Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić has been working as Coordinator for Roma in The Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a Romni (Romani woman) who has lived in multiple languages and in rich dialogue with at least three cultures -Balkan, Western European‚ and North American- she continually translates herself and others, bringing insights and artistic expression to her experiences and activist work. 

Phuv

Romnije!

Pala mule thaj dzuvinde,

Pala e Roma,

Del armaja e phuvjache,

Te nashjares shimijake

Te nashjares dushmaja.

Romnije!

Pala mule thaj dzuvinde,

Pala e Roma,

Chuv teleshoreha e phuv

Thaj del armaja kale sudbinache

Te xoxajves bilache

Te xoxajves kali jrat.

Romnije!

Pala mule thaj dzuvinde,

Pala e Roma,

Del e phuvjache choxanipe thaj del cho mrtik pala o kamipe

Nek e jag na thuvljardel

Nek o dumutnipe na buhljarel.

Del o chohanipe, Romnije, del cho mrtik pala las

Voj si chiri, mrni thaj Devleski dej

PHUV.

The Earth

Romnije!

Romnije!

Because of all the dead and all the living,

Because of the Roma,

Put a curse on the Earth

To destroy the rats

To destroy the enemy.

Romnije!

Because of all the dead and all the living,

Because of the Roma

Turn the Earth upside down

And predict black destiny

To distract the devil

To distract the black night.

Romnije!

Because of all the dead and all the living,

Because of the Roma

Cast magic upon the Earth and predict love.

Predict a fire without smoke

Predict damnation with the end.

Cast a magic spell, Romnije, save her!

She is yours, she is mine, Mother of God

THE EARTH.

From Dukh - Pain, published by Magoria Books in 2007.