THEBOOKSOFKAHLILGIBRAN
TheMadman.
1918TwentyDrawings.
1919TheForerunner.
1920TheProphet.
1923
Zand
SandandFoam.1926JesustheSonofMan.
1928TheForthGods.
1931TheWanderer.
1932The
Tuin
GardenoftheProphet1933ProsePoems.1934Nymphsofthe
Vallei
Valley.THEPROPHET
Almustafa,thechosenandthebeloved,whowasa
dageraad
dawnuntohisownday,hadwaitedtwelveyearsinthecityofOrphaleseforhisshipthatwastoreturnandbearhimbacktotheisleofhisgeboorte
birth.Andinthetwelfthyear,ontheseventhdayofIelool,themonthofreaping,he
klom
climbedthehillwithoutthecitywallsandlookedseaward;andhebeheldhisshipcomingwiththemist.
Thenthegatesofhisheartwereflungopen,andhis
vreugde
joyflewfaroverthesea.Andheclosedhiseyesandprayedinthesilencesofhissoul.
Butashedescendedthe
heuvel
hill,asadnesscameuponhim,andhethoughtinhisheart:.HowshallIgoinpeaceandwithoutsorrow?
Nay,notwithoutawoundinthespiritshallIleavethiscity.
LongwerethedaysofpainIhavespentwithinitswalls,andlongwerethenightsofaloneness;
andwhocandepartfromhispainandhisalonenesswithout
spijt
regret?ToomanyfragmentsofthespirithaveIscatteredinthesestreets,andtoomanyarethechildrenofmylongingthatwalk
naakt
nakedamongthesehills,andIcannotwithdrawfromthemwithoutaburdenandanache.ItisnotagarmentIcastoffthisday,butaskinthatI
scheur
tearwithmyownhands.NorisitathoughtIleavebehindme,butaheartmadesweetwithhungerandwiththirst.
YetIcannottarrylonger.
Theseathatcallsallthingsuntohercallsme,andImustembark.
Fortostay,thoughthehoursburninthenight,isto
bevriezen
freezeandcrystallizeandbegebonden
boundinamould.FainwouldItakewithmeallthatishere.
ButhowshallI?
Avoicecannotcarrythe
tong
tongueandthelipsthatgaveitwings.Alonemustit
zoeken
seektheether.Andaloneandwithouthisnestshalltheeagleflyacrossthesun.
Nowwhenhereachedthefootofthe
heuvel
hill,heturnedagaintowardsthesea,andhesawhisshipapproachingtheharbour,anduponherprowthemariners,themenofhisownland.Andhissoulcriedouttothem,andhesaid:.
Sonsofmy
oude
ancientmother,youridersofthetides,.Howoftenhaveyousailedinmydreams.
Andnowyoucomeinmyawakening,whichismydeeperdream.
ReadyamItogo,andmyeagernesswithsailsfullsetawaitsthewind.
OnlyanotherbreathwillIbreatheinthisstillair,onlyanotherlovinglookcastbackward,.
AndthenIshallstand
onder
amongyou,aseafareramongseafarers.Andyou,vastsea,sleeplessmother,.
Whoalonearepeaceand
vrijheid
freedomtotheriverandthestream,.Onlyanotherwindingwillthisstreammake,onlyanothermurmurinthisglade,.
AndthenshallIcometoyou,aboundlessdroptoaboundless
oceaan
ocean.Andashewalkedhesawfromafarmenandwomenleavingtheirfieldsandtheirvineyardsandhastening
naar
towardsthecitygates.Andheheardtheirvoicescallinghisname,and
schreeuwden
shoutingfromfieldtofieldtellingoneanotherofthecomingofhisship.Andhesaidtohimself:.
Shallthedayofpartingbethedayofgathering?
Andshallitbesaidthatmyevewasintruthmy
dageraad
dawn?AndwhatshallIgiveuntohimwhohaslefthisploughinmidfurrow,ortohimwhohasstoppedthe
wiel
wheelofhiswinepress?Shallmyheartbecomeatreeheavy-ladenwith
vruchten
fruitthatImaygatherandgiveuntothem?AndshallmydesiresflowlikeafountainthatImay
vullen
filltheircups?AmIaharpthatthehandofthemightymaytouchme,oraflutethathis
adem
breathmaypassthroughme?AseekerofsilencesamI,andwhattreasurehaveIfoundinsilencesthatImaydispensewith
vertrouwen
confidence?Ifthisismydayofharvest,inwhatfieldshaveIsowedtheseed,andinwhatunrememberedseasons?
Ifthis
inderdaad
indeedbethehourinwhichIliftupmylantern,itisnotmyflamethatshallburntherein.EmptyanddarkshallIraisemylantern,.
Andtheguardianofthenightshall
vullen
fillitwithoilandheshalllightitalso.Thesethingshesaidinwords.
Butmuchinhisheart
bleef
remainedunsaid.Forhehimselfcouldnotspeakhisdeepersecret.
Andwhenheenteredintothecityallthepeoplecametomeethim,andtheywerecryingouttohimaswithonevoice.
Andtheeldersofthecitystoodforthandsaid:.
Gonotyetawayfromus.
Anoontidehaveyoubeeninourtwilight,andyour
jeugd
youthhasgivenusdreamstodream.No
vreemdeling
strangerareyouamongus,noragast
guest,butoursonandourdearlybeloved.Suffernotyetoureyestohungerforyourface.
Andthepriestsandthepriestessessaiduntohim:.
Letnotthewavesofthesea
scheiden
separateusnow,andtheyearsyouhavespentinourmidstbecomeamemory.Youhavewalked
onder
amongusaspirit,andyourschaduw
shadowhasbeenalightuponourfaces.Muchhavewelovedyou.
Butspeechlesswasourlove,andwithveilshasitbeenveiled.
Yetnowitcriesalouduntoyou,andwouldstandrevealedbeforeyou.
Andeverhasitbeenthatloveknowsnotitsowndepthuntilthehourofseparation.
Andotherscamealsoandentreatedhim.
Butheansweredthemnot.
Heonlybenthishead;
andthosewhostoodnearsawhistearsfallinguponhisbreast.
Andheandthepeopleproceeded
naar
towardsthegreatsquarebeforethetempel
temple.AndtherecameoutofthesanctuaryawomanwhosenamewasAlmitra.
Andshewasaseeress.
Andhelookeduponherwithexceedingtenderness,foritwasshewhohadfirst
gezocht
soughtandbelievedinhimwhenhehadbeenbutadayintheircity.Andshehailedhim,saying:.
ProphetofGod,inquestoftheuttermost,longhaveyousearchedthedistancesforyourship.
Andnowyourshiphascome,andyoumustneedsgo.
Deepisyourlongingforthelandofyourmemoriesandthedwellingplaceofyourgreaterdesires;
andourlovewouldnotbindyounorourneedsholdyou.
Yetthisweaskereyouleaveus,thatyouspeaktousandgiveusofyourtruth.
Andwewillgiveituntoourchildren,andtheyuntotheirchildren,anditshallnotperish.
Inyouralonenessyouhavewatchedwithourdays,andinyourwakefulnessyouhavelistenedtotheweepingandthe
lachen
laughterofoursleep.Now
dus
thereforediscloseustoourselves,andtellusallthathasbeenshownyouofthatwhichisbetweengeboorte
birthanddeath.Andheanswered,.
PeopleofOrphalese,ofwhatcanIspeaksaveofthatwhichisevennowmovingwithinyoursouls?
ThensaidAlmitra,SpeaktousofLove.
Andheraisedhisheadandlookeduponthepeople,andtherefellastillnessuponthem.
Andwithagreatvoicehesaid:.
Whenlovebeckonstoyou,followhim,.
Thoughhiswaysarehardandsteep.
Andwhenhiswingsenfoldyouyieldtohim,.
Thoughthe
zwaard
swordhiddenamonghispinionsmaywoundyou.Andwhenhespeakstoyoubelieveinhim,.
Thoughhisvoicemayshatteryourdreamsasthenorthwindlayswastethe
tuin
garden.Forevenaslovecrownsyousoshallhecrucifyyou.
Evenasheisforyourgrowthsoisheforyourpruning.
Evenasheascendstoyourheightandcaressesyourtenderestbranchesthatquiverinthesun,.
Soshallhedescendtoyourrootsand
schudden
shakethemintheirclingingtotheearth.Likesheavesofcornhe
verzamelt
gathersyouuntohimself.Hethreshesyoutomakeyou
naakt
naked.Hesiftsyoutofreeyoufromyourhusks.
Hegrindsyoutowhiteness.
Hekneadsyouuntilyouarepliant;.
Andthenheassignsyoutohissacredfire,thatyoumaybecomesacred
brood
breadforGod’ssacredfeast.Allthesethingsshalllovedountoyouthatyoumayknowthesecretsofyourheart,andinthat
kennis
knowledgebecomeafragmentofLife’sheart.Butifinyourfearyouwould
zoekt
seekonlylove’speaceandlove’spleasure,.Thenitisbetterforyouthatyoucoveryournakednessandpassoutoflove’sthreshing-floor,.
Intotheseasonlessworldwhereyoushalllaugh,butnotallofyourlaughter,andweep,butnotallofyourtears.
Lovegivesnaughtbutitselfandtakesnaughtbutfromitself.
Lovepossessesnotnorwoulditbepossessed;.
Forloveissufficientuntolove.
Whenyouloveyoushouldnotsay,“Godisinmyheart,”butrather,“IamintheheartofGod.”
Andthinknotyoucandirectthecourseoflove,forlove,ifitfindsyouworthy,directsyourcourse.
Lovehasnoother
verlangen
desirebuttofulfilitself.Butifyouloveandmustneedshavedesires,letthesebeyourdesires:.
Tomeltandbelikearunningbrookthatsingsitsmelodytothenight.
Toknowthepainoftoomuchtenderness.
Tobewoundedbyyourownunderstandingoflove;.
Andtobleedwillinglyandjoyfully.
Towakeat
zonsopgang
dawnwithawingedheartandgivethanksforanotherdayofloving;.Torestatthenoonhourandmeditatelove’secstacy;.
Toreturnhomeateventidewithgratitude;.
Andthentosleepwithaprayerforthebelovedinyourheartandasongofpraiseuponyourlips.
ThenAlmitraspokeagainandsaid,AndwhatofMarriagemaster?
Andheansweredsaying:.
Youwereborntogether,andtogetheryoushallbeforevermore.
Youshallbetogetherwhenthewhitewingsofdeathscatteryourdays.
Aye,youshallbetogethereveninthe
stille
silentmemoryofGod.Butlettherebespacesinyourtogetherness,.
Andletthewindsoftheheavensdancebetweenyou.
Loveoneanother,butmakenota
band
bondoflove:.Letitratherbeamovingseabetweentheshoresofyoursouls.
Vul
Filleachother’scupbutdrinknotfromonecup.Giveoneanotherofyourbreadbuteatnotfromthesameloaf.
Singanddancetogetherandbejoyous,butleteachoneofyoubealone,.
Evenasthestringsofalutearealonethoughtheyquiverwiththesamemusic.
Giveyourhearts,butnotintoeachother’skeeping.
ForonlythehandofLifecancontainyourhearts.
Andstandtogetheryetnottooneartogether:.
Forthepillarsofthe
tempel
templestandapart,.Andtheoaktreeandthecypressgrownotineachother’s
schaduw
shadow.Andawomanwhoheldababeagainstherbosomsaid,SpeaktousofChildren.
Andhesaid:.
Yourchildrenarenotyourchildren.
TheyarethesonsanddaughtersofLife’slongingforitself.
Theycomethroughyoubutnotfromyou,.
Andthoughtheyarewithyouyetthey
behoren
belongnottoyou.Youmaygivethemyourlovebutnotyourthoughts,.
Fortheyhavetheirownthoughts.
Youmayhousetheirbodiesbutnottheirsouls,.
Fortheirsoulsdwellinthehouseoftomorrow,whichyoucannotvisit,noteveninyourdreams.
Youmaystrivetobelikethem,but
zoek
seeknottomakethemlikeyou.Forlifegoesnotbackwardnortarrieswithyesterday.
Youarethebowsfromwhichyourchildrenaslivingarrowsaresentforth.
Thearcherseesthemarkuponthe
pad
pathoftheinfinite,andHebendsyouwithHismightthatHisarrowsmaygoswiftandfar.LetyourbendingintheArcher’shandbeforgladness;.
Forevenashelovesthearrowthatflies,soHelovesalsothe
boog
bowthatisstable.Thensaidarichman,SpeaktousofGiving.
Andheanswered:.
Yougivebutlittlewhenyougiveofyourpossessions.
Itiswhenyougiveofyourselfthatyou
echt
trulygive.Forwhatareyourpossessionsbutthingsyoukeepandguardforfearyoumayneedthemtomorrow?
Andtomorrow,whatshalltomorrowbringtotheoverprudentdog
begraaft
buryingbonesinthetracklesszand
sandashefollowsthepilgrimstotheholycity?Andwhatisfearofneedbutneeditself?
Isnotdreadofthirstwhenyourwellisfull,thethirstthatisunquenchable?
Therearethosewhogivelittleofthemuchwhichtheyhave—andtheygiveitforrecognitionandtheirhidden
verlangen
desiremakestheirgiftsunwholesome.Andtherearethosewhohavelittleandgiveitall.
Thesearethebelieversinlifeandthebountyoflife,andtheircofferisneverempty.
Therearethosewhogivewith
vreugde
joy,andthatjoyistheirreward.Andtherearethosewhogivewithpain,andthatpainistheirbaptism.
Andtherearethosewhogiveandknownotpainingiving,nordothey
zoeken
seekjoy,norgivewithmindfulnessofvirtue;.Theygiveasinyonder
vallei
valleythemyrtlebreathesitsfragranceintospace.ThroughthehandsofsuchastheseGodspeaks,andfrombehindtheireyesHesmilesupontheearth.
Itiswelltogivewhenasked,butitisbettertogiveunasked,throughunderstanding;.
Andtotheopen-handedthesearchforonewhoshall
ontvangen
receiveisjoygreaterthangiving.Andisthereaughtyouwouldwithhold?
Allyouhaveshallsomedaybegiven;.
Daarom
Thereforegivenow,thattheseasonofgivingmaybeyoursandnotyourinheritors’.Youoftensay,“Iwouldgive,butonlytothedeserving.”
Thetreesinyourorchardsaynotso,northeflocksinyourpasture.
Theygivethattheymaylive,fortowithholdistoperish.
Zeker
Surelyhewhoisworthytoontvangen
receivehisdaysandhisnights,isworthyofallelsefromyou.Andhewhohasdeservedtodrinkfromthe
oceaan
oceanoflifedeservestovullen
fillhiscupfromyourlittlestream.Andwhat
woestijn
desertgreatershalltherebe,thanthatwhichliesinthemoed
courageandtheconfidence,naythecharity,ofontvangen
receiving?Andwhoareyouthatmenshouldrendtheirbosomandunveiltheirpride,thatyoumayseetheirworth
naakt
nakedandtheirprideunabashed?Seefirstthatyouyourself
verdient
deservetobeagiver,andaninstrumentofgiving.Forintruthitislifethatgivesuntolife—whileyou,whodeemyourselfagiver,arebuta
getuige
witness.Andyoureceivers—andyouareallreceivers—assumeno
gewicht
weightofgratitude,lestyoulayayokeuponyourselfanduponhimwhogives.Ratherrisetogetherwiththegiveronhisgiftsasonwings;.
Fortobeovermindfulofyour
schuld
debt,isitodoubthisgenerositywhohasthefreeheartedearthformother,andGodforfather.Thenanoldman,akeeperofaninn,said,SpeaktousofEatingandDrinking.