"You Were neither a Masterpiece, Nor a God" by Lulzime Malaj, from the Mother's Day Gifted Anthology

 

You Were neither a Masterpiece, Nor a God

I sketched some delicate contours on the canvas,

I made on the palette various combinations of colors,

I gave a shape to your long hair mom and then

As you usually did, I tied it just like a crown.

 

The expression on your face made me stop!

I found your smile that in your life I’d never seen,

But when the brush landed on your hand,

Your skin seemed so soft and warm to me...

 

I took the canvas in my trembling hands,

Tears fell on it as if they were pushed by storms.

Oh, I know that I cannot paint miracles…

Painting your portrait mom is not easy at all.

 

It seemed that you were also crying with me.

You vanished like a light; I couldn’t reach you anymore.

Oh, you were neither a masterpiece, nor a god,

But a simple composition, unique in the world!

LULZIME MALAJ is an Albanian poetess. Her love for literature and art began in early childhood. She graduated from the Faculty of Economics, University of Tirana, majoring in Accounting. Since 2008, she has been a certified Professional Trainer in Hospitality and Tourism by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute, USA.

LulzimeMalaj is the author of several poetry books, including:

·              On the Balcony of a Cloud, 2018

·              Prelude of Love, 2021

·              The Woman with the Red Shoes, 2023

·              Dance with Me Tonight, 2025 

A bilingual Italian-Albanian poetry collection translated by the distinguished writer Irma Kurti, and published in Italy.

Her latest fictional novel, Love under the Parisian Skies, is ready for publication, in Italy. She is currently working on a book of short stories, essays, poetry, and song lyrics.

 

Awards & Recognition

·              Honorary Diploma – International Academic Award for Contemporary Literature, L.A. Seneca, organized by the Academy of Philosophical Arts and Sciences, Bari, Italy 2024

·              First Prize – International Literary Competition “L’Oceanonell’Anima”, Italy, 2023

·              First Prize – Golden Eagle International Literary Competition, Second Edition, ARCO, Italy, 2022

 

·                     She received the title of Ambassador for World Peace for Art and Culture in 2019, where she was awarded two honorary degrees.

·              Best Song Lyrics – “I Will Become a Popstar”, which also won First Prize at the Children’s Festival “Bilbilat e Korabit”, Dibër, North Macedonia, 2022

·              Diploma & Medal of Honor – World Poetry Olympiad, Romania, 2020

·              GjergjFishta Award for Best Poem, Academy of Arts, Sciences and Letters “Mirdita”, Albania, 2020

·              Poet with Charm in Poetry Award – Media TV “The One Show”, 2019

She has participated in several symposiums and national and international conferences, giving academic presentations. Her work is also included in many national and international anthologies. Her poetic and prose works have been widely published in Albanian periodicals and translated into several languages in international literary media.

She has also contributed as a lyricist to children’s festivals in Skopje, Tetovo, Lushnje, Gjilan, Ohrid, and other cities outside the country, in the Balkans.

 

 

Visual Arts

She has created numerous works of art, including oil paintings on canvas, pastels, watercolors, and photography. She participated in the 2024 exhibition at Art Space Gallery in Vlora with oil paintings and photographs, and will be part of two additional exhibitions in 2025, also featuring paintings and photography.

LulzimeMalaj has been praised by literary critics for her artistic excellence and evocative creativity.