KATRINA

The hurricane that struck (on 29 August 2005) was nicknamed Katrina by the

National Weather Service. It’s real name is global warming.

- The Boston Globe

It is easy to conclude that the increased intensity of hurricanes is associated with

global warming.

- Sir David King, ix-xjenzat konsulent ewlieni tal-Gvern tar-Renju Unit.

The American president closes his eyes to the economic and human damages that are inflicted

On his country and the world economy by natural disasters like Katrina, through neglected

climate protection.

- Jurgen Trittin, Germany’s Environment Minister

Katrina tat-tempesta u d-dilluvju.

Katrina bint terribbli ta’ l-irjieh.

It-tikwis jaghli kwielek nar il-vixxri,

jaqtaghlek nifsek f’cikli tal-kubrit.

U l-lum nhar it-tpattija

jissabbat il-gudizzju b’qilla

fuq kosta tterter gherja

mas-sentenza tat-tifrik.

Tkellmu l-gwidi tal-morali, ja Katrina:

b’elokwenza w oratorija

sostnew it-teorija li c-cittadini

hlew is-sustanza u l-vizjoni

w grew mghagglin b‘kappestru f’rashom

fil-veljun tat-trasgressjoni

mar-rulett tal-Mississippi

jonkella taht pressjoni ghalenija

fi New Orleans,

fossa tfur bis-sodomija.

Hemm folla ta’ tallaba fl-astrodromu

tistenna li l-mejtin minfuha

jitfaccaw kohol w aciduzi

minn qiegh l-ilma ta’ l-gharghar.

Hemm hanqa ddisprata

tiggranfa mal-holm sfiq Amerikan

biex toftoq il-kimera:

Inhliet kollha l-pulikarja

fix-xaghri tas-shanat

fejn jahasra ghalina,

fis-swali tal-poloz

kebbisna trionfi foloz

f’sommarju ‘ppjanat

skond l-almanakk

intiz ghas-seklu l-gdid

biex issa nzilna mcercrin

max-xjuh u mat-trabi

ahna

mgezwrin fil-pwieni

ta’ Gobb il-karrabi.

L-irjieh u l-ilmijiet ipattu ghall-feriment

U jqallbu b’ferment swied l-ibhra biex jahbtu

ghas-swali ta’ l-arroganza

f’daghdigha

b’mitejnusbatax kilometru s-siegha.

Katrina tal-furja:

jitfarrak kollox taht il-halfa tieghek.

Skond ir-rit tal-kontijiet hbatt

riekba z-zwiemel imgienen tar-rih u l-mewg,

bhejjem jizhru ghal-lejl tal-kefen

taht ix-xhieda tas-sema.

Hbatt b’xaghrek mahlul u sidrek jilheg

hbatt imrieghxa

f’idejk ix-xafra tat-ticrit u l-mewt

f’orgazmu feroci

sa’ strihajt.

U mbaghad l-isturdament.

Joqomsu l-karkassi fid-drenagg u z-zejt

izda l-intejjen ta’ l-infetti fl-ilma,

ta’ l-ammonja mill-imsaren jerhu,

m’humiex bicca tieghek,

ja Katrina:

hemm l-iskwadri ta’ l-emergenza

u t-trakkijiet bil-lest

ghall-kadavri fil-friza.

Mario Azzopardi

Settembru 2005