KAWAIRIMU

Little Wairimu, little Wairimu
Little dove of my heart
Little girl come I'll sing
For you a lullaby.

Peace loving like a little dove
Sweet voice like the weaver bird
Smoothness of ripe sweet bananas
Come closer so I sing for you:

Little Wairimu, little Wairimu
Little dove of my heart
Little girl come I'll sing
For you a lullaby.

Brown but not too brown
Dark but not too dark
We can only call it chocolate
Come closer so I sing for you:

Little Wairimu, little Wairimu
Little dove of my heart
Little girl come I'll sing
For you a lullaby.

Teeth, white as milk
A heart, pure as snow
Love, expansive as the sea
Come closer so I sing for you:

Little Wairimu, little Wairimu
Little dove of my heart
Little girl come I'll sing
For you a lullaby.

When she's near my heart beats hard
My ears sweat profusely
Even my hands tremble
Come closer so I sing for you:

Little Wairimu, little Wairimu
Little dove of my heart
Little girl come I'll sing
For you a lullaby.

When you see her, tell her I'm lonely
I lack joy in my heart
Life has lost taste
Come closer so I sing for you:

Little Wairimu, little Wairimu
Little dove of my heart
Little girl come I'll sing
For you a lullaby.


*This is a translation of a song  I originally composed for my wife in my native language Gikuyu. But which I find to be as poetic as any other piece I've written before.