THEBOOKSOFKAHLILGIBRAN
TheMadman.
1918TwentyDrawings.
1919TheForerunner.
1920TheProphet.
1923SandandFoam.
1926JesustheSonofMan.
1928TheForthGods.
1931TheWanderer.
1932TheGardenoftheProphet1933ProsePoems.
1934NymphsoftheValley.
THEPROPHET
Almustafa,thechosenandthebeloved,whowasadawnuntohisownday,hadwaitedtwelveyearsinthecityofOrphaleseforhis
nave
shipthatwastoreturnandbearhimbacktotheisleofhisbirth.Andinthetwelfthyear,ontheseventhdayofIelool,the
mese
monthofreaping,heclimbedthehillwithoutthecitywallsandlookedseaward;andhebeheldhis
nave
shipcomingwiththemist.Thenthegatesofhisheartwereflungopen,andhisjoy
volò
flewfaroverthesea.Andheclosedhiseyesand
pregò
prayedinthesilencesofhisanima
soul.Butashedescendedthehill,asadnesscameuponhim,andhethoughtinhisheart:.
HowshallIgoinpeaceandwithoutsorrow?
Nay,notwithoutawoundinthe
spirito
spiritshallIleavethiscity.Longwerethedaysof
dolore
painIhavespentwithinitswalls,andlongwerethenightsofaloneness;andwhocandepartfromhis
dolore
painandhisalonenesswithoutregret?Toomanyfragmentsofthe
spirito
spirithaveIscatteredinthesestreets,andtoomanyarethechildrenofmylongingthatwalknakedamongthesehills,andIcannotwithdrawfromthemwithoutaburdenandanache.ItisnotagarmentIcastoffthisday,buta
pelle
skinthatItearwithmyownhands.Né
NorisitathoughtIleavebehindme,butaheartmadesweetwithhungerandwiththirst.YetIcannottarrylonger.
The
mare
seathatcallsallthingsuntohercallsme,andImustembark.Fortostay,thoughthehours
bruciano
burninthenight,istofreezeandcrystallizeandbeboundinamould.FainwouldItakewithmeallthatishere.
ButhowshallI?
A
voce
voicecannotcarrythetongueandthelipsthatgaveitwings.Alonemustitseektheether.
Andaloneandwithouthisnestshalltheeagle
volerà
flyacrossthesun.Nowwhenhereachedthefootofthehill,heturnedagaintowardsthe
mare
sea,andhesawhisnave
shipapproachingtheharbour,anduponherprowthemariners,themenofhisownland.Andhis
anima
soulcriedouttothem,andhesaid:.Sonsofmyancientmother,youridersofthetides,.
Howoftenhaveyousailedinmydreams.
Andnowyoucomeinmyawakening,whichismydeeperdream.
ReadyamItogo,andmyeagernesswithsailsfullsetawaitsthe
vento
wind.OnlyanotherbreathwillIbreatheinthisstillair,onlyanotherlovinglookcastbackward,.
AndthenIshallstandamongyou,aseafareramongseafarers.
Andyou,vast
mare
sea,sleeplessmother,.Whoalonearepeaceandfreedomtothe
fiume
riverandthestream,.Onlyanotherwindingwillthisstreammake,onlyanothermurmurinthisglade,.
AndthenshallIcometoyou,aboundless
goccia
droptoaboundlessocean.Andashewalkedhesawfromafarmenandwomenleavingtheirfieldsandtheirvineyardsandhasteningtowardsthecitygates.
Andheheardtheirvoicescallinghisname,andshoutingfromfieldtofieldtellingoneanotherofthecomingofhis
nave
ship.Andhesaidtohimself:.
Shallthedayofpartingbethedayofgathering?
Andshallitbesaidthatmyevewasintruthmydawn?
AndwhatshallIgiveuntohimwhohaslefthisploughinmidfurrow,ortohimwhohasstoppedthewheelofhiswinepress?
Shallmyheartbecomea
albero
treeheavy-ladenwithfruitthatImaygatherandgiveuntothem?AndshallmydesiresflowlikeafountainthatImayfilltheircups?
AmIaharpthatthehandofthemightymaytouchme,oraflutethathisbreathmay
passi
passthroughme?AseekerofsilencesamI,andwhattreasurehaveIfoundinsilencesthatImaydispensewithconfidence?
Ifthisismydayofharvest,inwhatfieldshaveIsowedtheseed,andinwhatunrememberedseasons?
IfthisindeedbethehourinwhichIliftupmylantern,itisnotmyflamethatshall
brucerà
burntherein.EmptyanddarkshallI
alzerò
raisemylantern,.Andtheguardianofthenightshallfillitwithoilandheshalllightitalso.
Thesethingshesaidinwords.
Butmuchinhisheartremainedunsaid.
Forhehimselfcouldnotspeakhisdeeper
segreto
secret.Andwhenheenteredintothecityallthepeoplecametomeethim,andtheywerecryingouttohimaswithone
voce
voice.Andtheeldersofthecitystoodforthandsaid:.
Gonotyetawayfromus.
Anoontidehaveyoubeeninourtwilight,andyouryouthhasgivenusdreamstodream.
Nostrangerareyouamongus,
né
noraguest,butoursonandourdearlybeloved.Suffernotyetoureyestohungerforyourface.
Andthepriestsandthepriestessessaiduntohim:.
Letnotthewavesofthe
mare
seaseparateusnow,andtheyearsyouhavetrascorso
spentinourmidstbecomeamemory.Youhavewalkedamongusa
spirito
spirit,andyourshadowhasbeenalightuponourfaces.Muchhavewelovedyou.
Butspeechlesswasourlove,andwithveilshasitbeenveiled.
Yetnowitcriesalouduntoyou,andwouldstandrevealedbeforeyou.
Andeverhasitbeenthatloveknowsnotitsowndepthuntilthehourofseparation.
Andotherscamealsoandentreatedhim.
Butheansweredthemnot.
Heonlybenthishead;
andthosewhostood
vicino
nearsawhistearsfallinguponhisbreast.Andheandthepeopleproceededtowardsthegreatsquarebeforethetemple.
AndtherecameoutofthesanctuaryawomanwhosenamewasAlmitra.
Andshewasaseeress.
Andhelookeduponherwithexceedingtenderness,foritwasshewhohadfirstsoughtandbelievedinhimwhenhehadbeenbutadayintheircity.
Andshehailedhim,saying:.
ProphetofGod,inquestoftheuttermost,longhaveyousearchedthedistancesforyour
nave
ship.Andnowyourshiphascome,andyoumustneedsgo.
Profondo
Deepisyourlongingfortheterra
landofyourmemoriesandthedwellingplaceofyourgreaterdesires;andourlovewouldnotbindyou
né
norourneedsholdyou.Yetthisweaskereyouleaveus,thatyouspeaktousandgiveusofyourtruth.
Andwewillgiveituntoourchildren,andtheyuntotheirchildren,anditshallnotperish.
Inyouralonenessyouhavewatchedwithourdays,andinyourwakefulnessyouhavelistenedtotheweepingandthelaughterofoursleep.
Nowthereforediscloseustoourselves,andtellusallthathasbeenshownyouofthatwhichisbetweenbirthanddeath.
Andheanswered,.
PeopleofOrphalese,ofwhatcanIspeaksaveofthatwhichisevennowmovingwithinyoursouls?
ThensaidAlmitra,SpeaktousofLove.
Andhe
alzò
raisedhisheadandlookeduponthepeople,andtherefellastillnessuponthem.Andwithagreat
voce
voicehesaid:.Whenlovebeckonstoyou,followhim,.
Thoughhiswaysarehardandsteep.
Andwhenhiswingsenfoldyouyieldtohim,.
Thoughtheswordhiddenamonghispinionsmaywoundyou.
Andwhenhespeakstoyoubelieveinhim,.
Thoughhis
voce
voicemayshatteryourdreamsasthenord
northwindlayswastethegarden.Forevenaslovecrownsyousoshallhecrucifyyou.
Evenasheisforyourgrowthsoisheforyourpruning.
Evenasheascendstoyourheightandcaressesyourtenderestbranchesthatquiverinthe
sole
sun,.Soshallhedescendtoyourrootsandshakethemintheirclingingtotheearth.
Likesheavesofcornhegathersyouuntohimself.
Hethreshesyoutomakeyounaked.
Hesiftsyoutofreeyoufromyourhusks.
Hegrindsyoutowhiteness.
Hekneadsyouuntilyouarepliant;.
Andthenheassignsyoutohissacredfire,thatyoumaybecomesacredbreadforGod’ssacredfeast.
Allthesethingsshalllovedountoyouthatyoumayknowthesecretsofyourheart,andinthatknowledgebecomeafragmentofLife’sheart.
Butifinyour
paura
fearyouwouldseekonlylove’speaceandlove’spiacere
pleasure,.Thenitisbetterforyouthatyou
copri
coveryournakednessandpassoutoflove’sthreshing-floor,.Intotheseasonlessworldwhereyoushall
riderete
laugh,butnotallofyourlaughter,andweep,butnotallofyourtears.Lovegivesnaughtbutitselfandtakesnaughtbutfromitself.
Lovepossessesnot
né
norwoulditbepossessed;.Forloveissufficientuntolove.
Whenyouloveyoushouldnotsay,“Godisinmyheart,”but
piuttosto
rather,“IamintheheartofGod.”Andthinknotyoucandirectthecourseoflove,forlove,ifitfindsyouworthy,directsyourcourse.
Lovehasnootherdesirebuttofulfilitself.
Butifyouloveandmustneedshavedesires,letthesebeyourdesires:.
Tomeltandbelikearunningbrookthatsingsitsmelodytothenight.
Toknowthe
dolore
painoftoomuchtenderness.Tobewoundedbyyourownunderstandingoflove;.
Andtobleedwillinglyandjoyfully.
Towakeatdawnwithawingedheartandgivethanksforanotherdayofloving;.
Torestatthenoonhourandmeditatelove’secstacy;.
Toreturnhomeateventidewithgratitude;.
Andthentosleepwithaprayerforthebelovedinyourheartanda
canzone
songofpraiseuponyourlips.ThenAlmitraspokeagainandsaid,AndwhatofMarriagemaster?
Andheansweredsaying:.
Youwereborntogether,andtogetheryoushallbeforevermore.
Youshallbetogetherwhenthewhitewingsofdeathscatteryourdays.
Aye,youshallbetogethereveninthesilentmemoryofGod.
Butlettherebespacesinyourtogetherness,.
Andletthewindsoftheheavensdancebetweenyou.
Loveoneanother,butmakenotabondoflove:.
Letit
piuttosto
ratherbeamovingseabetweentheshoresofyoursouls.Filleachother’s
tazza
cupbutdrinknotfromonetazza
cup.Giveoneanotherofyourbreadbuteatnotfromthesameloaf.
Singanddancetogetherandbejoyous,butleteachoneofyoubealone,.
Evenasthestringsofalutearealonethoughtheyquiverwiththesamemusic.
Giveyourhearts,butnotintoeachother’skeeping.
ForonlythehandofLifecancontainyourhearts.
Andstandtogetheryetnottooneartogether:.
Forthepillarsofthetemplestandapart,.
Andtheoaktreeandthecypress
crescono
grownotineachother’sshadow.Andawomanwhoheldababeagainstherbosomsaid,SpeaktousofChildren.
Andhesaid:.
Yourchildrenarenotyourchildren.
TheyarethesonsanddaughtersofLife’slongingforitself.
Theycomethroughyoubutnotfromyou,.
Andthoughtheyarewithyouyettheybelongnottoyou.
Youmaygivethemyourlovebutnotyourthoughts,.
Fortheyhavetheirownthoughts.
Youmayhousetheirbodiesbutnottheirsouls,.
Fortheirsoulsdwellinthehouseoftomorrow,whichyoucannot
visitare
visit,noteveninyourdreams.Youmaystrivetobelikethem,butseeknottomakethemlikeyou.
Forlifegoesnotbackward
né
nortarrieswithyesterday.Youarethebowsfromwhichyourchildrenaslivingarrowsaresentforth.
Thearcherseesthe
segno
markuponthepathoftheinfinite,andHebendsyouwithHismightthatHisarrowsmaygoswiftandfar.LetyourbendingintheArcher’shandbeforgladness;.
Forevenashelovesthearrowthatflies,soHelovesalsothebowthatisstable.
Thensaida
ricco
richman,SpeaktousofGiving.Andheanswered:.
Yougivebutlittlewhenyougiveofyourpossessions.
Itiswhenyougiveofyourselfthatyoutrulygive.
Forwhatareyourpossessionsbutthingsyoukeepandguardfor
paura
fearyoumayneedthemtomorrow?Andtomorrow,whatshalltomorrowbringtotheoverprudentdogburyingbonesinthetracklesssandashefollowsthepilgrimstotheholycity?
Andwhatis
paura
fearofneedbutneeditself?Isnotdreadofthirstwhenyourwellisfull,thethirstthatisunquenchable?
Therearethosewhogivelittleofthemuchwhichtheyhave—andtheygiveitforrecognitionandtheir
nascosto
hiddendesiremakestheirgiftsunwholesome.Andtherearethosewhohavelittleandgiveitall.
Thesearethebelieversinlifeandthebountyoflife,andtheircofferisneverempty.
Therearethosewhogivewithjoy,andthatjoyistheirreward.
Andtherearethosewhogivewith
dolore
pain,andthatpainistheirbaptism.Andtherearethosewhogiveandknownot
dolore
painingiving,nordotheyseekjoy,né
norgivewithmindfulnessofvirtue;.Theygiveasinyondervalleythemyrtlebreathesitsfragranceinto
spazio
space.ThroughthehandsofsuchastheseGodspeaks,andfrombehindtheireyesHe
sorride
smilesupontheearth.Itiswelltogivewhenasked,butitisbettertogiveunasked,throughunderstanding;.
Andtotheopen-handedthe
ricerca
searchforonewhoshallreceiveisjoygreaterthangiving.Andisthereaughtyouwouldwithhold?
Allyouhaveshallsomedaybegiven;.
Thereforegivenow,thattheseasonofgivingmaybeyoursandnotyourinheritors’.
You
spesso
oftensay,“Iwouldgive,butonlytothedeserving.”Thetreesinyourorchardsaynotso,
né
northeflocksinyourpasture.Theygivethattheymaylive,fortowithholdistoperish.
Surelyhewhoisworthytoreceivehisdaysandhisnights,isworthyofallelsefromyou.
Andhewhohasdeservedtodrinkfromtheoceanoflifedeservestofillhis
tazza
cupfromyourlittlestream.Andwhatdesertgreatershalltherebe,thanthatwhichliesinthecourageandtheconfidence,naythecharity,ofreceiving?
Andwhoareyouthatmenshouldrendtheirbosomandunveiltheirpride,thatyoumayseetheirworthnakedandtheirprideunabashed?
Seefirstthatyouyourselfdeservetobeagiver,andaninstrumentofgiving.
Forintruthitislifethatgivesuntolife—whileyou,whodeemyourselfagiver,arebutawitness.
Andyoureceivers—andyouareallreceivers—assumenoweightofgratitude,lestyoulayayokeuponyourselfanduponhimwhogives.
Piuttosto
Ratherrisetogetherwiththegiveronhisgiftsasonwings;.Fortobeovermindfulofyourdebt,isito
dubbio
doubthisgenerositywhohasthefreeheartedearthformother,andGodforfather.Thenanoldman,akeeperofaninn,said,SpeaktousofEatingandDrinking.