THEBOOKSOFKAHLILGIBRAN
TheMadman.
1918TwentyDrawings.
1919TheForerunner.
1920The
Prophet
Prophet.1923SandandFoam.
1926JesustheSonofMan.
1928TheForthGods.
1931TheWanderer.
1932TheGardenoftheProphet1933ProsePoems.
1934NymphsoftheValley.
THE
Prophet
PROPHETAlmustafa,thechosenandthebeloved,whowasadawnuntohisownday,hadwaitedtwelveyearsinthecityofOrphaleseforhisshipthatwastoreturnandbearhimbacktothe
insel
isleofhisbirth.Andinthetwelfthyear,onthe
siebten
seventhdayofIelool,themonthofernte
reaping,heclimbedthehillwithoutthecitywallsandlookedseaward;andhebeheldhisshipcomingwiththe
nebel
mist.Thenthegatesofhisheartwereflungopen,andhisjoyflewfaroverthesea.
Andheclosedhiseyesandprayedinthesilencesofhissoul.
Butashedescendedthehill,a
traurigkeit
sadnesscameuponhim,andhethoughtinhisheart:.HowshallIgoinpeaceandwithout
trauer
sorrow?Nay,notwithoutawoundinthespiritshallIleavethiscity.
LongwerethedaysofpainIhavespentwithinitswalls,andlongwerethenightsofaloneness;
andwhocandepartfromhispainandhisalonenesswithoutregret?
ToomanyfragmentsofthespirithaveIscatteredinthesestreets,andtoomanyarethechildrenofmy
sehnsucht
longingthatwalknakedamongthesehills,andIcannotwithdrawfromthemwithoutalast
burdenandanache.Itisnota
kleidungsstück
garmentIcastoffthisday,butaskinthatItearwithmyownhands.NorisitathoughtIleavebehindme,butaheartmadesweetwith
hunger
hungerandwiththirst.YetIcannottarrylonger.
Theseathatcallsallthingsuntohercallsme,andImustembark.
Fortostay,thoughthehoursburninthenight,istofreezeandcrystallizeandbeboundinamould.
FainwouldItakewithmeallthatishere.
ButhowshallI?
Avoicecannotcarrythetongueandthelipsthatgaveitwings.
Alonemustitseekthe
äther
ether.Andaloneandwithouthis
nest
nestshalltheeagleflyacrossthesun.Nowwhenhereachedthefootofthehill,heturnedagaintowardsthesea,andhesawhisshipapproachingtheharbour,anduponherprowthemariners,themenofhisownland.
Andhissoulcriedouttothem,andhesaid:.
Sonsofmyancientmother,youridersofthetides,.
Howoftenhaveyousailedinmydreams.
Andnowyoucomeinmyawakening,whichismydeeperdream.
ReadyamItogo,andmyeagernesswithsailsfullsetawaitsthewind.
OnlyanotherbreathwillIbreatheinthisstillair,onlyanotherlovinglookcastbackward,.
AndthenIshallstandamongyou,aseafareramongseafarers.
Andyou,vastsea,sleeplessmother,.
Whoalonearepeaceandfreedomtotheriverandthe
bach
stream,.Onlyanotherwindingwillthis
bach
streammake,onlyanothermurmurinthisglade,.AndthenshallIcometoyou,aboundlessdroptoaboundlessocean.
Andashewalkedhesawfromafarmenandwomenleavingtheirfieldsandtheirvineyardsandhasteningtowardsthecitygates.
Andheheardtheirvoicescallinghisname,andshoutingfromfieldtofieldtellingoneanotherofthecomingofhisship.
Andhesaidtohimself:.
Shallthedayofpartingbethedayofgathering?
Andshallitbesaidthatmyevewasintruthmydawn?
AndwhatshallIgiveuntohimwhohaslefthisploughinmidfurrow,ortohimwhohasstoppedthewheelofhiswinepress?
Shallmyheartbecomeatreeheavy-ladenwithfruitthatImaygatherandgiveuntothem?
Andshallmydesires
fließen
flowlikeafountainthatImayfilltheircups?AmIa
harfe
harpthatthehandofthemightymaytouchme,oraflöte
flutethathisbreathmaypassthroughme?AseekerofsilencesamI,andwhattreasurehaveIfoundinsilencesthatImaydispensewithconfidence?
Ifthisismydayofharvest,inwhatfieldshaveIsowedthe
samen
seed,andinwhatunrememberedseasons?IfthisindeedbethehourinwhichIliftupmy
laterne
lantern,itisnotmyflamme
flamethatshallburntherein.EmptyanddarkshallIraisemy
laterne
lantern,.Andtheguardianofthenightshallfillitwithoilandheshalllightitalso.
Thesethingshesaidinwords.
Butmuchinhisheartremainedunsaid.
Forhehimselfcouldnotspeakhisdeepersecret.
Andwhenheenteredintothecityallthepeoplecametomeethim,andtheywerecryingouttohimaswithonevoice.
Andtheeldersofthecitystoodforthandsaid:.
Gonotyetawayfromus.
Anoontidehaveyoubeeninour
dämmerung
twilight,andyouryouthhasgivenusdreamstodream.Nostrangerareyouamongus,noraguest,butoursonandourdearlybeloved.
Suffernotyetoureyestohungerforyourface.
Andthepriestsandthepriestessessaiduntohim:.
Letnotthewavesoftheseaseparateusnow,andtheyearsyouhavespentinourmidstbecomeamemory.
Youhavewalkedamongusaspirit,andyourshadowhasbeenalightuponourfaces.
Muchhavewelovedyou.
But
sprachlos
speechlesswasourlove,andwithveilshasitbeenveiled.Yetnowitcries
laut
alouduntoyou,andwouldstandrevealedbeforeyou.Andeverhasitbeenthatloveknowsnotitsown
tiefe
depthuntilthehouroftrennung
separation.Andotherscamealsoandentreatedhim.
Butheansweredthemnot.
Heonly
beugte
benthishead;andthosewhostoodnearsawhistearsfallinguponhis
brust
breast.Andheandthepeopleproceededtowardsthegreatsquarebeforethetemple.
Andtherecameoutofthe
heiligtum
sanctuaryawomanwhosenamewasAlmitra.Andshewasaseeress.
Andhelookeduponherwithexceedingtenderness,foritwasshewhohadfirstsoughtandbelievedinhimwhenhehadbeenbutadayintheircity.
Andshehailedhim,saying:.
Prophet
ProphetofGod,inquestoftheuttermost,longhaveyousearchedthedistancesforyourship.Andnowyourshiphascome,andyoumustneedsgo.
Deepisyour
sehnsucht
longingforthelandofyourmemoriesandthedwellingplaceofyourgreaterdesires;andourlovewouldnot
binden
bindyounorourneedsholdyou.Yetthisweaskereyouleaveus,thatyouspeaktousandgiveusofyourtruth.
Andwewillgiveituntoourchildren,andtheyuntotheirchildren,anditshallnotperish.
Inyouralonenessyouhavewatchedwithourdays,andinyourwakefulnessyouhavelistenedtotheweepingandthelaughterofoursleep.
Nowthereforediscloseustoourselves,andtellusallthathasbeenshownyouofthatwhichisbetweenbirthanddeath.
Andheanswered,.
PeopleofOrphalese,ofwhatcanIspeaksaveofthatwhichisevennowmovingwithinyoursouls?
ThensaidAlmitra,SpeaktousofLove.
Andheraisedhisheadandlookeduponthepeople,andtherefellastillnessuponthem.
Andwithagreatvoicehesaid:.
Whenlovebeckonstoyou,followhim,.
Thoughhiswaysarehardand
steil
steep.Andwhenhiswingsenfoldyou
ergeben
yieldtohim,.Thoughtheswordhiddenamonghispinionsmaywoundyou.
Andwhenhespeakstoyoubelieveinhim,.
Thoughhisvoicemay
zerbrechen
shatteryourdreamsasthenorthwindlayswastethegarden.Forevenaslovecrownsyousoshallhecrucifyyou.
Evenasheisforyour
wachstum
growthsoisheforyourpruning.Evenasheascendstoyour
höhe
heightandcaressesyourtenderestbranchesthatquiverinthesun,.Soshallhedescendtoyourrootsandshakethemintheirclingingtotheearth.
Likesheavesofcornhegathersyouuntohimself.
Hethreshesyoutomakeyounaked.
Hesiftsyoutofreeyoufromyourhusks.
Hegrindsyoutowhiteness.
Hekneadsyouuntilyouarepliant;.
Andthenheassignsyoutohissacredfire,thatyoumaybecomesacredbreadforGod’ssacred
fest
feast.Allthesethingsshalllovedountoyouthatyoumayknowthesecretsofyourheart,andinthatknowledgebecomeafragmentofLife’sheart.
Butifinyourfearyouwouldseekonlylove’speaceandlove’spleasure,.
Thenitisbetterforyouthatyoucoveryournakednessandpassoutoflove’sthreshing-floor,.
Intotheseasonlessworldwhereyoushalllaugh,butnotallofyourlaughter,andweep,butnotallofyourtears.
Lovegivesnaughtbutitselfandtakesnaughtbutfromitself.
Lovepossessesnotnorwoulditbepossessed;.
Forloveissufficientuntolove.
Whenyouloveyoushouldnotsay,“Godisinmyheart,”butrather,“IamintheheartofGod.”
Andthinknotyoucandirectthecourseoflove,forlove,ifitfindsyou
würdig
worthy,directsyourcourse.Lovehasnootherdesirebutto
erfüllen
fulfilitself.Butifyouloveandmustneedshavedesires,letthesebeyourdesires:.
To
schmelzen
meltandbelikearunningbrookthatsingsitsmelodie
melodytothenight.Toknowthepainoftoomuch
zärtlichkeit
tenderness.Tobewoundedbyyourownunderstandingoflove;.
Andtobleedwillinglyandjoyfully.
Towakeatdawnwithawingedheartandgivethanksforanotherdayofloving;.
Torestatthenoonhourandmeditatelove’secstacy;.
Toreturnhomeateventidewith
dankbarkeit
gratitude;.Andthentosleepwitha
gebet
prayerforthebelovedinyourheartandasongofpraiseuponyourlips.ThenAlmitraspokeagainandsaid,AndwhatofMarriagemaster?
Andheansweredsaying:.
Youwereborntogether,andtogetheryoushallbeforevermore.
Youshallbetogetherwhenthewhitewingsofdeath
zerstreuen
scatteryourdays.Aye,youshallbetogethereveninthesilentmemoryofGod.
Butlettherebespacesinyourtogetherness,.
Andletthewindsoftheheavensdancebetweenyou.
Loveoneanother,butmakenotabondoflove:.
Letitratherbeamovingseabetweentheshoresofyoursouls.
Filleachother’scupbutdrinknotfromonecup.
Giveoneanotherofyourbreadbuteatnotfromthesameloaf.
Singanddancetogetherandbe
fröhlich
joyous,butleteachoneofyoubealone,.Evenasthestringsofalutearealonethoughtheyquiverwiththesamemusic.
Giveyourhearts,butnotintoeachother’skeeping.
ForonlythehandofLifecan
enthalten
containyourhearts.Andstandtogetheryetnottooneartogether:.
Forthepillarsofthetemplestandapart,.
Andthe
eiche
oaktreeandthecypressgrownotineachother’sshadow.Andawomanwhoheldababeagainsther
busen
bosomsaid,SpeaktousofChildren.Andhesaid:.
Yourchildrenarenotyourchildren.
TheyarethesonsanddaughtersofLife’s
sehnsucht
longingforitself.Theycomethroughyoubutnotfromyou,.
Andthoughtheyarewithyouyettheybelongnottoyou.
Youmaygivethemyourlovebutnotyourthoughts,.
Fortheyhavetheirownthoughts.
Youmayhousetheirbodiesbutnottheirsouls,.
Fortheirsouls
wohnen
dwellinthehouseoftomorrow,whichyoucannotvisit,noteveninyourdreams.Youmaystrivetobelikethem,butseeknottomakethemlikeyou.
Forlifegoesnotbackwardnortarrieswithyesterday.
Youarethebowsfromwhichyourchildrenaslivingarrowsaresentforth.
The
bogenschütze
archerseesthemarkuponthepathoftheinfinite,andHebiegt
bendsyouwithHismightthatHisarrowsmaygoswiftandfar.LetyourbendingintheArcher’shandbeforgladness;.
Forevenashelovesthe
pfeil
arrowthatflies,soHelovesalsothebowthatisstable.Thensaidarichman,SpeaktousofGiving.
Andheanswered:.
Yougivebutlittlewhenyougiveofyourpossessions.
Itiswhenyougiveofyourselfthatyoutrulygive.
Forwhatareyourpossessionsbutthingsyoukeepandguardforfearyoumayneedthemtomorrow?
Andtomorrow,whatshalltomorrowbringtotheoverprudentdogburyingbonesinthetracklesssandashefollowsthepilgrimstotheholycity?
Andwhatisfearofneedbutneeditself?
Isnot
angst
dreadofthirstwhenyourwellisfull,thedurst
thirstthatisunquenchable?Therearethosewhogivelittleofthemuchwhichtheyhave—andtheygiveitfor
anerkennung
recognitionandtheirhiddendesiremakestheirgiftsunwholesome.Andtherearethosewhohavelittleandgiveitall.
Thesearethebelieversinlifeandthebountyoflife,andtheircofferisneverempty.
Therearethosewhogivewithjoy,andthatjoyistheirreward.
Andtherearethosewhogivewithpain,andthatpainistheir
taufe
baptism.Andtherearethosewhogiveandknownotpainingiving,nordotheyseekjoy,norgivewithmindfulnessof
tugend
virtue;.Theygiveasinyondervalleythemyrtlebreathesits
duft
fragranceintospace.ThroughthehandsofsuchastheseGodspeaks,andfrombehindtheireyesHesmilesupontheearth.
Itiswelltogivewhenasked,butitisbettertogiveunasked,throughunderstanding;.
Andtotheopen-handedthesearchforonewhoshallreceiveisjoygreaterthangiving.
Andisthereaughtyouwouldwithhold?
Allyouhaveshallsomedaybegiven;.
Thereforegivenow,thattheseasonofgivingmaybeyoursandnotyourinheritors’.
Youoftensay,“Iwouldgive,butonlytothedeserving.”
Thetreesinyour
obstgarten
orchardsaynotso,northeflocksinyourweide
pasture.Theygivethattheymaylive,fortowithholdistoperish.
Surelyhewhoisworthytoreceivehisdaysandhisnights,isworthyofallelsefromyou.
Andhewhohasdeservedtodrinkfromtheoceanoflifedeservestofillhiscupfromyourlittle
bach
stream.Andwhatdesertgreatershalltherebe,thanthatwhichliesinthecourageandtheconfidence,
nein
naythecharity,ofreceiving?Andwhoareyouthatmenshouldrendtheirbosomandunveiltheirpride,thatyoumayseetheirworthnakedandtheirprideunabashed?
Seefirstthatyouyourselfdeservetobeagiver,andan
werkzeug
instrumentofgiving.Forintruthitislifethatgivesuntolife—whileyou,whodeemyourselfagiver,arebutawitness.
Andyoureceivers—andyouareallreceivers—assumenoweightof
dankbarkeit
gratitude,lestyoulayayokeuponyourselfanduponhimwhogives.Ratherrisetogetherwiththegiveronhisgiftsasonwings;.
Fortobeovermindfulofyourdebt,isitodoubthis
großzügigkeit
generositywhohasthefreeheartedearthformother,andGodforfather.Thenanoldman,akeeperofaninn,said,SpeaktousofEatingandDrinking.