A Distinguished Scholar, Poet, and Voice for Social Justice

Introduction

John P. Portelli is an internationally respected poet, novelist, short story writer, and distinguished scholar whose work bridges literature, philosophy, education, and social justice. Born in Malta and now living between Toronto and Malta, Portelli has devoted his life to inspiring readers through both academic excellence and creative expression. His poetry reflects profound human emotions, compassion, identity, displacement, peace, and the enduring struggle for justice. With a literary career spanning decades, his writings have reached audiences across the world through numerous translations and international publications.

Recognized for his thoughtful voice and unwavering commitment to humanity, John P. Portelli continues to influence both the academic and literary communities. His works challenge readers to reflect on the complexities of society while celebrating the resilience of the human spirit. Now we will read three of his poems.

The Mothers Wait in Vain

The mothers wait in vain now

for the lost love in the procession

of coffins of their children,

massacred before their time

and still, they wake up early in the morning

to set up the table in the great market

and sell a little mint

that is on the verge of withering

and still, they pray for them

so that they might speak to them in dreams,

these mothers wait in vain now

and in vain they hang the rifles on the walls,

the cartridges empty

and now the mothers must sleep alone

surrounded by the framed pictures of their children

distanced from the little life

that is left silent,

sitting upon the graves,

murmuring prayers

always waiting in vain, these mothers,

time makes no sense to them,

night and day are indistinguishable:

the clock has no hands,

they think only about the beginning

and the end of death

reflecting on the mirrors of a ruined world

and so, they wait in vain.

 

September vices

the ice-cream vendor is round the corner

and the scirocco sticking to the droplets

of milk on the hands of the kids licking ice-cream

mesmerized by the sweet colours atop,

the mothers chugging a cold beer

before the can gets warm and humid like their breasts,

the dog almost snoozing

waiting for the evening meal,

and the old lady’s toes painted red

gleams in this harsh September sun:

difficult to erase the vices.

Tango

Never mind the passion that melts with anxiety

there is so much distress in that body

raped by memories,

no one is ever ready for the tango of death

swaying to a rhythm no one understands

curling like slaves  

under the fury of the god of thunder

putting feelings to sleep

with elegant steps carrying

the weight of a coffin,

dazed by the look on faces

distracted by the staccato:

only tango forever!

Biography

John P. Portelli was born in Malta and is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Social Justice Education at the University of Toronto, Canada. Since beginning his academic career in Canadian universities in 1982, he has established himself as one of the leading scholars in the fields of education, democracy, ethics, and social justice.

Alongside his distinguished academic achievements, Portelli has built an extraordinary literary career. He is the author of eleven academic books, twelve poetry collections, two collections of short stories, and two novels. His writing seamlessly combines intellectual insight with emotional depth, exploring themes such as identity, migration, memory, belonging, justice, love, and hope.

His literary works have been translated into numerous languages, including Italian, Romanian, Greek, Farsi, Turkish, Serbian, Urdu, Arabic, Korean, English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Polish, allowing his poetry and prose to resonate with readers from diverse cultures around the world.

John P. Portelli's literary excellence has earned widespread recognition. His poetry collection Here Was was shortlisted for the Canadian Book Club Award in October 2024. Additionally, five of his books have been shortlisted for the prestigious Malta Book Council Annual Literary Award, highlighting his significant contribution to Maltese literature.

In recent years, Portelli has continued to publish powerful collections addressing themes of war, peace, memory, and human dignity. His notable recent works include The Shadow: Poems for Gaza (October 2024), co-authored with Ahmed Miqdad; Unsilenced: Poems for Palestine (April 2025), published by Horizons in Malta and Daraja Press in Quebec, Canada; Once I Forget: Poems (October 2025); and The Lost Coyote, published by Sulphur Editions in Cairo and Horizons in Malta.

Today, John P. Portelli divides his time between Toronto and Malta—and, as he often suggests, "beyond." Through both scholarship and literature, he remains a passionate advocate for justice, compassion, and the transformative power of words. His work continues to inspire readers, students, educators, and fellow writers across the globe, securing his place as one of the most thoughtful contemporary voices in international literature.