By Kahlil Gibran
Date: 9 December 1999

from "The Prophet"

You were born together,
And together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together
When the white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, 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 one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone
Though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hears,
But not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow
Not in each other's shadow.