Ocean, land, and countries friends too distant separate,
and more than that, like time and touch, them do keep apart;
with each their obligations own must others serve and wait,
while hopes and dreams they secret store within their misplaced hearts.
The days are spent attending duties present that see to life's demands,
appearing where they must with those they've made their mortal bond,
but deep within they nurture pure and safe the joys their longing's planned,
and walk in dress and habit new beneath what of necessity they've donned.
Nothing can affections such as these corrupt or tempted stain,
no desire, however strong, will drive them from the noble good,
for holding care for whom they so honor cannot be in vain,
or cause them to consider injury to any if only love but would.
So, though their stations occupy never meeting spheres,
and every sense is drawn to what before them each is set,
ignoring doubts and obstacles transcend together space, and also years,
as neither one shall for fondness true the other e'er forget.
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