PAUL POLANSKY

Paul Polansky generously donated his three latest books to the Romani Museum.

Two are books of poetry--
UN-LEADED BLOOD
and
GYPSY TAXI  CIGANSKI TAXI

Both of these books are beautiful and tragic and both set in Kosovo where Paul continues to do amazing work with the Romani living on lead mines.

I love the photos in UN-LEADED BLOOD, but was completely captivated by the paintings in GYPSY TAXI,  by a Romani man living in the camps, Bajram Mehmeti and his sister Farija Mehmeti.  They are stunning and emotional.

Here is a poem from GYPSY TAXI

REVENGE
anound two o'clock in the morning
I heard an animal howling.
when the village dogs didn't answer back
knew it was a call from the wild.

asked Ali about it over morning coffee
he said Kosovo was now a UN protectorate
since no one could have a gun
wolves were coming after the village hens.

if Lassie wasn't byt he front door
sleeping on our shoes
Ali told me not to go out at night to pee
wolves would be strolling the streets.

I thought my only problem
going out at night
was a landmine, a sniper
a terrorist throwing a grenade

now I know
nature
wanted her revenge
too.

The third book is titled
THE KOSOVO ANI-HEROES AWARDS FOR DEADLY NEGLECT
I think that title speaks for itself.

I highly recommend all of Paul's books and thank him for the work he has done for years, and continues to do, for the Romani of Kosovo.

To learn more about the Romani of Kosovo, please visit
KOSOVO ROMANI REFUGGE FOUNDATION
http://www.krrf.tripod.com/.

To order Paul's books
http://www.paulpolansky.com/
pipusa50401@yahoo.com