Dum Karm (Fr. Carmelo Psaila) - Floriana, Malta - Dead Poets' Society Memorials on Waymarking.com

An illuminate monument honoring Dun Karm (Fr. Carmelo Psaila) contains a life-size bronze statue of Malta's national poet set on 4' high marble base placed on a set of five marble steps. He is depicted standing while wearing his clerical cassock. His right arm is bent so that his knuckles are is touching his chin. His left arm is bent across his waist and he is holding a sheaf of papers in his right hand.

The monument was dedicated on 13 October 1961 in 2000 to mark the 49th anniversary of his death.

The base is inscribed:

Dum Karm (Carmelo Psaila) was called the "The bard of Malta," and "The Chaucer of Malta." He was born October 18, 1871 in Gozo, Malta. He studied philosophy and theology at the University of Malta and was ordained priest in 1894. He became the director of circulating libraries in Malta, A position he held until he retired in 1936.

Writing in both Italian and Maltese, he created romantic verses, sonnets and numerous hymns with classical themes base on his Maltese heritage and religious teachings. His first poem, La Dignità Episcopale was published in 1889. He publiched the collection pf poems Foglie d'Allora in 1896 and Versi in 1903. another collection of Italian poems. He also compiled a three volume English-Maltese dictionary between 1947 and 1955 Dizzjunarju Ingliz u Malti

He is considered Malta's national poet, having composed the lyrics to, "Innu Malti" which was selected as the Maltese national anthem upon Malta's independence. Karm was the foremost Maltese poet. His poems have been translated into a number of languages.