THEBOOKSOFKAHLILGIBRAN
TheMadman.
1918TwentyDrawings.
1919TheForerunner.
1920TheProphet.
1923
Sabbia
SandandFoam.1926JesustheSonofMan.
1928TheForthGods.
1931TheWanderer.
1932The
Giardino
GardenoftheProphet1933ProsePoems.1934NymphsoftheValley.
THEPROPHET
Almustafa,thechosenandthebeloved,whowasadawnuntohisownday,hadwaitedtwelveyearsinthecityofOrphaleseforhisshipthatwastoreturnandbearhimbacktotheisleofhis
nascita
birth.Andinthetwelfthyear,ontheseventhdayofIelool,themonthofreaping,he
salì
climbedthehillwithoutthecitywallsandlookedseaward;andhebeheldhisshipcomingwiththemist.
Thenthegatesofhisheartwereflungopen,andhis
gioia
joyflewfaroverthesea.Andheclosedhiseyesandprayedinthesilencesofhissoul.
Butashedescendedthe
collina
hill,asadnesscameuponhim,andhethoughtinhisheart:.HowshallIgoinpeaceandwithoutsorrow?
Nay,notwithouta
ferita
woundinthespiritshallIleavethiscity.LongwerethedaysofpainIhavespentwithinitswalls,andlongwerethenightsofaloneness;
andwhocandepartfromhispainandhisalonenesswithoutregret?
ToomanyfragmentsofthespirithaveIscatteredinthesestreets,andtoomanyarethechildrenofmylongingthatwalk
nudi
nakedamongthesehills,andIcannotwithdrawfromthemwithoutaburdenandanache.ItisnotagarmentIcastoffthisday,butaskinthatI
strappato
tearwithmyownhands.NorisitathoughtIleavebehindme,butaheartmadesweetwithhungerandwiththirst.
YetIcannottarrylonger.
Theseathatcallsallthingsuntohercallsme,andImustembark.
Fortostay,thoughthehoursburninthenight,istofreezeandcrystallizeandbeboundinamould.
FainwouldItakewithmeallthatishere.
ButhowshallI?
Avoicecannotcarrythe
lingua
tongueandthelipsthatgaveitwings.Alonemustit
cercare
seektheether.Andaloneandwithouthisnestshalltheeagleflyacrossthesun.
Nowwhenhereachedthefootofthe
collina
hill,heturnedagaintowardsthesea,andhesawhisshipavvicinava
approachingtheharbour,anduponherprowthemariners,themenofhisownland.Andhissoulcriedouttothem,andhesaid:.
Sonsofmyancientmother,youridersofthetides,.
Howoftenhaveyousailedinmydreams.
Andnowyoucomeinmyawakening,whichismydeeperdream.
ReadyamItogo,andmyeagernesswithsailsfullsetawaitsthewind.
Onlyanother
respiro
breathwillIbreatheinthisstillair,onlyanotherlovinglookcastbackward,.AndthenIshallstand
tra
amongyou,aseafareramongseafarers.Andyou,vastsea,sleeplessmother,.
Whoalonearepeaceand
libertà
freedomtotheriverandthestream,.Onlyanotherwindingwillthisstreammake,onlyanothermurmurinthisglade,.
AndthenshallIcometoyou,aboundlessdroptoaboundless
oceano
ocean.Andashewalkedhesawfromafarmenandwomenleavingtheirfieldsandtheirvineyardsandhastening
verso
towardsthecitygates.Andheheardtheirvoicescallinghisname,andshoutingfromfieldtofieldtellingoneanotherofthecomingofhisship.
Andhesaidtohimself:.
Shallthedayofpartingbethedayofgathering?
Andshallitbesaidthatmyevewasintruthmy
alba
dawn?AndwhatshallIgiveuntohimwhohaslefthisploughinmidfurrow,ortohimwhohasstoppedthe
ruota
wheelofhiswinepress?Shallmyheartbecomeatreeheavy-ladenwithfruitthatImay
raccogliere
gatherandgiveuntothem?AndshallmydesiresflowlikeafountainthatImay
riempire
filltheircups?AmIaharpthatthehandofthemightymaytouchme,oraflutethathis
respiro
breathmaypassthroughme?AseekerofsilencesamI,andwhat
tesoro
treasurehaveIfoundinsilencesthatImaydispensewithfiducia
confidence?Ifthisismydayofharvest,inwhatfieldshaveIsowedtheseed,andinwhatunrememberedseasons?
IfthisindeedbethehourinwhichIliftupmylantern,itisnotmyflamethatshallburntherein.
EmptyanddarkshallIraisemylantern,.
Andtheguardianofthenightshall
riempirà
fillitwithoilandheshalllightitalso.Thesethingshesaidinwords.
Butmuchinhisheart
rimase
remainedunsaid.Forhehimselfcouldnotspeakhisdeepersecret.
Andwhenhe
entrò
enteredintothecityallthepeoplecametomeethim,andtheywerecryingouttohimaswithonevoice.Andtheeldersofthecitystoodforthandsaid:.
Gonotyetawayfromus.
Anoontidehaveyoubeeninourtwilight,andyouryouthhasgivenusdreamstodream.
No
sconosciuto
strangerareyouamongus,noraospite
guest,butoursonandourdearlyamato
beloved.Suffernotyetoureyestohungerforyourface.
Andthepriestsandthepriestessessaiduntohim:.
Letnotthewavesofthesea
separino
separateusnow,andtheyearsyouhavespentinourmidstbecomeamemory.Youhavewalked
tra
amongusaspirit,andyourombra
shadowhasbeenalightuponourfaces.Muchhavewelovedyou.
Butspeechlesswasourlove,andwithveilshasitbeenveiled.
Yetnowitcriesalouduntoyou,andwouldstandrevealedbeforeyou.
Andeverhasitbeenthatloveknowsnotitsowndepthuntilthehourofseparation.
Andotherscamealsoandentreatedhim.
Butheansweredthemnot.
Heonlybenthishead;
andthosewhostoodnearsawhistearsfallinguponhisbreast.
Andheandthepeopleproceeded
verso
towardsthegreatsquarebeforethetempio
temple.AndtherecameoutofthesanctuaryawomanwhosenamewasAlmitra.
Andshewasaseeress.
Andhelookeduponherwithexceedingtenderness,foritwasshewhohadfirst
cercato
soughtandbelievedinhimwhenhehadbeenbutadayintheircity.Andshehailedhim,saying:.
ProphetofGod,inquestoftheuttermost,longhaveyousearchedthedistancesforyourship.
Andnowyourshiphascome,andyoumustneedsgo.
Deepisyourlongingforthelandofyourmemoriesandthedwellingplaceofyourgreaterdesires;
andourlovewouldnotbindyounorourneedsholdyou.
Yetthisweaskereyouleaveus,thatyouspeaktousandgiveusofyourtruth.
Andwewillgiveituntoourchildren,andtheyuntotheirchildren,anditshallnotperish.
Inyouralonenessyouhavewatchedwithourdays,andinyourwakefulnessyouhavelistenedtotheweepingandthe
risata
laughterofoursleep.Nowthereforediscloseustoourselves,andtellusallthathasbeen
mostrato
shownyouofthatwhichisbetweennascita
birthanddeath.Andheanswered,.
PeopleofOrphalese,ofwhatcanIspeaksaveofthatwhichisevennowmovingwithinyoursouls?
ThensaidAlmitra,SpeaktousofLove.
Andheraisedhisheadandlookeduponthepeople,andtherefellastillnessuponthem.
Andwithagreatvoicehesaid:.
Whenlovebeckonstoyou,followhim,.
Thoughhiswaysarehardandsteep.
Andwhenhiswingsenfoldyouyieldtohim,.
Thoughthe
spada
swordhiddenamonghispinionsmaywoundyou.Andwhenhespeakstoyoubelieveinhim,.
Thoughhisvoicemayshatteryourdreamsasthenorthwindlayswastethe
giardino
garden.Forevenaslovecrownsyousoshallhecrucifyyou.
Evenasheisforyourgrowthsoisheforyourpruning.
Evenasheascendstoyourheightandcaressesyourtenderestbranchesthatquiverinthesun,.
Soshallhedescendtoyourrootsandshakethemintheirclingingtotheearth.
Likesheavesofcornhegathersyouuntohimself.
Hethreshesyoutomakeyou
nudo
naked.Hesiftsyoutofreeyoufromyourhusks.
Hegrindsyoutowhiteness.
Hekneadsyouuntilyouarepliant;.
Andthenheassignsyoutohissacredfire,thatyoumaybecomesacred
pane
breadforGod’ssacredfeast.Allthesethingsshalllovedountoyouthatyoumayknowthesecretsofyourheart,andinthat
conoscenza
knowledgebecomeafragmentofLife’sheart.Butifinyourfearyouwouldseekonlylove’speaceandlove’spleasure,.
Thenitisbetterforyouthatyoucoveryournakednessandpassoutoflove’sthreshing-floor,.
Intotheseasonlessworldwhereyoushalllaugh,butnotallofyour
risate
laughter,andweep,butnotallofyourtears.Lovegivesnaughtbutitselfandtakesnaughtbutfromitself.
Lovepossessesnotnorwoulditbepossessed;.
Forloveissufficientuntolove.
Whenyouloveyoushouldnotsay,“Godisinmyheart,”butrather,“IamintheheartofGod.”
Andthinknotyoucan
dirigere
directthecourseoflove,forlove,ifitfindsyouworthy,directsyourcourse.Lovehasnoother
desiderio
desirebuttofulfilitself.Butifyouloveandmustneedshavedesires,letthesebeyourdesires:.
Tomeltandbelikearunningbrookthatsingsitsmelodytothenight.
Toknowthepainoftoomuchtenderness.
Tobewoundedbyyourownunderstandingoflove;.
Andtobleedwillinglyandjoyfully.
Towakeatdawnwithawingedheartandgivethanksforanotherdayofloving;.
Torestatthenoonhourandmeditatelove’secstacy;.
Toreturnhomeateventidewithgratitude;.
Andthentosleepwithaprayerforthebelovedinyourheartandasongofpraiseuponyourlips.
ThenAlmitraspokeagainandsaid,AndwhatofMarriagemaster?
Andheansweredsaying:.
Youwereborntogether,andtogetheryoushallbeforevermore.
Youshallbetogetherwhenthewhitewingsofdeathscatteryourdays.
Aye,youshallbetogethereveninthe
silenzioso
silentmemoryofGod.Butlettherebespacesinyourtogetherness,.
Andletthewindsoftheheavensdancebetweenyou.
Loveoneanother,butmakenota
legame
bondoflove:.Letitratherbeamovingseabetweentheshoresofyoursouls.
Filleachother’scupbutdrinknotfromonecup.
Giveoneanotherofyourbreadbuteatnotfromthesameloaf.
Singanddancetogetherandbejoyous,butleteachoneofyoubealone,.
Evenasthestringsofalutearealonethoughtheyquiverwiththesamemusic.
Giveyourhearts,butnotintoeachother’skeeping.
ForonlythehandofLifecancontainyourhearts.
Andstandtogetheryetnottooneartogether:.
Forthepillarsofthe
tempio
templestandapart,.Andtheoaktreeandthecypressgrownotineachother’sshadow.
Andawomanwhoheldababeagainstherbosomsaid,SpeaktousofChildren.
Andhesaid:.
Yourchildrenarenotyourchildren.
TheyarethesonsanddaughtersofLife’slongingforitself.
Theycomethroughyoubutnotfromyou,.
Andthoughtheyarewithyouyetthey
appartengono
belongnottoyou.Youmaygivethemyourlovebutnotyourthoughts,.
Fortheyhavetheirownthoughts.
Youmayhousetheirbodiesbutnottheirsouls,.
Fortheirsoulsdwellinthehouseoftomorrow,whichyoucannotvisit,noteveninyourdreams.
Youmaystrivetobelikethem,but
cercare
seeknottomakethemlikeyou.Forlifegoesnotbackwardnortarrieswithyesterday.
Youarethebowsfromwhichyourchildrenaslivingarrowsaresentforth.
Thearcherseesthemarkuponthe
sentiero
pathoftheinfinite,andHebendsyouwithHismightthatHisarrowsmaygoswiftandfar.LetyourbendingintheArcher’shandbeforgladness;.
Forevenashelovesthearrowthatflies,soHelovesalsothebowthatisstable.
Thensaidarichman,SpeaktousofGiving.
Andheanswered:.
Yougivebutlittlewhenyougiveofyourpossessions.
Itiswhenyougiveofyourselfthatyoutrulygive.
Forwhatareyourpossessionsbutthingsyoukeepandguardforfearyoumayneedthemtomorrow?
Andtomorrow,whatshalltomorrowbringtotheoverprudentdog
seppellisce
buryingbonesinthetracklesssabbia
sandashefollowsthepilgrimstotheholycity?Andwhatisfearofneedbutneeditself?
Isnotdreadofthirstwhenyourwellisfull,thethirstthatisunquenchable?
Therearethosewhogivelittleofthemuchwhichtheyhave—andtheygiveitforrecognitionandtheirhidden
desiderio
desiremakestheirgiftsunwholesome.Andtherearethosewhohavelittleandgiveitall.
Thesearethebelieversinlifeandthebountyoflife,andtheircofferisneverempty.
Therearethosewhogivewith
gioia
joy,andthatjoyistheirricompensa
reward.Andtherearethosewhogivewithpain,andthatpainistheirbaptism.
Andtherearethosewhogiveandknownotpainingiving,nordothey
cercano
seekjoy,norgivewithmindfulnessofvirtue;.Theygiveasinyonder
valle
valleythemyrtlebreathesitsfragranceintospace.ThroughthehandsofsuchastheseGodspeaks,andfrombehindtheireyesHesmilesupontheearth.
Itiswelltogivewhenasked,butitisbettertogiveunasked,throughunderstanding;.
Andtotheopen-handedthesearchforonewhoshall
riceva
receiveisjoygreaterthangiving.Andisthereaughtyouwouldwithhold?
Allyouhaveshallsomedaybegiven;.
Perciò
Thereforegivenow,thattheseasonofgivingmaybeyoursandnotyourinheritors’.Youoftensay,“Iwouldgive,butonlytothedeserving.”
Thetreesinyourorchardsaynotso,northeflocksinyourpasture.
Theygivethattheymaylive,fortowithholdistoperish.
Surelyhewhoisworthyto
ricevere
receivehisdaysandhisnights,isworthyofallelsefromyou.Andhewhohasdeservedtodrinkfromtheoceanoflifedeservesto
riempire
fillhiscupfromyourlittlestream.Andwhat
deserto
desertgreatershalltherebe,thanthatwhichliesinthecoraggio
courageandtheconfidence,naythecharity,ofricevere
receiving?Andwhoareyouthatmenshouldrendtheirbosomandunveiltheir
orgoglio
pride,thatyoumayseetheirworthnuda
nakedandtheirprideunabashed?Seefirstthatyouyourself
meriti
deservetobeagiver,andaninstrumentofgiving.Forintruthitislifethatgivesuntolife—whileyou,whodeemyourselfagiver,arebuta
testimone
witness.Andyoureceivers—andyouareallreceivers—assumeno
peso
weightofgratitude,lestyoulayayokeuponyourselfanduponhimwhogives.Ratherrisetogetherwiththegiveronhisgiftsasonwings;.
Fortobeovermindfulofyour
debito
debt,isitodoubthisgenerositywhohasthefreeheartedearthformother,andGodforfather.Thenanoldman,akeeperofaninn,said,SpeaktousofEatingandDrinking.