Khalil Gibran’s Poem on Marriage

Some time ago, I had blogged about Kahlil Gibran’s poem on children and loved how it gelled with my philosophy governing my attitude toward my daughter.

And now, I came across another lovely poem on marriage, and I am again struck by how much Khalil Gibran’s poems resonate with me. A lack of personal space can be so stifling…

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, 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.

The last line especially seems so important (revolutionary almost) considering our patriarchal culture, which always promotes that a woman should live under the shadow and protection of her husband.