In anticipation of the Review of Small Literatures: Romani Literature, we present a brief interview with poet Delia Grigore from Romania.
Could you describe yourself in 3 words?
Romany poet, fighter, dreamer
Without summarizing it, what would you say your work in the Anthology is about?
My work in the Anthology is about the Romanipen.
How would you describe Roma literature?
The Romany literature is young, strong and beautiful. It is our new Romanipen.
Who is your favourite Romani author?
Rajko Djurić, Roma poet, activist, politician and the only historian of Romany literature.
Why do you write?
I write because I breathe, I fight, I dream, I die and I live again forever. I write because I am a Romni and the Romanipen is my sun and my moon here, there and everywhere.
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you’ve ever been given?
I have never been given with any writing advice.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently working at three Romany poetry books of mine, one to be published in Bucharest, at frACTalia, a feminist leftist Publishing House in Bucharest, one to be published in Galați, my birth town by the Danube and one in the United States of America, if the political situation there will still allow this. All these volumes will be bilingual: Romany-Romanian and Romany-English.
What you have been reading lately?
Joy De Gruy, “Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome”, Uptone Press, Portland, 2005
