Sergio Franzese: Our Language (From Sinte Romani)

Today, by the by, is International Romani Language day.

Our Language
By Sergio Franzese
Translated by A.Z. Foreman

I love you
Language of ours.
You are as rich, as poor
As we are.
When we are grieved
you give us the words to cry out,
when we are content
you give us the words to be. 
When we have to hide
You, our language, help us out.

In us you roamed
Every road of the world beneath the sky
You were the fire of our songs
But now
In these black and squalid lands
That gadje reserve the right to,
Day by day and bit by bit you die
As we do.

If we lose you
We shall be lost too. 
Listen, children,
Listen, youth,
We old Sinti leave you 
This dear sweet beautiful tongue.
We leave it to you
Not to leave it behind.
We teach it to our young,
Keep it safe with us always
As all the wealth, the only heirloom
That is ours.

The Original:

Čib Marí
Sergio Franzese

Kamáva tu
čib marí.
Tu sal bravalí ta čororí
Sar jamén.
Kánte sam bibaxtalé
ménge tu déssa le láu par te rovás,
kánte sam kontán
ménge tu déssa le láu par te sás
kánte si-amén bróxa te garavás
amen
tu, čib marí, déssa ménge ne vast.

But pirdál ménča
pren sa le dromá do bolibén,
sálas i jagda maré giljá,
ma kaná
ndrén kalá džungalé pláse
kaj čidéna men le gadžé
tu meréssa ne písla óni divés,
sar jamén.

Se našavássa tu
nínge jamén sam našadé.
Šunén čavé,
šun tarnipén,
maré puré Sínti
mukjén-le ménge
kajá šukár, gulí čib.
Na bistarás la,
sikavás la kaj maré čavé,
indžás la sémpar ménča
sar o kokořó braválimo
ke si-amén.