Song of a Common Lover by Flavien Ranaivo,

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Don’t love me, my dear,

like your shadow

for shadows fade at evening

and I want to keep you

right up to cockcrow;

nor like pepper

which makes the belly hot

for then I couldn’t take you

when I’m hungry;

nor like a pillow

for we’d be together in the hours of sleep

but scarcely meet by day;

nor like rice

for once swallowed you think no more of it;

nor like soft speeches

for they quickly vanish;

nor like honey,

sweet indeed but too common.

Love me like a beautiful dream,

your life in the night,

my hope in the day;

like a piece of money,

ever with me on earth,

and for the great journey

a faithful comrade;

like a calabash:

intact, for drawing water;

in pieces, bridges for my guitar.