Marija Miloradovic | Mediterranean Poetry

My name is Marija Miloradovic. I am a 37 years old Serbian who has lived in Malta for the past 5 years. I am a childcare educator and Serbian language teacher. I write poetry and have published two books of poetry in Serbian in 2016 (Trag misli) and 2018 (Zelim da kazem). Shortly after I moved to Malta, I started writing in English too. Till now, I haven’t published my poems in English, except a few on my Substack page: https://marijamiloradovic.substack.com/. I write about inner thoughts (feelings and struggles), love, nature, and the world. I strongly believe in education and culture, my passions are writing, reading, nature, long walks, music and travelling.

Malta through eyes of a foreigner

I’m free.
To sit, wait,
To run, to lay down,
To be.

I’m free to be alone
With myself.
No unnecessary questions,
No small talks.
To be.

Free to think,
Express myself
In any way,
In all ways.
To reveal
Hidden parts of inner me.

New beginning.
New chances.
To be.

New chapter

Who would say…?
I never thought
I will move
To another country to live.

I didn’t know much about Malta.
And now I’m discovering
Charm streets of Birgu,
Mysterious Mdina,
Beautiful cosy places in Valleta,
Quiet south areas…

And I feel I’m falling in love –
To the sea, air, sounds,
Old streets,
Rare flowers and sea views…

The Sun – powerful and shiny
Through almost a whole year.

I’m seeking, discovering,
Feeling and reaching with my arms
And heart.

Each morning,
Hearing bird’s morning song.
Breathing, slowly.
Absorbing.
In this little village of mine,
Where I discovered
beauty of slow living.
With whole my being,
Being present in this life.

Forgotten dream

I remember…
I was very young.
And I dreamt about place
Where no one knows me and
I feel free.

To walk alone,
Eat alone in a restaurant,
If I want to.

To write, to explore.
To read and be
Whatever my heart and mind
Tell me to be.

Is this it?
I forgot that dream,
Throughout years… and life.
But today, I wonder –
Is this it?