Jan Horváth Döme: "To Václav Havel"

“I have a letter at home from President Václav Havel from 1999, when I sent him my first book of poetry, Tumenge. He welcomed it with delight and placed it in his library. Our Romani heart is crying for this baro manuš – this great human being. Na bisteraha! We will never forget!” writes the poet Jan Horváth Döme on his Facebook profile. News server Romea.cz publishes his poem on the occasion of former President Havel’s death below.

Václavu Havlovi

Dža tu kalo čirikloro,
lidža tu jekh žalostno ľiloro
amare bare manušeske – paľikeriben.
Phirelas maškaro Roma,
na ladžalas pes vaš amenge,
čore Romenge.
Žutinelas, lačho lav delas.
Amaro romano jilo rovel u pre leste gondolinel.
Ma bisteraha pre tute, bare manušeja,
ľiperaha amare jileha.
Lačho salas, jileskero, the pre romano čhavoro.
Ačh devleha!

Leť ty černý ptáčku, leť,
zanes smutné psaní našemu velkému člověku – poděkování.
Chodil i mezi nás Romy,
respekt a úctu dával nám
bez falše a ponížení.
Mnoho takových již není.
Naše romské srdce pláče, krvácí.
Nezapomeneme, vzpomeneme srdcem,
na lásku a úctu, jež jsi nám dal.
Sbohem!

****

To Václav Havel

Fly you little black bird, fly,
carry these sad words of gratitude to the great man
who came among us, the Roma, too
and gave us his esteem and respect
without falseness or humiliation.
There aren’t many like him left anymore.
Our Romani heart is weeping, is bleeding.
We will never forget, our hearts will remember,
the love and respect you gave us.
Farewell!