The one who’s far is not that far
If right inside your heart they are.
If one is neither close nor dear
Then they are far when even near.

durastho'pi na durasthah yo yasya manasi sthitah |
yo yasya hridaye nasti samipastho'pi duratah ||

The one that’s long at first gets smaller.
The other, starting short, grows taller.
Our shadows change in distinct ways
In the first and second halves of days.
And so our friendships start and end
With a fickle friend and a faithful friend.

arambha gurvi kshayini kramena
laghvi pura vriddhimatishcha pashchat |
dinasya purvardha parardha bhinna
chhayeva maitri khala-sajjananam ||