THEBOOKSOFKAHLILGIBRAN
TheMadman.
1918TwentyDrawings.
1919TheForerunner.
1920TheProphet.
1923
Sable
SandandFoam.1926JesustheSonofMan.
1928TheForthGods.
1931TheWanderer.
1932The
Jardin
GardenoftheProphet1933ProsePoems.1934Nymphsofthe
Vallée
Valley.THEPROPHET
Almustafa,thechosenandthebeloved,whowasadawnuntohisownday,hadwaitedtwelveyearsinthecityofOrphaleseforhisshipthatwastoreturnandbearhimbacktotheisleofhis
naissance
birth.Andinthetwelfthyear,ontheseventhdayofIelool,themonthofreaping,he
monta
climbedthehillwithoutthecitywallsandlookedseaward;andhebeheldhisshipcomingwiththemist.
Thenthegatesofhisheartwereflungopen,andhis
joie
joyflewfaroverthesea.Andheclosedhiseyesandprayedinthesilencesofhissoul.
Butashedescendedthe
colline
hill,asadnesscameuponhim,andhethoughtinhisheart:.HowshallIgoinpeaceandwithoutsorrow?
Nay,notwithouta
blessure
woundinthespiritshallIleavethiscity.LongwerethedaysofpainIhavespentwithinitswalls,andlongwerethenightsofaloneness;
andwhocandepartfromhispainandhisalonenesswithout
regret
regret?ToomanyfragmentsofthespirithaveIscatteredinthesestreets,andtoomanyarethechildrenofmylongingthatwalknaked
parmi
amongthesehills,andIcannotwithdrawfromthemwithoutaburdenandanache.ItisnotagarmentIcastoffthisday,butaskinthatI
déchire
tearwithmyownhands.NorisitathoughtIleavebehindme,butaheartmadesweetwithhungerandwiththirst.
YetIcannottarrylonger.
Theseathatcallsallthingsuntohercallsme,andImustembark.
Fortostay,thoughthehoursburninthenight,isto
geler
freezeandcrystallizeandbelié
boundinamould.FainwouldItakewithmeallthatishere.
ButhowshallI?
Avoicecannotcarrythe
langue
tongueandthelipsthatgaveitwings.Alonemustit
chercher
seektheether.Andaloneandwithouthisnestshalltheeagleflyacrossthesun.
Nowwhenhereachedthefootofthe
colline
hill,heturnedagaintowardsthesea,andhesawhisshipapproachingtheharbour,anduponherprowthemariners,themenofhisownland.Andhissoulcriedouttothem,andhesaid:.
Sonsofmy
ancienne
ancientmother,youridersofthetides,.Howoftenhaveyousailedinmydreams.
Andnowyoucomeinmyawakening,whichismydeeperdream.
ReadyamItogo,andmyeagernesswithsailsfullsetawaitsthewind.
OnlyanotherbreathwillIbreatheinthisstillair,onlyanotherlovinglookcastbackward,.
AndthenIshallstand
parmi
amongyou,aseafareramongseafarers.Andyou,vastsea,sleeplessmother,.
Whoalonearepeaceand
liberté
freedomtotheriverandthestream,.Onlyanotherwindingwillthisstreammake,onlyanothermurmurinthisglade,.
AndthenshallIcometoyou,aboundlessdroptoaboundless
océan
ocean.Andashewalkedhesawfromafarmenandwomenleavingtheirfieldsandtheirvineyardsandhastening
vers
towardsthecitygates.Andheheardtheirvoicescallinghisname,and
criant
shoutingfromfieldtofieldtellingoneanotherofthecomingofhisship.Andhesaidtohimself:.
Shallthedayofpartingbethedayofgathering?
Andshallitbesaidthatmy
veille
evewasintruthmyaube
dawn?AndwhatshallIgiveuntohimwhohaslefthisploughinmidfurrow,ortohimwhohasstoppedthe
roue
wheelofhiswinepress?Shallmyheartbecomeatreeheavy-ladenwith
fruits
fruitthatImaygatherandgiveuntothem?AndshallmydesiresflowlikeafountainthatImay
remplir
filltheircups?AmIaharpthatthehandofthemightymaytouchme,oraflutethathisbreathmaypassthroughme?
AseekerofsilencesamI,andwhat
trésor
treasurehaveIfoundinsilencesthatImaydispensewithconfidence?Ifthisismydayofharvest,inwhatfieldshaveIsowedtheseed,andinwhatunrememberedseasons?
IfthisindeedbethehourinwhichI
lève
liftupmylantern,itisnotmyflamethatshallburntherein.EmptyanddarkshallIraisemylantern,.
Andtheguardianofthenightshall
remplira
fillitwithoilandheshalllightitalso.Thesethingshesaidinwords.
Butmuchinhisheartremainedunsaid.
Forhehimselfcouldnotspeakhisdeepersecret.
Andwhenhe
entra
enteredintothecityallthepeoplecametomeethim,andtheywerecryingouttohimaswithonevoice.Andtheeldersofthecitystoodforthandsaid:.
Gonotyetawayfromus.
Anoontidehaveyoubeeninourtwilight,andyour
jeunesse
youthhasgivenusdreamstodream.No
étranger
strangerareyouamongus,norainvité
guest,butoursonandourdearlybeloved.Suffernotyetoureyestohungerforyourface.
Andthepriestsandthepriestessessaiduntohim:.
Letnotthewavesofthesea
séparer
separateusnow,andtheyearsyouhavespentinourmidstbecomeamemory.Youhavewalked
parmi
amongusaspirit,andyourombre
shadowhasbeenalightuponourfaces.Muchhavewelovedyou.
Butspeechlesswasourlove,andwithveilshasitbeenveiled.
Yetnowitcriesalouduntoyou,andwouldstandrevealedbeforeyou.
Andeverhasitbeenthatloveknowsnotitsowndepthuntilthehourofseparation.
Andotherscamealsoandentreatedhim.
Butheansweredthemnot.
Heonlybenthishead;
andthosewhostoodnearsawhistearsfallinguponhisbreast.
Andheandthepeopleproceeded
vers
towardsthegreatsquarebeforethetemple
temple.AndtherecameoutofthesanctuaryawomanwhosenamewasAlmitra.
Andshewasaseeress.
Andhelookeduponherwithexceedingtenderness,foritwasshewhohadfirst
cherché
soughtandbelievedinhimwhenhehadbeenbutadayintheircity.Andshehailedhim,saying:.
ProphetofGod,inquestoftheuttermost,longhaveyousearchedthedistancesforyourship.
Andnowyourshiphascome,andyoumustneedsgo.
Deepisyourlongingforthelandofyourmemoriesandthedwellingplaceofyour
plus
greaterdesires;andourlovewouldnotbindyounorourneedsholdyou.
Yetthisweaskereyouleaveus,thatyouspeaktousandgiveusofyourtruth.
Andwewillgiveituntoourchildren,andtheyuntotheirchildren,anditshallnotperish.
Inyouralonenessyouhavewatchedwithourdays,andinyourwakefulnessyouhavelistenedtotheweepingandthelaughterofoursleep.
Now
donc
thereforediscloseustoourselves,andtellusallthathasbeenmontré
shownyouofthatwhichisbetweennaissance
birthanddeath.Andheanswered,.
PeopleofOrphalese,ofwhatcanIspeaksaveofthatwhichisevennowmovingwithinyoursouls?
ThensaidAlmitra,SpeaktousofLove.
Andheraisedhisheadandlookeduponthepeople,andtherefellastillnessuponthem.
Andwithagreatvoicehesaid:.
Whenlovebeckonstoyou,followhim,.
Thoughhiswaysarehardandsteep.
Andwhenhiswingsenfoldyouyieldtohim,.
Thoughtheswordhidden
parmi
amonghispinionsmaywoundyou.Andwhenhespeakstoyoubelieveinhim,.
Thoughhisvoicemayshatteryourdreamsasthenorthwindlayswastethe
jardin
garden.Forevenaslovecrownsyousoshallhecrucifyyou.
Evenasheisforyourgrowthsoisheforyourpruning.
Evenasheascendstoyourheightandcaressesyourtenderestbranchesthatquiverinthesun,.
Soshallhedescendtoyourrootsand
secouera
shakethemintheirclingingtotheearth.Likesheavesofcornhe
rassemble
gathersyouuntohimself.Hethreshesyoutomakeyou
nu
naked.Hesiftsyoutofreeyoufromyourhusks.
Hegrindsyoutowhiteness.
Hekneadsyouuntilyouarepliant;.
Andthenheassignsyoutohissacredfire,thatyoumaybecomesacred
pain
breadforGod’ssacredfeast.Allthesethingsshalllovedountoyouthatyoumayknowthesecretsofyourheart,andinthat
connaissance
knowledgebecomeafragmentofLife’sheart.Butifinyourfearyouwould
cherchiez
seekonlylove’speaceandlove’spleasure,.Thenitisbetterforyouthatyoucoveryournakednessandpassoutoflove’sthreshing-floor,.
Intotheseasonlessworldwhereyoushalllaugh,butnotallofyourlaughter,andweep,butnotallofyourtears.
Lovegivesnaughtbutitselfandtakesnaughtbutfromitself.
Lovepossessesnotnorwoulditbepossessed;.
Forloveissufficientuntolove.
Whenyouloveyoushouldnotsay,“Godisinmyheart,”butrather,“IamintheheartofGod.”
Andthinknotyoucan
diriger
directthecourseoflove,forlove,ifitfindsyouworthy,directsyourcourse.Lovehasnoother
désir
desirebuttofulfilitself.Butifyouloveandmustneedshavedesires,letthesebeyourdesires:.
Tomeltandbelikearunningbrookthatsingsitsmelodytothenight.
Toknowthepainoftoomuchtenderness.
Tobewoundedbyyourownunderstandingoflove;.
Andtobleedwillinglyandjoyfully.
Towakeatdawnwithawingedheartandgivethanksforanotherdayofloving;.
Torestatthenoonhourandmeditatelove’secstacy;.
Toreturnhomeateventidewithgratitude;.
Andthentosleepwithaprayerforthebelovedinyourheartandasongofpraiseuponyourlips.
ThenAlmitraspokeagainandsaid,AndwhatofMarriagemaster?
Andheansweredsaying:.
Youwereborntogether,andtogetheryoushallbeforevermore.
Youshallbetogetherwhenthewhitewingsofdeathscatteryourdays.
Aye,youshallbetogethereveninthe
silencieux
silentmemoryofGod.Butlettherebespacesinyourtogetherness,.
Andletthewindsoftheheavensdancebetweenyou.
Loveoneanother,butmakenotabondoflove:.
Letitratherbeamovingseabetweentheshoresofyoursouls.
Remplissez
Filleachother’scupbutdrinknotfromonecup.Giveoneanotherofyourbreadbuteatnotfromthesameloaf.
Singanddancetogetherandbejoyous,butleteachoneofyoubealone,.
Evenasthestringsofalutearealonethoughtheyquiverwiththesamemusic.
Giveyourhearts,butnotintoeachother’skeeping.
ForonlythehandofLifecancontainyourhearts.
Andstandtogetheryetnottooneartogether:.
Forthepillarsofthe
temple
templestandapart,.Andtheoaktreeandthecypressgrownotineachother’sshadow.
Andawomanwhoheldababeagainstherbosomsaid,SpeaktousofChildren.
Andhesaid:.
Yourchildrenarenotyourchildren.
TheyarethesonsanddaughtersofLife’slongingforitself.
Theycomethroughyoubutnotfromyou,.
Andthoughtheyarewithyouyetthey
appartiennent
belongnottoyou.Youmaygivethemyourlovebutnotyourthoughts,.
Fortheyhavetheirownthoughts.
Youmayhousetheirbodiesbutnottheirsouls,.
Fortheirsoulsdwellinthehouseoftomorrow,whichyoucannotvisit,noteveninyourdreams.
Youmaystrivetobelikethem,but
cherchez
seeknottomakethemlikeyou.Forlifegoesnotbackwardnortarrieswithyesterday.
Youarethebowsfromwhichyourchildrenaslivingarrowsaresentforth.
Thearcherseesthemarkuponthepathoftheinfinite,andHebendsyouwithHismightthatHisarrowsmaygoswiftandfar.
LetyourbendingintheArcher’shandbeforgladness;.
Forevenashelovesthearrowthatflies,soHelovesalsothebowthatisstable.
Thensaidarichman,SpeaktousofGiving.
Andheanswered:.
Yougivebutlittlewhenyougiveofyourpossessions.
Itiswhenyougiveofyourselfthatyou
vraiment
trulygive.Forwhatareyourpossessionsbutthingsyoukeepandguardforfearyoumayneedthemtomorrow?
Andtomorrow,whatshalltomorrowbringtotheoverprudentdog
enterrant
buryingbonesinthetracklesssable
sandashefollowsthepilgrimstotheholycity?Andwhatisfearofneedbutneeditself?
Isnotdreadofthirstwhenyourwellisfull,thethirstthatisunquenchable?
Therearethosewhogivelittleofthemuchwhichtheyhave—andtheygiveitforrecognitionandtheirhidden
désir
desiremakestheirgiftsunwholesome.Andtherearethosewhohavelittleandgiveitall.
Thesearethebelieversinlifeandthebountyoflife,andtheircofferisneverempty.
Therearethosewhogivewith
joie
joy,andthatjoyistheirrécompense
reward.Andtherearethosewhogivewithpain,andthatpainistheirbaptism.
Andtherearethosewhogiveandknownotpainingiving,nordothey
cherchent
seekjoy,norgivewithmindfulnessofvirtue;.Theygiveasinyonder
vallée
valleythemyrtlebreathesitsfragranceintospace.ThroughthehandsofsuchastheseGodspeaks,andfrombehindtheireyesHesmilesupontheearth.
Itiswelltogivewhenasked,butitisbettertogiveunasked,throughunderstanding;.
Andtotheopen-handedthesearchforonewhoshall
recevra
receiveisjoygreaterthangiving.Andisthereaughtyouwouldwithhold?
Allyouhaveshallsomedaybegiven;.
Donc
Thereforegivenow,thattheseasonofgivingmaybeyoursandnotyourinheritors’.Youoftensay,“Iwouldgive,butonlytothedeserving.”
Thetreesinyourorchardsaynotso,northeflocksinyourpasture.
Theygivethattheymaylive,fortowithholdistoperish.
Surelyhewhoisworthyto
recevoir
receivehisdaysandhisnights,isworthyofallelsefromyou.Andhewhohasdeservedtodrinkfromtheoceanoflifedeservesto
remplir
fillhiscupfromyourlittlestream.Andwhat
désert
desertgreatershalltherebe,thanthatwhichliesinthecourage
courageandtheconfidence,naythecharity,ofrecevoir
receiving?Andwhoareyouthatmenshouldrendtheirbosomandunveiltheir
orgueil
pride,thatyoumayseetheirworthnakedandtheirorgueil
prideunabashed?Seefirstthatyouyourself
méritez
deservetobeagiver,andaninstrumentofgiving.Forintruthitislifethatgivesuntolife—whileyou,whodeemyourselfagiver,arebuta
témoin
witness.Andyoureceivers—andyouareallreceivers—assumeno
poids
weightofgratitude,lestyoulayayokeuponyourselfanduponhimwhogives.Ratherrisetogetherwiththegiveronhisgiftsasonwings;.
Fortobeovermindfulofyour
dette
debt,isitodoubthisgenerositywhohasthefreeheartedearthformother,andGodforfather.Thenanoldman,akeeperofaninn,said,SpeaktousofEatingandDrinking.