Remember

[Kristina Burbank]

I feel sad and lonely

yet thankfully connected.

Deva takes me away every day.

To the feet of O Ram I asked last night.

I awoke, 

early this morning,

dark before sun rise,

after few fits of sleep. 

Under sandy eyes, 

smiles slid across surfaces,

and heart strings hoisted high, 

a few words like these rang in my mind:

Ancestors,

Don’t worry!

I still see your faces.

l carry your names.

Maybe there was less.

Maybe there was more. 

I felt deep relief, wonder, and gratitude.

O Del, blessed hovering angels, Mulle, I love you all.

We Rrom live on.

We sense. We learn. We play.

We Rrom belong on this planet, all kumpaniyas, 

free from shame and shun, thank you, for it is being done, Om.

[Kristina Burbank]

my word list

Deva - derivative for deity (Hindu)

Ram - nickname for Rama (Hindu) 

Del - God in (Rromano)  

Mulle - ancestors (Rromano)

Rrom - shortest form of Rromani (Gypsy) / I like this definition: Rrom = ‘human’

kumpaniyas - families, meant to be all inclusive here.