Hai Nguyen

“These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume. The sweetest honey
Is loathsome in his own deliciousness
And in the taste confounds the appetite.
Therefore love moderately; long love doth so;
Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.”
― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

“You were born happy,
don’t die sad.
You were born full,
don’t die empty.
You were born rich,
don’t die poor.
You were born pure,
don’t die corrupt.
You were born innocent,
don’t die guilty.
You were born free,
don’t die shackled.

You were born curious,
don’t die indifferent.
You were born sensitive,
don’t die heartless.
You were born tolerant,
don’t die prejudiced.
You were born trusting,
don’t die cynical.
You were born caring,
don’t die spiteful.
You were born loving,
don’t die hateful.

You were born youthful,
don’t die worn-out.
You were born active,
don’t die idle.
You were born lively,
don’t die downcast.
You were born special,
don’t die normal.
You were born extraordinary,
don’t die common.
You were born you,
don’t die someone else.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo