OF MARRIAGE

                      HERE LOVE BEGINS
                      TO RENDER THE PROSE OF LIFE
                      INTO HYMNS AND CANTICLES OF PRAISE,
                      WITH MUSIC THAT IS SET BY NIGHT,
                      TO BE SUNG IN THE DAY.
                      HERE LOVE'S LONGING
                      DRAWS BACK THE VEIL,
                      AND ILLUMINES
                      THE RECESSES OF THE HEART,
                      CREATING A HAPPINESS
                      THAT NO OTHER HAPPINESS CAN SURPASS
                      BUT THAT OF THE SOUL
                      WHEN SHE ENBRACES GOD.

                      MARRIAGE IS THE UNION OF TWO DIVINITIES
                      THAT A THIRD MIGHT BE BORN ON EARTH.
                      IT IS THE UNION OF TWO SOULS
                      IN A STRONG LOVE
                      FOR THE ABOLISHMENT OF SEPARTNESS.
                      IT IS THAT HIGHER UNITY
                      WHICH FUSES THE SEPARATE UNITIES
                      WITHIN THE TWO SPIRITS.
                      IT IS THE GOLDEN RING
                      IN A CHAIN
                      WHOSE BEGINNING IS A GLANCE,
                      AND WHOSE ENDING IS ETERNITY.
                      IT IS THE PURE RAIN
                      THAT FALLS FROM AN UNBLEMISHED SKY
                      TO FRUCTIFY AND BLESS
                      THE FIELDS OF DIVINE NATURE.

                      AS THE FIRST GLANCE
                      FROM THE EYES OF THE BELOVED
                      IS LIKE A SEED SOWN
                      IN THE HUMAN HEART,
                      AND THE FIRST KISS OF HER LIPS
                      LIKE A FLOWER UPON THE BRANCH
                      OF THE TREE OF LIFE,
                      SO THE UNION OF TWO LOVERS
                      IN MARRIAGE
                      IS LIKE THE FIRST FRUIT
                      OF THE FIRST FLOWER
                      OF THAT SEED.

                      KAHLIL GIBRAN