THEBOOKSOFKAHLILGIBRAN
De
TheMadman.1918TwentyDrawings.
1919
De
TheForerunner.1920TheProphet.
1923Sand
en
andFoam.1926Jesusthe
Zoon
SonofMan.1928TheForthGods.
1931
De
TheWanderer.1932TheGardenof
de
theProphet1933ProsePoems.1934Nymphsof
de
theValley.THEPROPHET
Almustafa,thechosen
en
andthebeloved,whowaseen
adawnuntohisowndag
day,hadwaitedtwelveyearsinthestad
cityofOrphaleseforhisshipthatwastoterugkeren
returnandbearhimbacktotheisleofhisbirth.En
Andinthetwelfthyear,ontheseventhdag
dayofIelool,themonthofreaping,heclimbedthehillwithoutthecitywallsen
andlookedseaward;andhebeheldhisship
komen
comingwiththemist.Then
de
thegatesofhisheartwereflunggeopend
open,andhisjoyflewver
faroverthesea.Andhe
sloot
closedhiseyesandprayedinde
thesilencesofhissoul.Maar
Butashedescendedthehill,een
asadnesscameuponhim,en
andhethoughtinhishart
heart:.HowshallIgoinpeace
en
andwithoutsorrow?Nay,not
zonder
withoutawoundinthespiritshallIverlaten
leavethiscity.Longwere
de
thedaysofpainIheb
havespentwithinitswalls,en
andlongwerethenightsofaloneness;en
andwhocandepartfromhispainen
andhisalonenesswithoutregret?Te
Toomanyfragmentsofthespiritheb
haveIscatteredinthesestreets,en
andtoomanyarethekinderen
childrenofmylongingthatlopen
walknakedamongthesehills,en
andIcannotwithdrawfromthemzonder
withoutaburdenandanache.Itisnot
een
agarmentIcastoffthisday,maar
butaskinthatItearmet
withmyownhands.Norisit
een
athoughtIleavebehindme,maar
butaheartmadesweetwithhungeren
andwiththirst.YetIcannottarrylonger.
De
Theseathatcallsallthingsuntohercallsmij
me,andImustembark.Forto
blijven
stay,thoughthehoursburninde
thenight,istofreezeen
andcrystallizeandbeboundineen
amould.FainwouldItakewithmeallthatis
hier
here.ButhowshallI?
Een
Avoicecannotcarrythetongueen
andthelipsthatgaveitwings.Alleen
Alonemustitseektheether.En
Andaloneandwithouthisnestshallde
theeagleflyacrossthesun.Nu
Nowwhenhereachedthefootofde
thehill,heturnedagaintowardsde
thesea,andhesawhisshipapproachingde
theharbour,anduponherprowde
themariners,themenofhiseigen
ownland.Andhissoulcriedoutto
hen
them,andhesaid:.Sonsofmyancient
moeder
mother,youridersofthetides,.Hoe
Howoftenhaveyousailedinmydreams.En
Andnowyoucomeinmyawakening,die
whichismydeeperdream.Klaar
ReadyamItogo,en
andmyeagernesswithsailsfullsetawaitsde
thewind.Onlyanotherbreath
zal
willIbreatheinthisstilllucht
air,onlyanotherlovinglookcastbackward,.En
AndthenIshallstandamongyou,een
aseafareramongseafarers.Andyou,vastsea,sleepless
moeder
mother,.Whoalonearepeace
en
andfreedomtotheriveren
andthestream,.Onlyanotherwinding
zal
willthisstreammake,onlyanothermurmurindeze
thisglade,.AndthenshallI
komen
cometoyou,aboundlessdroptoeen
aboundlessocean.Andashe
liep
walkedhesawfromafarmenen
andwomenleavingtheirfieldsen
andtheirvineyardsandhasteningtowardsde
thecitygates.Andhe
hoorde
heardtheirvoicescallinghisnaam
name,andshoutingfromfieldtofieldvertelden
tellingoneanotherofthecomingofhisship.En
Andhesaidtohimself:.Shallthe
dag
dayofpartingbethedag
dayofgathering?Andshallitbe
gezegd
saidthatmyevewasinwaarheid
truthmydawn?AndwhatshallI
geven
giveuntohimwhohaslefthisploughinmidfurrow,of
ortohimwhohasgestopt
stoppedthewheelofhiswinepress?Shallmy
hart
heartbecomeatreeheavy-ladenmet
withfruitthatImaygatheren
andgiveuntothem?Andshallmydesiresflow
als
likeafountainthatIkan
mayfilltheircups?AmI
een
aharpthatthehandofde
themightymaytouchme,of
oraflutethathisbreathmaypassdoor
throughme?Aseekerofsilencesam
Ik
I,andwhattreasurehaveIgevonden
foundinsilencesthatIkan
maydispensewithconfidence?If
dit
thisismydayofharvest,inwhatfieldsheb
haveIsowedtheseed,en
andinwhatunrememberedseasons?Als
Ifthisindeedbetheuur
hourinwhichIliftupmylantern,itisnotmyflamethatshallburntherein.Empty
en
anddarkshallIraisemylantern,.En
Andtheguardianofthenacht
nightshallfillitwithoilen
andheshalllightitook
also.Thesethingshesaidinwords.
Maar
Butmuchinhisheartremainedunsaid.Forhehimself
kon
couldnotspeakhisdeepersecret.En
Andwhenheenteredintothestad
cityallthepeoplecametomeethem
him,andtheywerecryingouttohimasmet
withonevoice.Andtheeldersof
de
thecitystoodforthandsaid:.Ga
Gonotyetawayfromons
us.Anoontidehaveyoubeeninourtwilight,
en
andyouryouthhasgivenusdreamstodromen
dream.Nostrangerareyouamongus,nor
een
aguest,butoursonen
andourdearlybeloved.Suffernotyetoureyestohungerforyourface.
En
Andthepriestsandthepriestessessaiduntohem
him:.Letnotthewavesof
de
theseaseparateusnow,en
andtheyearsyouhavespentinourmidstworden
becomeamemory.Youhavewalkedamongus
een
aspirit,andyourshadowhebt
hasbeenalightuponourfaces.Much
hebben
havewelovedyou.Butspeechlesswasour
liefde
love,andwithveilshasitbeenveiled.Maar
Yetnowitcriesalouduntoyou,en
andwouldstandrevealedbeforeyou.En
Andeverhasitbeendat
thatloveknowsnotitseigen
owndepthuntilthehourofseparation.En
Andotherscamealsoandentreatedhem
him.Butheansweredthemnot.
He
alleen
onlybenthishead;andthosewho
stonden
stoodnearsawhistearsvallen
fallinguponhisbreast.Andhe
en
andthepeopleproceededtowardsthegrote
greatsquarebeforethetemple.En
Andtherecameoutofthesanctuaryeen
awomanwhosenamewasAlmitra.En
Andshewasaseeress.En
Andhelookeduponhermet
withexceedingtenderness,foritwasshedie
whohadfirstsoughtandgeloofd
believedinhimwhenhehad
hadbeenbutadayintheirstad
city.Andshehailedhim,
zei
saying:.ProphetofGod,inquestoftheuttermost,
lang
longhaveyousearchedthedistancesforyourship.En
Andnowyourshiphasgekomen
come,andyoumustneedsgaan
go.Deepisyourlongingforthelandofyourmemories
en
andthedwellingplaceofyourgreaterdesires;en
andourlovewouldnotbindyounorourneedsvasthouden
holdyou.Yetthiswe
vragen
askereyouleaveus,dat
thatyouspeaktousen
andgiveusofyourwaarheid
truth.Andwewillgiveituntoour
kinderen
children,andtheyuntotheirkinderen
children,anditshallnotperish.Inyouralonenessyou
hebt
havewatchedwithourdays,en
andinyourwakefulnessyouhebt
havelistenedtotheweepingen
andthelaughterofourslaap
sleep.Nowthereforediscloseustoourselves,
en
andtellusallthathasbeenshownyouofdat
thatwhichisbetweenbirthen
anddeath.Andheanswered,.
Mensen
PeopleofOrphalese,ofwhatkan
canIspeaksaveofdat
thatwhichisevennowbeweegt
movingwithinyoursouls?Then
zei
saidAlmitra,SpeaktousofLiefde
Love.Andheraisedhis
hoofd
headandlookeduponthevolk
people,andtherefellastillnessuponhen
them.Andwithagreatvoicehe
zei
said:.Whenlovebeckonstoyou,
volg
followhim,.Thoughhiswaysarehard
en
andsteep.Andwhenhiswingsenfoldyouyieldto
hem
him,.Thoughtheswordhiddenamonghispinions
kan
maywoundyou.Andwhenhe
spreekt
speakstoyoubelieveinhem
him,.Thoughhisvoicemayshatteryourdreamsas
de
thenorthwindlayswastede
thegarden.Forevenas
liefde
lovecrownsyousoshallhecrucifyyou.Evenasheisforyourgrowthsoisheforyourpruning.
Zelfs
Evenasheascendstoyourheighten
andcaressesyourtenderestbranchesdie
thatquiverinthesun,.Soshallhedescendtoyourroots
en
andshakethemintheirclingingtode
theearth.Likesheavesofcornhegathersyouuntohimself.
Hethreshesyouto
maken
makeyounaked.Hesiftsyoutofreeyoufromyourhusks.
Hegrindsyoutowhiteness.
Hekneadsyou
tot
untilyouarepliant;.Andthenheassignsyoutohissacred
vuur
fire,thatyoumaybecomesacredbreadforGod’ssacredfeast.Al
Allthesethingsshalllovedountoyoudie
thatyoumayknowthesecretsofyourhart
heart,andinthatknowledgewordt
becomeafragmentofLife’shart
heart.Butifinyourfearyouwouldseek
alleen
onlylove’speaceandlove’spleasure,.Thenitis
beter
betterforyouthatyoucoveryournakednessen
andpassoutoflove’sthreshing-floor,.Into
de
theseasonlessworldwhereyoushalllaugh,maar
butnotallofyourlaughter,en
andweep,butnotallofyourtears.Liefde
Lovegivesnaughtbutitselfen
andtakesnaughtbutfromitself.Liefde
Lovepossessesnotnorwoulditbepossessed;.For
liefde
loveissufficientuntolove.Als
Whenyouloveyoushouldnotzeggen
say,“Godisinmyheart,”maar
butrather,“Iaminhet
theheartofGod.”And
denk
thinknotyoucandirectde
thecourseoflove,forliefde
love,ifitfindsyouworthy,directsyourcourse.Liefde
Lovehasnootherdesirebuttofulfilitself.Maar
Butifyouloveandmoet
mustneedshavedesires,letthesebeyourdesires:.Tomelt
en
andbelikearunningbrookdie
thatsingsitsmelodytode
thenight.Toknowthepainoftoo
veel
muchtenderness.Tobewoundedbyyour
eigen
ownunderstandingoflove;.Andtobleedwillingly
en
andjoyfully.Towakeatdawn
met
withawingedheartandgivedanken
thanksforanotherdayofloving;.To
rusten
restatthenoonhouren
andmeditatelove’secstacy;.To
terug
returnhomeateventidewithgratitude;.En
Andthentosleepwitheen
aprayerforthebelovedinyourhart
heartandasongofpraiseuponyourlips.ThenAlmitra
sprak
spokeagainandsaid,AndwhatofMarriagemaster?En
Andheansweredsaying:.Youwereborn
samen
together,andtogetheryoushallbeforevermore.Youshallbe
samen
togetherwhenthewhitewingsofdood
deathscatteryourdays.Aye,youshallbe
samen
togethereveninthesilentmemoryofGod
God.Butlettherebespacesinyourtogetherness,.
En
Andletthewindsofde
theheavensdancebetweenyou.Liefde
Loveoneanother,butmakenotabondofliefde
love:.Letitratherbe
een
amovingseabetweentheshoresofyoursouls.Filleachother’scup
maar
butdrinknotfromonecup.Geef
Giveoneanotherofyourbreadmaar
buteatnotfromthehetzelfde
sameloaf.Singanddance
samen
togetherandbejoyous,butlaat
leteachoneofyoubealleen
alone,.Evenasthestringsof
een
alutearealonethoughtheyquivermet
withthesamemusic.Giveyourhearts,
maar
butnotintoeachother’skeeping.For
alleen
onlythehandofLifekan
cancontainyourhearts.And
staan
standtogetheryetnottoonearelkaar
together:.Forthepillarsof
de
thetemplestandapart,.And
de
theoaktreeandthecypressgrownotineachother’sshadow.En
Andawomanwhoheldeen
ababeagainstherbosomzei
said,SpeaktousofKinderen
Children.Andhesaid:.
Your
kinderen
childrenarenotyourchildren.Theyarethesons
en
anddaughtersofLife’slongingforitself.They
komen
comethroughyoubutnotfromyou,.En
Andthoughtheyarewithyoutoch
yettheybelongnottoyou.You
mag
maygivethemyourlovemaar
butnotyourthoughts,.Forthey
hebben
havetheirownthoughts.You
mag
mayhousetheirbodiesbutnottheirsouls,.Fortheirsoulsdwellin
het
thehouseoftomorrow,whichyoucannotvisit,notzelfs
eveninyourdreams.You
mag
maystrivetobelikehen
them,butseeknottomaken
makethemlikeyou.For
leven
lifegoesnotbackwardnortarrieswithyesterday.Youare
de
thebowsfromwhichyourkinderen
childrenaslivingarrowsaresentforth.Thearcher
ziet
seesthemarkuponthepathoftheinfinite,en
andHebendsyouwithHiskunnen
mightthatHisarrowsmaygaan
goswiftandfar.Letyourbendingin
de
theArcher’shandbeforgladness;.Forevenasheloves
de
thearrowthatflies,soHelovesook
alsothebowthatisstable.Then
zei
saidarichman,SpeaktousofGeven
Giving.Andheanswered:.
You
geeft
givebutlittlewhenyougeeft
giveofyourpossessions.Itis
wanneer
whenyougiveofyourselfdat
thatyoutrulygive.Forwhatareyourpossessionsbutthingsyoukeep
en
andguardforfearyoumaynodig
needthemtomorrow?Andtomorrow,whatshalltomorrow
brengen
bringtotheoverprudentdogburyingbonesinthetracklesssandashevolgt
followsthepilgrimstotheholystad
city?Andwhatisfearof
behoefte
needbutneeditself?Isnotdreadofthirst
wanneer
whenyourwellisfull,de
thethirstthatisunquenchable?Er
Therearethosewhogiveweinig
littleofthemuchwhichtheyhave—andtheygeven
giveitforrecognitionandtheirhiddendesiremaakt
makestheirgiftsunwholesome.And
er
therearethosewhohaveweinig
littleandgiveitall.Thesearethebelieversin
leven
lifeandthebountyofleven
life,andtheircofferisnooit
neverempty.Therearethosewho
geven
givewithjoy,andthatjoyistheirreward.En
Andtherearethosewhogeven
givewithpain,andthatpainistheirbaptism.En
Andtherearethosewhogeven
giveandknownotpainingeven
giving,nordotheyseekjoy,norgeven
givewithmindfulnessofvirtue;.They
geven
giveasinyondervalleyde
themyrtlebreathesitsfragranceintospace.Door
ThroughthehandsofsuchastheseGod
Godspeaks,andfrombehindtheireyesHesmilesuponde
theearth.Itiswellto
geven
givewhenasked,butitisbeter
bettertogiveunasked,throughunderstanding;.En
Andtotheopen-handedthesearchforeen
onewhoshallreceiveisjoygreaterdan
thangiving.Andisthereaughtyou
zou
wouldwithhold?Allyouhaveshallsome
dag
daybegiven;.Thereforegive
nu
now,thattheseasonofgivingmaybeyoursen
andnotyourinheritors’.Youoften
zegt
say,“Iwouldgive,butalleen
onlytothedeserving.”Thetreesinyourorchard
zeggen
saynotso,northeflocksinyourpasture.They
geven
givethattheymaylive,fortowithholdistoperish.Surelyhe
wie
whoisworthytoreceivehisdaysen
andhisnights,isworthyofal
allelsefromyou.Andhe
die
whohasdeservedtodrinkfromtheoceanofleven
lifedeservestofillhiscupfromyourkleine
littlestream.Andwhatdesertgreatershall
er
therebe,thanthatwhichligt
liesinthecourageandtheconfidence,naythecharity,ofreceiving?En
Andwhoareyouthatmenshouldrendtheirbosomen
andunveiltheirpride,thatyoumayziet
seetheirworthnakedandtheirprideunabashed?Zie
Seefirstthatyouyourselfdeservetobeagiver,en
andaninstrumentofgiving.Forin
waarheid
truthitislifethatgeeft
givesuntolife—whileyou,whodeemyourselfeen
agiver,arebutawitness.En
Andyoureceivers—andyouareallreceivers—assumegeen
noweightofgratitude,lestyoulayayokeuponyourselfen
anduponhimwhogives.Ratherrise
samen
togetherwiththegiveronhisgiftsasonwings;.Fortobeovermindfulofyourdebt,isitodoubthisgenerosity
die
whohasthefreeheartedearthformoeder
mother,andGodforfather.Thenan
oude
oldman,akeeperofaninn,zei
said,SpeaktousofEten
EatingandDrinking.