KGibran On Marriage

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 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.

where have they gone?

there was this little girl who kept on laughing while

drawing whiskers on my face at 8

where are you anna marion?

there was this little girl who kept on wanting

to be dressed like a princess at 2

where are you ave marie?

there was this little girl who kept on singing

and miming the way i teach

where are you faith sharreah?

there was this little boy who kept babbling

unrecognizable words even at 4

where are you adrian michael?

there was this little boy who kept running and

giggling and doing pranks at 3

where are you john zamir?
there was this young woman
who tried to keep her head high despite the hunger and pain
where are you felicitas?

anna marion is dead,

please god bless her soul.

ave marie is on a balancing act in career and marriage,

please god guide her decisions.

faith sharreah is learning, un-learning and re-learning,

please god give her strength.

adrian michael is preparing for a good career,

please god give him inspiration to move on.

john zamir is toughing out the university life,

please god bring him to a productive path.
felicitas is a grandmother, still struggling but with bigger faith
please god give her more love-laden years.