Modern Poetry in Translation / Call the Sea a Poet: Focus on Malta (Cover illustration)
Modern Poetry in Translation is a literary magazine that has been showcasing international poetry for over half a century. Its mission is to amplify the voices of those who have been marginalized, to foster a community of creative translators, poets, and readers, and to offer the public a glimpse into the best new poetry from around the globe.
I was given liberty to interpret the cover as I see fit so I had a lot of fun with this breif.
An illustration in pencil with a bright red background of a group of sparrows emerging from an endless sea, seemingly singing their song, while a traditional Maltese boat known as a Luzzu emerges from the waves. The sparrow in the foreground thinks about "l-għajn", a motif seen on Luzzu intended to protect fishermen from harm. The illustration wraps around the back where the scene continues. In the waves, the sign for 'language' appears in Maltese Sign Language / Lingwa tas-Sinjali Maltija.
Final cover