published by JM Vassallo Vibro Blocks Limited. Profits from this book will go to Dar Tal-Providenza, a non-profit charitable home for children with diverse impairments. Up to 1st April 2007, the sum of Lm500 collected from the sale of this book was donated to Director Mgr Lawrence Gatt.

References

*Dr Charles Briffa "Maltese Biographies of the Twentieth Century" PIN. 1997.