The poems reveal some important features to be found in other works by the author that, on the one hand, are influenced by traditional Romani culture and, on the other hand, represent ‘engaged’ literature addressing and reflecting on politically charged contemporary issues.

In the two poems ‘Mulo lacho Rom / A Deceased Good Rom’ and ‘Phuv / Earth’, the strong influence of traditional cultural elements can be seen. The former describes details and beliefs characteristic of the burial customs of Roma in the Balkans, while the latter is a poetic call like those in traditional oral cultural forms – blessings and curses, appeals to protect life and humanity on Earth. This second poem is constructed to evoke traditional reciting.

Earlier versions of both poems were published in 2000

‘CV 6’ is the last in Sijerčić’s cycle of poems entitled CV, which deals with the problems faced by some Roma in Europe, such as lack of access to education, housing and employment. They are thus closely related to the Romani activism in which the author is involved. As Sijerčić explains in a paragraph preceding the CV cycle published in 2017:

Curricula vitae of Romani people often do not meet the requirements prescribed by people of power. My poems are CVs for life. While not requirements for jobs, they are intended as requirements for a better life. (Tahirović-Sijerčić and Levine-Rasky, 2017, p. 41)

Source of texts

typescript, provided by Hedina Tahirović Sijerčić.

References

Tahirović Sijerčić, Hedina. 2007. Dukh – Pain. Magoria books, pp. 54-55.

Tahirović-Sijerčić, Hedina and Cynthia Levine-Rasky (eds.). 2017. Romani Women in Canada: Spectrum of the Blue Water, Toronto: Inanna Publications.