Our Romany Way - by Ashleigh Louise

We dance to the beat
of a different drum -
maybe they're right,
maybe we're wrong.

Or maybe we’re not
what we’re portrayed to be
by those who don’t know us,
those that don’t see.

Those who believe blindly
the fiction splashed on TV,
the media's untruths
of what we’re made out to be.

Tarred with the brush
we didn’t deserve,
soaked purely in hate,
we deserve to be heard.

For our culture is one
they don’t understand
but I'd be honoured to show you,
here, take my hand.

You’re welcome to join us
and see for yourself
that while we are different
we’re like everyone else.

Please come with me,
follow me in
to our Romany lives
and here I begin.

A maze of vardos
and horses that roam,
our close-knit communities,
the place I call home.

Come in, take a seat,
It’s tidy and clean,
despite what they say
there’s no dirt to be seen

Cleanliness and comfort,
in our homes we take pride,
a place to relax
with family and friends by our side.

Our men and our women
all working hard,
our children are studying
with plans to go far.

And while we still work
towards desires and dreams,
back home things are different
behind the scenes.

A community based on strength,
hard work, courage and love,
creation, expression and
guidance from above.

The men are grafting
with brick, metal and wood,
creating and fixing
for the whole neighbourhood.

The laughing and banter
making it fun,
created with a smile
they get the work done.

The ladies mysterious -
a gift in the genes,
their inherent ability
to see the unseen.

Gazing deep at your palm
or an old crystal ball,
psychic readings and mediumship,
healing, guidance and all.

As the sun starts to leave,
the moon draws in,
we sit round together
for evening to begin.

Some food we have foraged
and some we have bought -
All working together
from a young age we are taught

how to cook for each other and
be “self-sufficient” they say 
and how to make what we have
go a long way.

At times we have little
and at times there’s a lot
but we always make most
of all that we’ve got.

When dinner is over
and darkness descends,
come join us outside
with family & friends.

Our connection with nature
from ground, to sky, all around,
offering remedies to heal
and teaching lessons profound.

The camp fire crackles
as stories unfold
and the elder’s hand down
traditions of old.

We make our own music
we sing and we dance
instruments playing
getting lost in a trance.

The feeling of togetherness
brings inner peace
We paint, draw, write;
creative release.

As the night comes to an end
and the moon’s shining bright,
hugs and kisses all round
as we wish you goodnight.

So this is our life,
an example of a day
in our misunderstood
Romany way.

Yet we’re tarred with the brush
we didn’t deserve,
soaked purely in hate,
we deserve to be heard.

Artwork and poem by Ashleigh Louise

Bio: Ashleigh is a ‘30 something year old’ Romany who has recently completed an MSc in Psychology and works as a mental health recovery worker. In her spare time, she enjoys music, singing, writing poetry and drawing.