You were born together, and together you shall be forever
more.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter
your days.
Ay, you shall be
together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a
moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup, but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread, but eat not from the same
loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each of you
be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver
with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of
the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's
shadow.