We were born together, and together we shall be forevermore.

We shall be together when the white wings of death scatter our days.

We shall be together even in the silent memory of our beliefs.

But we let there be spaces in our togetherness,

And we allow the winds of the heavens to dance between us.

We love one another, but we make not a bond of love:

It is rather like a moving sea between the shores of our souls.

We fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.

We give one another of our bread but we eat not from the same loaf.

We sing and dance together and are joyous, but we are each alone,

Like the strings of a lute are alone..they quiver with the same music.

We give of our hearts, but not into each other's keeping.

For only the hand of life can contain our hearts.

We 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.