THEBOOKSOFKAHLILGIBRAN
TheMadman.
1918TwentyDrawings.
1919TheForerunner.
1920TheProphet.
1923SandandFoam.
1926JesustheSonofMan.
1928TheForthGods.
1931TheWanderer.
1932TheGardenoftheProphet1933ProsePoems.
1934NymphsoftheValley.
THEPROPHET
Almustafa,thechosenandthebeloved,whowasadawnuntohisownday,hadwaitedtwelveyearsinthecityofOrphaleseforhis
schiff
shipthatwastoreturnandbearhimbacktotheisleofhisbirth.Andinthetwelfthyear,ontheseventhdayofIelool,the
monat
monthofreaping,heclimbedthehillwithoutthecitywallsandlookedseaward;andhebeheldhis
schiff
shipcomingwiththemist.Thenthegatesofhisheartwereflungopen,andhisjoy
flog
flewfaroverthesea.Andheclosedhiseyesand
betete
prayedinthesilencesofhisseele
soul.Butashedescendedthehill,asadnesscameuponhim,andhethoughtinhisheart:.
HowshallIgoin
frieden
peaceandwithoutsorrow?Nay,notwithoutawoundinthe
geist
spiritshallIleavethiscity.LongwerethedaysofpainIhave
verbracht
spentwithinitswalls,andlongwerethenightsofaloneness;andwhocandepartfromhis
schmerz
painandhisalonenesswithoutregret?ToomanyfragmentsofthespirithaveIscatteredinthesestreets,andtoomanyarethechildrenofmylongingthatwalknakedamongthesehills,andIcannotwithdrawfromthemwithoutaburdenandanache.
ItisnotagarmentIcastoffthisday,buta
haut
skinthatItearwithmyownhands.NorisitathoughtIleavebehindme,butaheartmadesweetwithhungerandwiththirst.
YetIcannottarrylonger.
The
meer
seathatcallsallthingsuntohercallsme,andImustembark.Fortostay,thoughthehours
brennen
burninthenight,istofreezeandcrystallizeandbeboundinamould.FainwouldItakewithmeallthatishere.
ButhowshallI?
A
stimme
voicecannotcarrythetongueandthelipsthatgaveitwings.Alonemustitseektheether.
Andaloneandwithouthisnestshalltheeagle
fliegen
flyacrossthesun.Nowwhenhereachedthefootofthehill,heturnedagaintowardsthe
meer
sea,andhesawhisschiff
shipapproachingtheharbour,anduponherprowthemariners,themenofhisownland.Andhis
seele
soulcriedouttothem,andhesaid:.Sonsofmyancientmother,youridersofthetides,.
How
oft
oftenhaveyousailedinmydreams.Andnowyoucomeinmyawakening,whichismydeeperdream.
ReadyamItogo,andmyeagernesswithsailsfullsetawaitsthe
wind
wind.OnlyanotherbreathwillI
atmen
breatheinthisstillair,onlyanotherlovinglookcastbackward,.AndthenIshallstandamongyou,aseafareramongseafarers.
Andyou,vast
meer
sea,sleeplessmother,.Whoaloneare
frieden
peaceandfreedomtothefluss
riverandthestream,.Onlyanotherwindingwillthisstreammake,onlyanothermurmurinthisglade,.
AndthenshallIcometoyou,aboundless
tropfen
droptoaboundlessocean.Andashewalkedhesawfromafarmenandwomenleavingtheirfieldsandtheirvineyardsandhasteningtowardsthecitygates.
Andheheardtheirvoicescallinghisname,andshoutingfrom
feld
fieldtofieldtellingoneanotherofthecomingofhisship.Andhesaidtohimself:.
Shallthedayofpartingbethedayofgathering?
Andshallitbesaidthatmyevewasintruthmydawn?
AndwhatshallIgiveuntohimwhohaslefthisploughinmidfurrow,ortohimwhohasstoppedthewheelofhiswinepress?
Shallmyheartbecomea
baum
treeheavy-ladenwithfruitthatImaygatherandgiveuntothem?AndshallmydesiresflowlikeafountainthatImayfilltheircups?
AmIaharpthatthehandofthemightymaytouchme,oraflutethathisbreathmaypassthroughme?
AseekerofsilencesamI,andwhattreasurehaveIfoundinsilencesthatImaydispensewithconfidence?
Ifthisismydayofharvest,inwhatfieldshaveIsowedtheseed,andinwhatunrememberedseasons?
IfthisindeedbethehourinwhichIliftupmylantern,itisnotmyflamethatshall
brennen
burntherein.EmptyanddarkshallIraisemylantern,.
Andtheguardianofthenightshallfillitwithoilandheshalllightitalso.
Thesethingshesaidinwords.
Butmuchinhisheartremainedunsaid.
Forhehimselfcouldnotspeakhisdeeper
geheimnis
secret.Andwhenheenteredintothecityallthepeoplecametomeethim,andtheywerecryingouttohimaswithone
stimme
voice.Andtheeldersofthecitystoodforthandsaid:.
Gonotyetawayfromus.
Anoontidehaveyoubeeninourtwilight,andyouryouthhasgivenusdreamstodream.
Nostrangerareyouamongus,noraguest,butoursonandourdearlybeloved.
Suffernotyetoureyestohungerforyourface.
Andthepriestsandthepriestessessaiduntohim:.
Letnotthewavesoftheseaseparateusnow,andtheyearsyouhave
verbracht
spentinourmidstbecomeaerinnerung
memory.Youhavewalkedamongusa
geist
spirit,andyourshadowhasbeenalightuponourfaces.Muchhavewelovedyou.
Butspeechlesswasourlove,andwithveilshasitbeenveiled.
Yetnowitcriesalouduntoyou,andwouldstandrevealedbeforeyou.
Andeverhasitbeenthatloveknowsnotitsowndepthuntilthehourofseparation.
Andotherscamealsoandentreatedhim.
Butheansweredthemnot.
Heonlybenthishead;
andthosewhostoodnearsawhistearsfallinguponhisbreast.
Andheandthepeopleproceededtowardsthegreatsquarebeforethetemple.
Andtherecameoutofthesanctuaryawoman
deren
whosenamewasAlmitra.Andshewasaseeress.
Andhelookeduponherwithexceedingtenderness,foritwasshewhohadfirstsoughtandbelievedinhimwhenhehadbeenbutadayintheircity.
Andshehailedhim,saying:.
ProphetofGod,inquestoftheuttermost,longhaveyousearchedthedistancesforyour
schiff
ship.Andnowyourshiphascome,andyoumustneedsgo.
Tief
Deepisyourlongingfortheland
landofyourmemoriesandthedwellingplaceofyourgreaterdesires;andourlovewouldnotbindyounorourneedsholdyou.
Yetthisweaskereyouleaveus,thatyouspeaktousandgiveusofyourtruth.
Andwewillgiveituntoourchildren,andtheyuntotheirchildren,anditshallnotperish.
Inyouralonenessyouhavewatchedwithourdays,andinyourwakefulnessyouhavelistenedtotheweepingandthelaughterofoursleep.
Nowthereforediscloseustoourselves,andtellusallthathasbeenshownyouofthatwhichisbetweenbirthanddeath.
Andheanswered,.
PeopleofOrphalese,ofwhatcanIspeaksaveofthatwhichisevennowmovingwithinyoursouls?
ThensaidAlmitra,SpeaktousofLove.
Andhe
hob
raisedhisheadandlookeduponthepeople,andtherefellastillnessuponthem.Andwithagreat
stimme
voicehesaid:.Whenlovebeckonstoyou,followhim,.
Thoughhiswaysarehardandsteep.
Andwhenhiswingsenfoldyouyieldtohim,.
Thoughthesword
versteckte
hiddenamonghispinionsmaywoundyou.Andwhenhespeakstoyoubelieveinhim,.
Thoughhis
stimme
voicemayshatteryourdreamsasthenorthwindlayswastethegarden.Forevenaslovecrownsyousoshallhecrucifyyou.
Evenasheisforyourgrowthsoisheforyourpruning.
Evenasheascendstoyourheightandcaressesyourtenderestbranchesthatquiverinthe
sonne
sun,.Soshallhedescendtoyourrootsandshakethemintheirclingingtotheearth.
Likesheavesofcornhegathersyouuntohimself.
Hethreshesyoutomakeyounaked.
Hesiftsyoutofreeyoufromyourhusks.
Hegrindsyoutowhiteness.
Hekneadsyouuntilyouarepliant;.
Andthenheassignsyoutohissacredfire,thatyoumaybecomesacredbreadforGod’ssacredfeast.
Allthesethingsshalllovedountoyouthatyoumayknowthesecretsofyourheart,andinthatknowledgebecomeafragmentofLife’sheart.
Butifinyour
angst
fearyouwouldseekonlylove’sfrieden
peaceandlove’spleasure,.Thenitisbetterforyouthatyoucoveryournakednessandpassoutoflove’sthreshing-floor,.
Intotheseasonlessworldwhereyoushalllaugh,butnotallofyourlaughter,andweep,butnotallofyourtears.
Lovegivesnaughtbutitselfandtakesnaughtbutfromitself.
Lovepossessesnotnorwoulditbepossessed;.
Forloveissufficientuntolove.
Whenyouloveyoushouldnotsay,“Godisinmyheart,”butrather,“IamintheheartofGod.”
Andthinknotyoucandirectthecourseoflove,forlove,ifitfindsyouworthy,directsyourcourse.
Lovehasnootherdesirebuttofulfilitself.
Butifyouloveandmustneedshavedesires,letthesebeyourdesires:.
Tomeltandbelikearunningbrookthatsingsitsmelodytothenight.
Toknowthe
schmerz
painoftoomuchtenderness.Tobewoundedbyyourownunderstandingoflove;.
Andtobleedwillinglyandjoyfully.
Towakeatdawnwithawingedheartandgivethanksforanotherdayofloving;.
Torestatthenoonhourandmeditatelove’secstacy;.
Toreturnhomeateventidewithgratitude;.
Andthentosleepwithaprayerforthebelovedinyourheartandasongofpraiseuponyourlips.
ThenAlmitraspokeagainandsaid,AndwhatofMarriagemaster?
Andheansweredsaying:.
Youwere
geboren
borntogether,andtogetheryoushallbeforevermore.Youshallbetogetherwhenthewhitewingsofdeathscatteryourdays.
Aye,youshallbetogethereveninthesilent
erinnerung
memoryofGod.Butlettherebespacesinyourtogetherness,.
Andletthewindsoftheheavensdancebetweenyou.
Loveoneanother,butmakenotabondoflove:.
Letit
lieber
ratherbeamovingseabetweentheshoresofyoursouls.Filleachother’scupbutdrinknotfromonecup.
Giveoneanotherofyourbreadbuteatnotfromthesameloaf.
Singanddancetogetherandbejoyous,butleteachoneofyoubealone,.
Evenasthestringsofalutearealonethoughtheyquiverwiththesamemusic.
Giveyourhearts,butnotintoeachother’skeeping.
ForonlythehandofLifecancontainyourhearts.
Andstandtogetheryetnottooneartogether:.
Forthepillarsofthetemplestand
auseinander
apart,.Andtheoaktreeandthecypress
wachsen
grownotineachother’sshadow.Andawomanwhoheldababeagainstherbosomsaid,SpeaktousofChildren.
Andhesaid:.
Yourchildrenarenotyourchildren.
TheyarethesonsanddaughtersofLife’slongingforitself.
Theycomethroughyoubutnotfromyou,.
Andthoughtheyarewithyouyettheybelongnottoyou.
Youmaygivethemyourlovebutnotyourthoughts,.
Fortheyhavetheirownthoughts.
Youmayhousetheirbodiesbutnottheirsouls,.
Fortheirsoulsdwellinthehouseoftomorrow,whichyoucannot
besuchen
visit,noteveninyourdreams.Youmaystrivetobelikethem,butseeknottomakethemlikeyou.
Forlifegoesnotbackwardnortarrieswith
gestern
yesterday.Youarethebowsfromwhichyourchildrenaslivingarrowsaresentforth.
Thearcherseesthemarkuponthepathoftheinfinite,andHebendsyouwithHismightthatHisarrowsmaygoswiftandfar.
LetyourbendingintheArcher’shandbeforgladness;.
Forevenashelovesthearrowthatflies,soHelovesalsothebowthatisstable.
Thensaidarichman,SpeaktousofGiving.
Andheanswered:.
Yougivebutlittlewhenyougiveofyourpossessions.
Itiswhenyougiveofyourselfthatyoutrulygive.
Forwhatareyourpossessionsbutthingsyoukeepandguardforfearyoumayneedthemtomorrow?
Andtomorrow,whatshalltomorrowbringtotheoverprudentdogburyingbonesinthetracklesssandashefollowsthepilgrimstotheholycity?
Andwhatis
angst
fearofneedbutneeditself?Isnotdreadofthirstwhenyourwellisfull,thethirstthatisunquenchable?
Therearethosewhogivelittleofthemuchwhichtheyhave—andtheygiveitforrecognitionandtheirhiddendesiremakestheirgiftsunwholesome.
Andtherearethosewhohavelittleandgiveitall.
Thesearethebelieversinlifeandthebountyoflife,andtheircofferisnever
leer
empty.Therearethosewhogivewithjoy,andthatjoyistheirreward.
Andtherearethosewhogivewith
schmerz
pain,andthatpainistheirbaptism.Andtherearethosewhogiveandknownot
schmerz
painingiving,nordotheyseekjoy,norgivewithmindfulnessofvirtue;.Theygiveasinyondervalleythemyrtle
atmet
breathesitsfragranceintospace.ThroughthehandsofsuchastheseGodspeaks,andfrombehindtheireyesHe
lächelt
smilesupontheearth.Itiswelltogivewhenasked,butitisbettertogiveunasked,throughunderstanding;.
Andtotheopen-handedthe
suche
searchforonewhoshallreceiveisjoygreaterthangiving.Andisthereaughtyouwouldwithhold?
Allyouhaveshallsomedaybegiven;.
Thereforegivenow,thattheseasonofgivingmaybeyoursandnotyourinheritors’.
You
oft
oftensay,“Iwouldgive,butonlytothedeserving.”Thetreesinyourorchardsaynotso,northeflocksinyourpasture.
Theygivethattheymaylive,fortowithholdistoperish.
Surelyhewhoisworthytoreceivehisdaysandhisnights,isworthyofallelsefromyou.
Andhewhohasdeservedtodrinkfromtheoceanoflifedeservestofillhiscupfromyourlittlestream.
Andwhatdesertgreatershalltherebe,thanthatwhich
liegt
liesinthecourageandtheconfidence,naythecharity,ofreceiving?Andwhoareyouthatmenshouldrendtheirbosomandunveiltheirpride,thatyoumayseetheir
wert
worthnakedandtheirprideunabashed?Seefirstthatyouyourselfdeservetobeagiver,andaninstrumentofgiving.
Forintruthitislifethatgivesuntolife—whileyou,whodeemyourselfagiver,arebutawitness.
Andyoureceivers—andyouareallreceivers—assumenoweightofgratitude,lestyoulayayokeuponyourselfanduponhimwhogives.
Ratherrisetogetherwiththegiveronhisgiftsasonwings;.
Fortobeovermindfulofyourdebt,isitodoubthisgenerositywhohasthefreeheartedearthformother,andGodforfather.
Thenanoldman,akeeperofaninn,said,SpeaktousofEatingandDrinking.