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In this article, Oliver Friggieri talks about Karm Psaila (1871-1961), a highly regarded Maltese poet who represents contemporary Maltese poetry. The author, explains Dun Karm Psaila's childhood and education, emphasizing on the fact that the Italian language and Latin were considered as two important school subjects at the time. This propelled Karm Psaila to continue his education in Italian. Later, in fact, he became a professor of language and of Italian literature at the major seminary. Oliver Friggieri continues on the article by explaining to us readers that Dun Karm Psaila's writings were often changing and evolving, especially when in the late 1800's and early 1900's, Malta was going through a political crisis, including the 'Language Question'. Before 1912 Dun Karm wrote only in Italian. However later on, he starts writing poems in the Maltese language as well. For Dun Karm Psaila, writing in Maltese, as well as in Italian, meant (i) to conserve an Italian identity, but above all adapt it according to the popular and environmental needs, and (ii) create romantically, that is according to the dictates of the heart and no more than the calculating reason. Dun Karm's works also give voice to his country's collective aspirations. His poetry reflects a background of village life crowned with an atmosphere of family feelings and it also portrays the Maltese countryside with a perspective imagination. It synthesises the popular culture of the Maltese people, which is quite evident from the rural characteristics that furnish its local identity with the literary culture based largely on Italian romanticism. Indeed, when he decided to make Maltese the medium of his creativity, Dun Karm poetically explored the history of Malta to confirm its cultural and national identity. ; N/A