~The Hardness of Love
The waves do crash upon the stony shore,
And smite mine head with ever-throbbing pain.
The wanton wind, it wounds me to the core,
Each touch a thorn, each breeze a stinging strain.
Love, fierce and sudden, struck me to the dust,
And left me lame, alone to drink her name.
With none to speak, I toast her out of trust,
Yet whiskey burns and bears no cheering flame.
The miles I roamed have worn my spirit dry,
No fruit did grow from all the seeds I cast.
I sowed in hope, but harvest met no eye—
Just barren fields and mem’ries of the past.
Yet this she taught, and I shall not remove:
’Tis hard to love—unless thou be beloved.

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~Happiness
What is this thing men calléd happiness?
Where doth it dwell? In heav’n or here below?
What meaneth it to feel true blessedness,
And who hath tasted joy that doth not go?
Pray, tell me, where might blissful light be found?
Doth it reside on earth or past the grave?
If but in death, then still let breath be bound,
For life unblessed, I have no wish to save.
In cotillions I’ve wander’d, lone and low,
Yet every pipe and lyre did moan with dole.
Though fingers strummed with warmth their banjo’s bow,
No mirth arose to stir or soothe the soul.
If love and passion be the golden key,
I am but silt sunk deep in love’s dark sea.
And though I dive where fairest hope should be,
I spy no sign—yet envy falleth me.
If wealth must be the cost of joy’s fair grace,
Then wisdom sleeps, for I have seen each face
That bore a crown yet wore a mourner’s hue.
I am as keen as thou—
To crave a happy ending too.

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~Love Hath Undone Me
Mine heart doth swell, and scarce can bear its beat,
Such tempest rages in this breast of mine.
The heavens darken o’er with sullen sheet,
And in this grief, I think thee not less fine.
Mine own poor lips would fain their silence break,
To speak the secret hid behind mine eyes.
Full many obsequies did I partake,
Yet wept I not, though others heaved their cries.
But this—ay, this—doth rend my soul in twain;
It slayeth soft, when ink thy likeness draws.
The raindrops do reflect my woeful pain,
And e’en the wind obeys some mournful laws.
Each hushéd breath proclaims thou art not near—
Love turn’d to hate, and thee I now do fear.
Since first thou cam’st, all else hath pass’d away;
I am not I, and naught with me doth stay.

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~Love Hath Undone Me
Mine heart doth swell, and scarce can bear its beat,
Such tempest rages in this breast of mine.
The heavens darken o’er with sullen sheet,
And in this grief, I think thee not less fine.
Mine own poor lips would fain their silence break,
To speak the secret hid behind mine eyes.
Full many obsequies did I partake,
Yet wept I not, though others heaved their cries.
But this—ay, this—doth rend my soul in twain;
It slayeth soft, when ink thy likeness draws.
The raindrops do reflect my woeful pain,
And e’en the wind obeys some mournful laws.
Each hushéd breath proclaims thou art not near—
Love turn’d to hate, and thee I now do fear.
Since first thou cam’st, all else hath pass’d away;
I am not I, and naught with me doth stay.

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~Love in the tongue of time
Love is the weapon, sharp yet strangely kind,
That melteth steel within the stoutest breast.
A dream so sweet, no waking soul would find
Delight in dawn, nor dare disturb such rest.
It is a venom—aye, but none shall bleed,
A torment soft, in which we choose to stay.
A memory we keep, though none hath need
To bid it linger—still, it shall not stray.
Love is a treasure, rare and heaven-sent,
A beauty that no time nor death shall pale.
It is a truth oft cloaked in discontent,
Called but a myth by those whose hearts do fail.
So comes it first from mother’s gentle grace,
And ends as light that crowns all time and space.

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Pindi miti itakapotengana na kivuli,
Bahari itakapojitenga na mawimbi,
Wakati mawingu yatakapopuuza kiu ya ardhi,
Pale mapenzi ya nyota na mwezi yatakapokoma,
Muda ambao jua litakapoacha kusafiri,
Baina ya pande mbili za dunia,

Basi hapo moyo wangu utasimama,
Na ndipo mapenzi yangu kwako yatakapotamatika.

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My whole night, it’s only you—
I wish I could’ve seen you in my dreams.
Because that’s the moment I’ve missed you the most in my life.
Missing your beautiful face, adorned with your lovely smile.
Missing your voice, whispering in my ears.
Missing every inch of your beauty.
I may know nothing about love, but this could be it.
This could be love, inside of my heart.

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Vipepeo hawaruki, maua yameinama
Mito haitiririki, kutwa kucha yalalama
Na nyimbo hazisikiki, ndege wameshika tama
Ni ghamu siyo dhihaki, mpweke wangu mtima

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Vipepeo hawaruki, maua yameinama
Mito haitiririki, kutwa kucha yalalama
Na nyimbo hazisikiki, ndege wameshika tama
Ni ghamu siyo dhihaki, mpweke wangu mtima

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~First Dance
Let it not be before our guests—our first dance.
Wait till Heaven opens its gate for angels to pass,
The moment our faces reflect our choice—
Let it be at night, after the clinking of glass.
Let it be where the river meets no shore,
On the day the rings seal our testament true,
When the deciduous trees shed leaves no more,
Let it be when the world grows still in view.
After sweet talk and candlelit fare,
On the day we recall all the words we hold dear,
When it’s hot in winter and summer brings chill air—
Just let not go of my hand until we draw near.
The road is long and your feet may tire,
But I shall carry you—my heart’s desire.

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