No, I do not, cannot hope to bear,
 I would not summon my soul once again,
To be serious in love, and care and dare
To wear its colors and expect to remain
       sane;
For my heart, any heart! can be 'moved'
       only once!
Thus no more,  my dear,  I do not care to
       go that way--
To suffer woes in needless hope without
       excuse,
For how should I hope every night and
       day
To "own" another whom I met by
        mere chance?
So you may thus remain 'in -love' or
       'indifferent,'  as you please!
                      
                                  ­       -by
                               Hakim H. Kassim.
                             (d. January 30, 2024)