Swifa za Mahaba

Nipa loho ya kihindi
wino na kalamu kandi
nikuswifie mapendi.

Yameningia moyoni
kwa sahihi ya aini
kana wanja wa machoni.

'Takutunza uje kwangu
kana wa kwanza mwanangu
yako si nusu wa yangu.

Mapendi nikuswifie
nilo nayo nikwambie
moyoni unangalie.

Umejaa pendo lako
Lau una kifiniko
ningalifunua kwako.

Kwako ningalifunuwa
mahaba ukayajuwa
ya ndani huyapasuwa.

Hunipasuwa ya ndani
wala uchungu sioni
kwa kukupenda fulani.

Sururi tunda ya huba
yatimupo matilaba
    ...
    ...
heyati takupa hiba.

In Praise of Love

Give me a writing board of Indian wood,
ink and a precious pen,
let me praise love for you.

It has entered my heart
forsooth, oh pupil of my eye,
you are like cool antimony.

I will care for you, come to me,
like my eldest child,
your love is not half as strong as mine.

Let me praise love for you
let me tell you what I feel,
so that you can look into my heart.

My heart is full of love,
if it had a lid,
I would open it for you.

For you I would open it,
so that you would know my love,
it is bursting my inmost being.

It is splitting my inside,
and yet I feel no pain,
so much do I love you.

Joy is the fruit of love,
when my purpose
    [to make you love me]
    is accomplished
I will give you a present for life.