The author portrays Albania-born Italian poet Angela Kosta in a new thematic way, aiming to spread her inherent talent and fresh fragrance to the oppressed people of the world

By Nurul Hoque

Every person is a child of their time; and also a representative of their era. As human beings, poets also bear the distinct mark of their time. Each poet sits in the courtyard of their era, observing life and the world, painting its picture, and crafting dreams for the future. The rhythm of the ongoing time resonates within the poet, and the poet must capture that rhythm in their verses. No great poet can avoid their time. If they try to reach a final destination in short cut way, they become disoriented and displaced. That is why T.S. Eliot described, in his essay “Tradition and the Individual Talent” that “The great poet, in writing himself, writes his times.”

As individuals with profound insight, poets observe their time with deep and intense vision. The eyes of a poet filled with deep wisdom, observational prowess, poetic knowledge, and linguistic skill. To become a poet, one must possess an omniscient (seer of the past, present, and future) vision beyond ordinary sight.

The poetic talent of Angela Kosta is the result of such remarkable observation. When she considers the entire world connected with time, it naturally includes the current era and contemporary times. Angela Kosta has represented the present time in various ways in her poetry.

Literature that can reach close to people, where readers are enchanted by its poetic rhythm, amazed by its artistic precision, where the ornamentation and resonance of words touch the reader’s heart, and where the sweetness of any line leaves a lasting impression – that is where poetry finds its success. Poetry becomes dear to readers when they find a sense of self and existence within it. Angela Kosta is such an extraordinary poet whose thoughts and language, structure and subject matter attract readers. Only those who delve deeply into her poetry can discover its hidden treasures. Her subjects and style are as wonderful as her presentation is exceptional. She is a fearless truth-seeker with a pen. She is a worshipper of natural beauty. The uniqueness of her poetry lies in her artistic skill and word selection technique. She is not a traveler of conventional poetic paths, which is why her poems are crafted in a different dimension. Her poetry is truthful because she has not relied on falsehood. She has been able to perceive the truths of the era, human truths, and the truths of intellect, which is why she has emerged as a unique truth-seeker especially for the welfare and freedom of women in our times.

Here I want to craft some of her poetic lines…

You ladies,

A fragile martyr,

Return from the lost path where there is no whisper,

Desperate crying of dirty life,

Tears of blood, nail scratched bodies having distressed soul;

You ladies,

Rise!

Stay away from everything that negates the “goddess” in you;

Cross the border of patience and violence

Tear off your faded veil.

The dark eternal mask;

Free yourself from people who don’t deserve you,

Your moist smile on the lips.  

The journey toward women’s freedom has been long and challenging, marked by struggles, victories, and ongoing efforts. Historically, women have faced significant barriers to achieving equal rights and opportunities, often confined by societal norms and expectations that limited their roles to domestic spheres.

Women began to demand the right to vote, access to education, and participation in the workforce. These movements were characterized by passionate advocacy, peaceful protests, and sometimes even civil disobedience. The success of these efforts in various countries laid the groundwork for further advancements in women’s rights.

Enjoy your freedom coming out of the prison of hatred.

You ladies!

You are great

You are unique

You are holy;

Enjoy and live happily!

This era brought about significant legislative changes, including laws against gender discrimination, equal pay for equal work, and the establishment of reproductive rights. Women’s freedom was increasingly recognized as a fundamental human right, essential for the overall progress of society.

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Economic freedom for women involves access to employment opportunities, fair wages, and the ability to own property and businesses. Education plays a crucial role in this aspect, empowering women with the knowledge and skills needed to compete in the job market and achieve financial independence. Political freedom is another critical component, ensuring that women have the right to participate in the governance of their countries. This includes the right to vote, run for office, and hold positions of power and influence. Greater representation of women in politics leads to more inclusive policies and a stronger focus on issues such as healthcare, education, and family welfare. Personal freedom encompasses the ability to make choices about one’s own life, including decisions about marriage, motherhood, and career. It involves freedom from violence, coercion, and discrimination. Ensuring personal freedom requires robust legal frameworks, social support systems, and cultural shifts that respect and uphold women’s autonomy. Despite significant progress, challenges remain. Women around the world continue to face issues such as gender-based violence, unequal pay, limited access to education and healthcare, and societal pressures that restrict their choices. The fight for women’s freedom is ongoing, with activists and organizations working tirelessly to address these issues and promote gender equality. The freedom of women is not just about individual rights; it is about creating a society where everyone, regardless of gender, can thrive and contribute to the collective well-being. It is about recognizing and valuing the diverse experiences and perspectives that women bring to the table. Achieving true freedom for women requires the commitment and effort of all members of society, working together to break down barriers and build a more equitable and just world.

In that poem she directly addressed women giving hope and encouragement to raise their head.

You ladies,

Live again!

Raise your heads

Open fists holding the power of life;

Bloom again to sing…

Smile…

In her poem “Light of survival” is a powerful metaphor emphasizing the enduring spirit and tenacity to continue despite hardships. It conveys the idea that even in the most challenging and dire circumstances, there is an innate drive to persevere and survive. Angela Kosta wrote.

The oceanic light emerges and fills the cracks in the souls of the sick,

Wherever are there.

By embracing the light,

Everyone recovers from the evils of the century.

She used “light of hope” is often as a metaphor for optimism, encouragement, or a sense of possibility in difficult times. It symbolizes the belief that even in the darkest moments, there is always a possibility for improvement and a better future.

In another para Angela Kosta uttered:

“The Light of Hope shines on the beloved

Land furrowed by wounded edges where

The poverty lives naked.

There are undressed ladies

With wide open eyes

On the sidewalks full of corpses

With anxiety is fed inside the garbage

With rotting food like stale bread crumbs as if they are for stray dogs.”

Highlighting an individual’s resilience in overcoming personal challenges like illness, trauma, or loss. Reflecting the collective endurance of communities or nations through wars, natural disasters, or other adversities. Nature and Wildlife: Demonstrating the instinctual drive of animals and plants to survive in harsh environments. In literature and storytelling, light of survival is the glimmer of hope that keeps characters going when all seems lost inner light or spirit that fuels perseverance and courage. A beacon or source of inspiration that leads one through tough times. We find in her lines:

But the Light of Hope triumphs it travels around

The world on the paths where poor and sick people pass.

It passes there like a torchlight procession to tell the beloved Earth to stops suffering.

To call Angela Kosta merely a poet or editor would be an injustice to her. Angela Kosta is a compassionate woman. She is a symbol of human being. She felt sad a horrific humanitarian disaster on her country’s coast known as the Otranto tragedy. The poem “SCULPTED SYMPHONY” will eternally memorialize Angela Kosta. This poem is based on the dreadful events of that tragic day. Each line of the poem is imbued with tearful emotions. From children to mothers, no one was spared in that dreadful maritime disaster. Angela Kosta narrated:

In the open air

Unheard-of Symphony Began

With scary notes

Even the sea rebelled.

Dancing Waves

Shamelessly, furiously.

We the Global face known about the mishap or incidents. The Otranto tragedy of 1997 refers to a catastrophic maritime disaster that occurred on March 28, 1997, in the Strait of Otranto, which is located between Italy and Albania. The incident involved the sinking of an Albanian ship named “Kateri i Radës,” which was carrying a large number of Albanian migrants attempting to reach Italy. The tragedy happened during a period of significant political and economic turmoil in Albania following the collapse of pyramid schemes, which led to widespread unrest and economic hardship. This situation prompted many Albanians to flee their country in search of better opportunities in Italy and other parts of Europe.

The “Kateri i Radës,” a small, overloaded vessel, collided with the Italian naval ship “Sibilla” during its attempt to reach the Italian coast. The Italian Navy was enforcing a blockade to prevent illegal immigration, and in the ensuing encounter, the collision caused the Albanian vessel to sink. Angela wrote her poem…

They brought to the shore

Whispers without moaning

Of many little angels

Barefoot

Floating, soaked

With dull smiles.

The disaster resulted in the death of at least 81 people, though the exact number of casualties remains uncertain due to the chaotic nature of the situation and the number of people aboard the vessel. The tragedy highlighted the desperation of Albanian migrants and brought international attention to the humanitarian crisis in Albania. It also sparked significant controversy and debate over the Italian Navy’s role in the incident and the broader issues surrounding immigration policies and enforcement.

With a heavy heart, Angela Kosta pours all her emotions into writing.

Like the little girl

Clinging to the young mother

With breasts of stone.

In the open air

The end of hope was heard

And in a foreign language

The sonnet of a ship

It was sculpted

On the mirror of the dark sea.

The Otranto tragedy remains a poignant example of the human cost associated with migration and the complex challenges faced by countries in managing and responding to large-scale human movements.

The literature that can reach people, whose artistic elegance captivates the reader, displaying profound insight and ornamentation, the one that touches the reader’s heart with the power of words that leaves a lasting impact – only such literature is meaningful. The poetry that resonates with human emotions, finds its own place, and is intertwined with human passions, is the one that holds true value.

In matters of love and affection, Angela Kosta has shown remarkable individuality and abstraction.

Angela Kosta is one such remarkable poet whose thoughts and language in poetry captivate the reader. Her poetry is deeply embedded in the mind as if they are inseparable. The themes and subjects of her work find their roots in truthfulness. Her portrayal of reality is both aesthetic and logical. She is a worshiper of aesthetic beauty. Her poetic brilliance lies in her unparalleled craftsmanship. Her deftness in word selection binds the reader to the truth of paper. Her poems do not become tiresome travelers but remain intertwined with the truth. Her poetry is not detached from reality; rather, it embraces it. She has been able to comprehend the depths of the human mind and truth, and thus she has emerged as a poet embodying the truth.

In matters of love and affection, Angela Kosta has shown remarkable individuality and abstraction. Angela has conveyed through her poetry that love is not something to be loudly proclaimed everywhere. Angela wants to love her special person quietly and privately. There will be no outward show or ostentation. Indeed, should not real love be like this?

Angela Kosta expressed her poetry as…

I will love you in silence

Knowing where you will find me.

I will be beyond the only companion star

Witness to our madness.

You will find me beyond the moon…

Angela Kosta want to love in silence. Then again she told in her own sense that you will find me beyond the moon, cloud and sun. In ultimate stage, Angela Kosta giving away everything she has, will eventually fade into nothingness. Only an influential great poet can utter such a sentence. In his words:

Having become mute

Vanished into thin air.

On the waves of the sea

I’ll find our breath

Your smile on my mouth

Your look in my tear

Your beats on my heart

Your fingers in my hair

Your eyes on mine…

Forever!!!

This sentence expresses a deep, quiet, and unwavering love. The speaker promises to continue loving someone silently, without needing to make their feelings known or seeking acknowledgment. It also suggests a sense of constancy and availability—the speaker is confident that the loved one knows where to find them and can reach out whenever needed. This type of love is patient, enduring, and selfless, content with simply being there for the other person without any expectations.

Let the Free Nature Flourish

Let the forests green

Let the mountains cross

Waterfalls, groves, buds in trees

The roses look at you for a moment.

The lawns decorated with pearl carpet

Fertile fields, fields with sunflowers worship

Sit in the shadow of the old tree.

Poets are often referred to as portraits of nature. Observing the rate at which humans are destroying nature and turning forest areas into wastelands, a poet’s heart naturally trembles. Angela is no exception. She loves the mountains, forests, and the sea. She wishes for nature to overcome all adversities, to rejuvenate and smile once again.

Don’t be late.

And we have more seedlings.

We give nature a smile.

Angela Kosta rightly said, the magic of nature. Because nature possesses an enchanting magic that captivates and rejuvenates the human spirit. From the serene whisper of a forest’s leaves to the awe-inspiring majesty of towering mountains, every element of nature’s tapestry offers a unique sense of wonder. The rhythmic ebb and flow of ocean waves, the intricate patterns of a spider’s web, and the vibrant hues of a sunset all speak to a world brimming with life and mystery. This natural magic not only provides solace and inspiration but also reminds us of the intricate and delicate balance that sustains our planet, urging us to appreciate and protect the environment that nurtures us.

There is no end to new forms. Using these myriad topics, poets from various languages have written thousands of poems, and that flow continues unabated.

We can say now that the history of poetry is the history of technique. Technique essentially means craftsmanship. A poet can shape poetry with craftsmanship. The poet presents life through his craft. No matter how the world changes, a poet always has a close relationship with his surroundings. Be it fire or water, sky or sea, tree or plant, river or mountain, desert or snow, winter or spring, these are all part of human life. How has life changed? Those love, joy, union, separation, faith, distrust, dreams, humanity, greed, hope, compassion, father’s affection, friend’s interaction, child’s laughter, youthful infatuation, accusations of the aged, all still remain. And with these, poetry, novels, plays, and essays are being written. There is no end to new forms. Using these myriad topics, poets from various languages have written thousands of poems, and that flow continues unabated. Amid this abundance, some poets have stood out with their individuality and creativity. They become relevant over time. This individuality and creativity are the hallmarks of true craftsmanship.

I have tried to portray my friend Angela Kosta in a new thematic way, aiming to spread her inherent talent and fresh fragrance to the oppressed people of the world.

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Nurul Hoque is a poet, time-conscious rhymer, novelist, and editor. He is skilled at composing poetry, rhymes, stories, and songs. He has been working as a writer for almost three decades. He was elected World Laureate in Literature in 2018 by World Nation Writers Union, Kazakhstan (www.wnwu.org). He is the executive director of Munir Mezyed Foundation for Arts and Culture, Romania. He edited Odyssey International Anthology of World Poets 2020. He is also the chief coordinator of Odyssey International (headquartered in Romania). Mr. Hoque was born at Porikot village of Gunabati Union under Chauddagram upazila in Comilla (formerly Tripura) in Bangladesh. He has written several books, 30 of which are well known in his mother tongue, Bengali. His poetry, famed for its elegance and intimacy, covers a variety of themes, chiefly peace, nature, love, womanhood, and divinity. He achieved Diploma in Engineering Mechanical and Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (AMIE) from the Swedish Bangladesh Institute of Technology, Kaptai, Bangladesh. His educational life was full of diversity. He was sometimes a student, sometimes a ration shop worker, and sometimes a manager. He has received numerous international awards for his special contribution to literature. He is the editor of the monthly magazine Amader Buriganga, which is published from Dhaka almost regularly. He is also the founder chairman of Buriganga Foundation Bangladesh. His also edited some anthologies.