DESCRIPTION:
This verse, in honor of Serbian scientist Nikola Tesla, was created by Svetlana Spajić's godfather Milan Bilbija, from Čirkin Polje, Prijedor, Bosnian Krajina, who died in 2008.

Melody created by Svetlana Spajić

Projection: The gusle, epic Serbian instrument with the image of Nikola Tesla, property of my first teacher Darko Macura

Translation:

My soul is in pain but I sing this song
I sing the song for Nikola Tesla
Oh, Nikola, brilliant and smart
You invented electric power

Magnetic waves and transformers
Oh, Nikola, if you'd lived longer
You would've made electric power from the sun
Where are you now?

Where are your New York doves?
Does the New America remember you?
Scientists don't care for monuments;
The generations of the world will remember you!

Yours, Nikola, stands at Niagara Falls
Oh, Nikola, from the village of Smiljan
The gusle is adorned with your image
Oh, Nikola, it doesn't matter you're a Serb!

Translation by Svetlana Spajić


Performed January 28, 2012 at CounterPULSE, San Francisco
Video by Rapt Productions