Love one another,
but make not a bond of love.
but make not a bond of love.
Let it rather be a moving sea
between the shores of your souls.
between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup,
but drink not from one cup.
but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread,
but eat not from the same loaf.
but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous,
but let each one of you be alone.
but let each one of you be alone.
Even as the strings of a lute are alone
though they quiver with the same music.
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.
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.
For the pillars of the temple stand apart.
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.
- Kahlil Gibran