THEBOOKSOFKAHLILGIBRAN
Der
TheMadman.1918TwentyDrawings.
1919
Der
TheForerunner.1920TheProphet.
1923Sand
und
andFoam.1926Jesusthe
Sohn
SonofMan.1928TheForthGods.
1931
Der
TheWanderer.1932TheGardenof
der
theProphet1933ProsePoems.1934Nymphsof
die
theValley.THEPROPHET
Almustafa,thechosen
und
andthebeloved,whowaseine
adawnuntohisowntag
day,hadwaitedtwelveyearsinthestadt
cityofOrphaleseforhisshipthatwastoreturnund
andbearhimbacktotheisleofhisbirth.Und
Andinthetwelfthyear,ontheseventhtag
dayofIelool,themonthofreaping,heclimbedthehillwithoutthecitywallsund
andlookedseaward;andhebeheldhisshipcomingwiththemist.
Thenthegatesofhisheartwereflung
geöffnet
open,andhisjoyflewfarüber
overthesea.Andhe
schloss
closedhiseyesandprayedinder
thesilencesofhissoul.Aber
Butashedescendedthehill,eine
asadnesscameuponhim,und
andhethoughtinhisheart:.HowshallI
gehen
goinpeaceandwithoutsorrow?Nay,not
ohne
withoutawoundinthespiritshallIverlassen
leavethiscity.LongwerethedaysofpainIhavespentwithinitswalls,
und
andlongwerethenightsofaloneness;und
andwhocandepartfromhispainund
andhisalonenesswithoutregret?Too
viele
manyfragmentsofthespirithaveIscatteredinthesestreets,und
andtoomanyarethekinder
childrenofmylongingthatlaufen
walknakedamongthesehills,und
andIcannotwithdrawfromthemohne
withoutaburdenandanache.Itisnot
eine
agarmentIcastoffthisday,sondern
butaskinthatItearwithmyownhands.Norisit
ein
athoughtIleavebehindmich
me,butaheartmadesüß
sweetwithhungerandwiththirst.YetIcannottarrylonger.
Das
Theseathatcallsallthingsuntohercallsmich
me,andImustembark.Forto
bleiben
stay,thoughthehoursburninthenacht
night,istofreezeandcrystallizeund
andbeboundinamould.Fain
würde
wouldItakewithmeallthatishier
here.ButhowshallI?
Eine
Avoicecannotcarrythetongueund
andthelipsthatgaveitwings.Allein
Alonemustitseektheether.Und
Andaloneandwithouthisnestshalltheeagleflyacrossthesun.Nun
Nowwhenhereachedthefootofthehill,hewandte
turnedagaintowardsthesea,und
andhesawhisshipapproachingtheharbour,und
anduponherprowthemariners,themenofhisownland.Und
Andhissoulcriedouttothem,und
andhesaid:.Sonsofmyancient
mutter
mother,youridersofthetides,.Howoftenhaveyousailedinmydreams.
Und
Andnowyoucomeinmyawakening,was
whichismydeeperdream.Bereit
ReadyamItogo,und
andmyeagernesswithsailsfullsetawaitsden
thewind.OnlyanotherbreathwillIbreathein
dieser
thisstillair,onlyanotherlovingblick
lookcastbackward,.AndthenIshall
stehen
standamongyou,aseafareramongseafarers.Und
Andyou,vastsea,sleeplessmutter
mother,.Whoalonearepeace
und
andfreedomtotheriverund
andthestream,.Onlyanotherwinding
wird
willthisstreammake,onlyanothermurmurindieser
thisglade,.AndthenshallI
kommen
cometoyou,aboundlessdroptoein
aboundlessocean.Andashewalkedhe
sah
sawfromafarmenandwomenleavingtheirfieldsund
andtheirvineyardsandhasteningtowardsthecitygates.Und
Andheheardtheirvoicescallinghisname,und
andshoutingfromfieldtofieldtellingoneanotherofthecomingofhisship.Und
Andhesaidtohimself:.Shall
der
thedayofpartingbeder
thedayofgathering?Andshallitbesaid
dass
thatmyevewasinwahrheit
truthmydawn?AndwhatshallI
geben
giveuntohimwhohaslefthisploughinmidfurrow,ortohimwhohasstoppedthewheelofhiswinepress?Shallmy
herz
heartbecomeatreeheavy-ladenwithfruitthatIkann
maygatherandgiveuntothem?Und
Andshallmydesiresflowlikeein
afountainthatImayfilltheircups?AmI
eine
aharpthatthehandofdie
themightymaytouchme,oreine
aflutethathisbreathmaypassdurch
throughme?Aseekerofsilencesam
Ich
I,andwhattreasurehaveIfoundinsilencesdass
thatImaydispensewithconfidence?Wenn
Ifthisismydayofharvest,inwhatfieldshaveIsowedden
theseed,andinwhatunrememberedseasons?Wenn
Ifthisindeedbethestunde
hourinwhichIliftupmylantern,itisnotmyflamethatshallburntherein.Empty
und
anddarkshallIraisemylantern,.Und
Andtheguardianofthenightshallfillitwithoilund
andheshalllightitauch
also.Thesethingshesaidinwords.
Aber
Butmuchinhisheartremainedunsaid.Forhehimself
konnte
couldnotspeakhisdeepersecret.Und
Andwhenheenteredintothestadt
cityallthepeoplecametomeetihm
him,andtheywerecryingouttohimaswitheiner
onevoice.Andtheeldersofthe
stadt
citystoodforthandsaid:.Gehen
Gonotyetawayfromus.Eine
Anoontidehaveyoubeeninourtwilight,und
andyouryouthhasgivenusdreamstoträumen
dream.Nostrangerareyouamongus,nor
ein
aguest,butoursonund
andourdearlybeloved.Suffernotyetoureyestohungerforyour
gesicht
face.Andthepriestsand
die
thepriestessessaiduntohim:.Lass
Letnotthewavesofdie
theseaseparateusnow,und
andtheyearsyouhavespentinourmidstwerden
becomeamemory.Youhavewalkedamongus
ein
aspirit,andyourshadowhasbeenein
alightuponourfaces.Sehr
Muchhavewelovedyou.Aber
Butspeechlesswasourlove,und
andwithveilshasitbeenveiled.Doch
Yetnowitcriesalouduntoyou,und
andwouldstandrevealedbeforeyou.Und
Andeverhasitbeenthatliebe
loveknowsnotitsowndepthuntilthestunde
hourofseparation.Andothers
kamen
camealsoandentreatedhim.Aber
Butheansweredthemnot.He
nur
onlybenthishead;andthosewhostoodnear
sahen
sawhistearsfallinguponhisbreast.Und
Andheandthepeopleproceededtowardsthegreatsquarevor
beforethetemple.Andthere
kam
cameoutofthesanctuaryeine
awomanwhosenamewasAlmitra.Und
Andshewasaseeress.Und
Andhelookeduponherwithexceedingtenderness,foritwasshewhohadzuerst
firstsoughtandbelievedinhimals
whenhehadbeenbutatag
dayintheircity.Andshehailed
ihn
him,saying:.ProphetofGod,inquestoftheuttermost,
lange
longhaveyousearchedthedistancesforyourship.Und
Andnowyourshiphascome,und
andyoumustneedsgo.Deepisyourlongingfor
der
thelandofyourmemoriesund
andthedwellingplaceofyourgreaterdesires;und
andourlovewouldnotbindyounorourneedsholdyou.Doch
Yetthisweaskereyouverlässt
leaveus,thatyouspeaktousund
andgiveusofyourwahrheit
truth.Andwewillgiveituntoourchildren,
und
andtheyuntotheirchildren,und
anditshallnotperish.Inyouralonenessyouhavewatchedwithourdays,
und
andinyourwakefulnessyouhavegehört
listenedtotheweepinganddas
thelaughterofoursleep.Jetzt
Nowthereforediscloseustoourselves,und
andtellusallthathasbeenshownyouofthatwas
whichisbetweenbirthandtod
death.Andheanswered,.
PeopleofOrphalese,ofwhat
kann
canIspeaksaveofthatwhichissogar
evennowmovingwithinyoursouls?ThensaidAlmitra,SpeaktousofLove.
Und
Andheraisedhisheadund
andlookeduponthepeople,und
andtherefellastillnessuponthem.Und
Andwithagreatvoicehesaid:.Wenn
Whenlovebeckonstoyou,folge
followhim,.Thoughhiswaysare
hart
hardandsteep.Andwhenhiswingsenfoldyouyieldto
ihm
him,.Thoughtheswordhiddenamonghispinions
kann
maywoundyou.Andwhenhespeakstoyou
glauben
believeinhim,.Thoughhisvoice
kann
mayshatteryourdreamsasthenorthwindlayswastethegarden.Forevenas
liebe
lovecrownsyousoshallhecrucifyyou.Evenasheisforyourgrowthsoisheforyourpruning.
Selbst
Evenasheascendstoyourheightund
andcaressesyourtenderestbranchesthatquiverinthesun,.Soshallhedescendtoyourroots
und
andshakethemintheirclingingtoder
theearth.Likesheavesofcornhegathersyouuntohimself.
Hethreshesyouto
machen
makeyounaked.Hesiftsyouto
befreien
freeyoufromyourhusks.Hegrindsyoutowhiteness.
Hekneadsyouuntilyouarepliant;.
Und
Andthenheassignsyoutohissacredfeuer
fire,thatyoumaybecomesacredbreadforGod’ssacredfeast.Allthesethingsshall
liebe
lovedountoyouthatyoumayknowdie
thesecretsofyourheart,und
andinthatknowledgebecomeein
afragmentofLife’sheart.Aber
Butifinyourfearyouwouldseeknur
onlylove’speaceandlove’spleasure,.Thenitis
besser
betterforyouthatyoucoveryournakednessund
andpassoutoflove’sthreshing-floor,.Intotheseasonless
welt
worldwhereyoushalllaugh,aber
butnotallofyourlaughter,und
andweep,butnotallofyourtears.Liebe
Lovegivesnaughtbutitselfund
andtakesnaughtbutfromitself.Liebe
Lovepossessesnotnorwoulditbepossessed;.For
liebe
loveissufficientuntolove.Wenn
Whenyouloveyoushouldnotsagen
say,“Godisinmyheart,”sondern
butrather,“IamintheheartofGod.”Und
Andthinknotyoucandirectthecourseofliebe
love,forlove,ifitfindsyouworthy,directsyourcourse.Liebe
Lovehasnootherdesirebuttofulfilitself.Aber
Butifyouloveandmustneedshavedesires,lasst
letthesebeyourdesires:.Tomelt
und
andbelikearunningbrookthatsingsitsmelodytoder
thenight.Toknowthepainoftoo
viel
muchtenderness.Tobewoundedbyyourownunderstandingof
liebe
love;.Andtobleedwillingly
und
andjoyfully.Towakeatdawnwithawingedheart
und
andgivethanksforanothertag
dayofloving;.Torestatthenoonhour
und
andmeditatelove’secstacy;.Toreturnhomeateventidewithgratitude;.
Und
Andthentosleepwithaprayerforden
thebelovedinyourheartund
andasongofpraiseuponyourlips.ThenAlmitraspoke
wieder
againandsaid,AndwhatofMarriagemaster?Und
Andheansweredsaying:.Youwereborn
zusammen
together,andtogetheryoushallbeforevermore.Youshallbe
zusammen
togetherwhenthewhitewingsofdeathscatteryourdays.Aye,youshallbe
zusammen
togethereveninthesilentmemoryofGott
God.Butlettherebespacesinyourtogetherness,.
Und
Andletthewindsofdie
theheavensdancebetweenyou.Liebe
Loveoneanother,butmakenotein
abondoflove:.Letitratherbe
ein
amovingseabetweentheshoresofyoursouls.Filleachother’scup
aber
butdrinknotfromonecup.Geben
Giveoneanotherofyourbreadaber
buteatnotfromthesameloaf.Singen
Singanddancetogetherandbejoyous,aber
butleteachoneofyoubeallein
alone,.Evenasthestringsofaluteare
allein
alonethoughtheyquiverwithdie
thesamemusic.Giveyourhearts,
aber
butnotintoeachother’skeeping.For
nur
onlythehandofLifekann
cancontainyourhearts.And
stehen
standtogetheryetnottoonearzusammen
together:.Forthepillarsof
die
thetemplestandapart,.And
die
theoaktreeandthecypressgrownotineachother’sshadow.Und
Andawomanwhoheldababeagainstherbosomsaid,SpeaktousofChildren.Und
Andhesaid:.Yourchildrenarenotyour
kinder
children.Theyarethesons
und
anddaughtersofLife’slongingforitself.They
kommen
comethroughyoubutnotfromyou,.Und
Andthoughtheyarewithyouyettheybelongnottoyou.Youmay
geben
givethemyourlovebutnotyourthoughts,.Forthey
haben
havetheirownthoughts.Youmayhousetheirbodies
aber
butnottheirsouls,.Fortheirsoulsdwellin
das
thehouseoftomorrow,whichyoucannotvisit,noteveninyourdreams.Youmaystrivetobelikethem,
aber
butseeknottomakethemlikeyou.For
leben
lifegoesnotbackwardnortarrieswithyesterday.Youare
die
thebowsfromwhichyourkinder
childrenaslivingarrowsaresentforth.Thearcher
sieht
seesthemarkuponthepathoftheinfinite,und
andHebendsyouwithHismightthatHisarrowsmaygehen
goswiftandfar.Letyourbendingin
der
theArcher’shandbeforgladness;.Forevenasheloves
den
thearrowthatflies,soHelovesalsoden
thebowthatisstable.Thensaid
ein
arichman,SpeaktousofGiving.Und
Andheanswered:.Yougivebut
wenig
littlewhenyougiveofyourpossessions.Itis
wenn
whenyougiveofyourselfthatyoutrulygive.Forwhatareyourpossessionsbutthingsyoukeep
und
andguardforfearyoukönnen
mayneedthemtomorrow?And
morgen
tomorrow,whatshalltomorrowbringtotheoverprudenthund
dogburyingbonesinthetracklesssandashefolgt
followsthepilgrimstotheholystadt
city?Andwhatisfearof
notwendigkeit
needbutneeditself?Isnotdreadofthirst
wenn
whenyourwellisfull,thethirstthatisunquenchable?Therearethosewho
geben
givelittleofthemuchwhichtheyhave—andtheygeben
giveitforrecognitionandtheirhiddendesiremakestheirgiftsunwholesome.Und
Andtherearethosewhohaben
havelittleandgiveitall.Thesearethebelieversin
leben
lifeandthebountyofleben
life,andtheircofferisnie
neverempty.Therearethosewho
geben
givewithjoy,andthatjoyistheirreward.Und
Andtherearethosewhogeben
givewithpain,andthatpainistheirbaptism.Und
Andtherearethosewhogeben
giveandknownotpainingiving,nordotheyseekjoy,norgeben
givewithmindfulnessofvirtue;.They
geben
giveasinyondervalleythemyrtlebreathesitsfragranceintospace.Durch
ThroughthehandsofsuchastheseGott
Godspeaks,andfrombehindtheireyesHesmilesupondie
theearth.Itiswellto
geben
givewhenasked,butitisbesser
bettertogiveunasked,throughunderstanding;.Und
Andtotheopen-handedthesearchforeine
onewhoshallreceiveisjoygreaterals
thangiving.Andisthereaughtyou
würden
wouldwithhold?Allyouhaveshallsomedaybegiven;.
Therefore
geben
givenow,thattheseasonofgivingmaybeyoursund
andnotyourinheritors’.Youoftensay,“I
würde
wouldgive,butonlytodie
thedeserving.”Thetreesinyourorchard
sagen
saynotso,northeflocksinyourpasture.They
geben
givethattheymaylive,fortowithholdistoperish.Surelyhewhoisworthytoreceivehisdays
und
andhisnights,isworthyofallelsefromyou.Und
Andhewhohasdeservedtotrinken
drinkfromtheoceanoflifedeservestofillhiscupfromyourlittlestream.Und
Andwhatdesertgreatershalltherebe,als
thanthatwhichliesinthecourageund
andtheconfidence,naythecharity,ofreceiving?Und
Andwhoareyouthatmenshouldrendtheirbosomund
andunveiltheirpride,thatyoumaysiehst
seetheirworthnakedandtheirprideunabashed?Sehen
Seefirstthatyouyourselfdeservetobeagiver,und
andaninstrumentofgiving.Forin
wahrheit
truthitislifethatgivesuntolife—whileyou,whodeemyourselfein
agiver,arebutawitness.Und
Andyoureceivers—andyouarealle
allreceivers—assumenoweightofgratitude,lestyoulayein
ayokeuponyourselfanduponhimwhogives.Ratherrise
zusammen
togetherwiththegiveronhisgiftsasonwings;.Fortobeovermindfulofyourdebt,isitodoubthisgenerositywhohasthefreehearted
erde
earthformother,andGodforvater
father.Thenanoldman,akeeperofaninn,said,SpeaktousofEating
und
andDrinking.