I. Iz-zmien hekk jaghmel
II. Kull gzira dghajsa
III. Fuq l-ajruplani
IV. Stennejt il-grazzi
V. Gibtlek dil-warda

‘Iz-zmien hekk jaghmel’ (‘The footprint of time’) is a cycle of haiku-songs in Maltese for baritone and trombone in five miniature movements. Oliver Friggieri, poet, novelist, and critic from Malta, is the author of the texts.


Malti:

Kull meta taħseb
li taf in-numri tajjeb,
ibd’ għodd il-kwiekeb.

Kull gżira dgħajsa.
In-nies ta’ fuqha jbaħħru
bla qatt ma jaslu.

Fuq l-ajruplani
kull passiġġier jammetti
li m’għandux ġwienaħ.

Stennejt il-grazzi
mill-warda li rabbejtha.
Xorta niggżitni.

Ġibtlek dil-warda,
u tul it-triq nixfitli ...
Iż-żmien hekk jagħmel.


English:

Whenever you think
you know all the numbers,
start counting the stars.

Every island is a boat.
Those on board sail
but never arrive.

On the airplanes
every passenger admits
they are wingless.

I waited for the thanks
of the rose I raised.
It stung me still.

I brought you this rose,
And it shrivelled along the way…
So does time.