Hamilton Ship Poems

Lams

My dearest, Laurens

If you had heard the way they talked about you

You would not have let it go

So neither will I

My friend, I know you would od the same for me

for the words he used were unacceptable in the presence of anyone who stood within earshot

My dearest, Laurens

I do not know when

nor if

I will see you again

You have plagued my heart with many enjoyable troubles

And I will keep those with me forever

If only you had heard the things they said

You'd understand why I do this

I'll take my gun

and settle this

I never before considered solving a problem in this manner

Never seriously considered aiming somewhere other than the sky

My dearest, Laurens

If this is the last chance I have to speak with you

Know I do this because I love you

I will be sure he never speaks of you like this again

Even if it takes my life

My dearest, Laurens

You should not have taken advantage

of my sensibility to steal into my affections

without my consent

It might be in my power to convince you by action

rather than by word

that I love you

Indeed

my love

it was not well done

but I bade you adieu.