you shall be forever more.

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 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.

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.

Author: Kahlil Gibran [The Prophet]