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Marriage Chapter III


Then Almitra spoke again and said, "And what of Marriage, master?"
And he answered saying:
You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when 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 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.

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Comments

  • mermaid7
    September 30, 2006
    Edit | Reply
    I'm surprised there were no comments posted for this! This is a poem that should be given to many couples that plan to get married. There is much wisdom shared, especially in the area of being together but realizing that individuals make the marriage. Marriage should be the balance of each person contributing to the "whole"; it should be the strengthening and sharpening of individual talents as a couple.