THEBOOKSOFKAHLILGIBRAN
TheMadman.
1918TwentyDrawings.
1919TheForerunner.
1920The
Profeta
Prophet.1923SandandFoam.
1926JesustheSonofMan.
1928TheForthGods.
1931TheWanderer.
1932TheGardenofthe
Profeta
Prophet1933ProsePoems.1934NymphsoftheValley.
THEPROPHET
Almustafa,thechosenandthebeloved,whowasadawnuntohisownday,hadwaitedtwelveyearsinthecityofOrphaleseforhisshipthatwastoreturnandbearhimbacktotheisleofhisbirth.
Andinthetwelfthyear,onthe
settimo
seventhdayofIelool,themonthofreaping,heclimbedthehillwithoutthecitywallsandlookedseaward;andhebeheldhisshipcomingwiththe
nebbia
mist.Thenthegatesofhisheartwereflungopen,andhisjoyflewfaroverthesea.
Andheclosedhiseyesandprayedinthesilencesofhissoul.
Butashe
scendeva
descendedthehill,asadnesscameuponhim,andhethoughtinhisheart:.HowshallIgoinpeaceandwithout
dolore
sorrow?Nay,notwithoutawoundinthespiritshallIleavethiscity.
LongwerethedaysofpainIhavespentwithinitswalls,andlongwerethenightsofaloneness;
andwhocandepartfromhispainandhisalonenesswithoutregret?
ToomanyfragmentsofthespirithaveIscatteredinthesestreets,andtoomanyarethechildrenofmy
desiderio
longingthatwalknakedamongthesehills,andIcannotwithdrawfromthemwithoutapeso
burdenandanache.ItisnotagarmentIcastoffthisday,butaskinthatItearwithmyownhands.
NorisitathoughtIleavebehindme,butaheartmadesweetwith
fame
hungerandwiththirst.YetIcannottarrylonger.
Theseathatcallsallthingsuntohercallsme,andImustembark.
Fortostay,thoughthehoursburninthenight,istofreezeandcrystallizeandbeboundinamould.
FainwouldItakewithmeallthatishere.
ButhowshallI?
Avoicecannotcarrythetongueandthelipsthatgaveitwings.
Alonemustitseektheether.
Andaloneandwithouthis
nido
nestshalltheeagleflyacrossthesun.Nowwhenhereachedthefootofthehill,heturnedagaintowardsthesea,andhesawhisshipapproachingtheharbour,anduponherprowthemariners,themenofhisownland.
Andhissoulcriedouttothem,andhesaid:.
Sonsofmyancientmother,youridersofthetides,.
Howoftenhaveyou
navigato
sailedinmydreams.Andnowyoucomeinmy
risveglio
awakening,whichismydeeperdream.ReadyamItogo,andmyeagernesswithsailsfullsetawaitsthewind.
OnlyanotherbreathwillIbreatheinthisstillair,onlyanotherlovinglookcastbackward,.
AndthenIshallstandamongyou,aseafareramongseafarers.
Andyou,
vasto
vastsea,sleeplessmother,.Whoalonearepeaceandfreedomtotheriverandthe
ruscello
stream,.Onlyanotherwindingwillthis
ruscello
streammake,onlyanothermurmurinthisglade,.AndthenshallIcometoyou,aboundlessdroptoaboundlessocean.
Andashewalkedhesawfromafarmenandwomenleavingtheirfieldsandtheirvineyardsandhasteningtowardsthecitygates.
Andheheardtheirvoicescallinghisname,andshoutingfromfieldtofieldtellingoneanotherofthecomingofhisship.
Andhesaidtohimself:.
Shallthedayofpartingbethedayofgathering?
Andshallitbesaidthatmyevewasintruthmydawn?
AndwhatshallIgiveuntohimwhohaslefthis
arato
ploughinmidfurrow,ortohimwhohasstoppedthewheelofhiswinepress?Shallmyheartbecomeatreeheavy-ladenwithfruitthatImaygatherandgiveuntothem?
Andshallmydesiresflowlikea
fontana
fountainthatImayfilltheircups?AmIaharpthatthehandofthe
potente
mightymaytouchme,oraflauto
flutethathisbreathmaypassthroughme?AseekerofsilencesamI,andwhattreasurehaveIfoundinsilencesthatImaydispensewithconfidence?
Ifthisismydayof
raccolta
harvest,inwhatfieldshaveIseminato
sowedtheseed,andinwhatunrememberedseasons?IfthisindeedbethehourinwhichIliftupmy
lanterna
lantern,itisnotmyflamethatshallburntherein.EmptyanddarkshallIraisemy
lanterna
lantern,.Andtheguardianofthenightshallfillitwithoilandheshalllightitalso.
Thesethingshesaidinwords.
Butmuchinhisheartremainedunsaid.
Forhehimselfcouldnotspeakhisdeepersecret.
Andwhenheenteredintothecityallthepeoplecametomeethim,andtheywerecryingouttohimaswithonevoice.
Andtheeldersofthecitystoodforthandsaid:.
Gonotyetawayfromus.
Anoontidehaveyoubeeninour
crepuscolo
twilight,andyouryouthhasgivenusdreamstodream.Nostrangerareyouamongus,noraguest,butoursonandourdearlybeloved.
Suffernotyetoureyestohungerforyourface.
Andthepriestsandthepriestessessaiduntohim:.
Letnotthewavesoftheseaseparateusnow,andtheyearsyouhavespentinourmidstbecomeamemory.
Youhavewalkedamongusaspirit,andyourshadowhasbeenalightuponourfaces.
Muchhavewelovedyou.
But
senza parole
speechlesswasourlove,andwithveilshasitbeenveiled.Yetnowitcries
ad alta voce
alouduntoyou,andwouldstandrivelato
revealedbeforeyou.Andeverhasitbeenthatloveknowsnotitsown
profondità
depthuntilthehourofseparazione
separation.Andotherscamealsoandentreatedhim.
Butheansweredthemnot.
Heonly
piegato
benthishead;andthosewhostoodnearsawhistearsfallinguponhis
petto
breast.Andheandthepeopleproceededtowardsthegreatsquarebeforethetemple.
Andtherecameoutofthe
santuario
sanctuaryawomanwhosenamewasAlmitra.Andshewasaseeress.
Andhelookeduponherwithexceedingtenderness,foritwasshewhohadfirstsoughtandbelievedinhimwhenhehadbeenbutadayintheircity.
Andshehailedhim,saying:.
Profeta
ProphetofGod,inquestoftheuttermost,longhaveyousearchedthedistancesforyourship.Andnowyourshiphascome,andyoumustneedsgo.
Deepisyour
desiderio
longingforthelandofyourmemoriesandthedimora
dwellingplaceofyourgreaterdesires;andourlovewouldnot
legato
bindyounorourneedsholdyou.Yetthisweaskereyouleaveus,thatyouspeaktousandgiveusofyourtruth.
Andwewillgiveituntoourchildren,andtheyuntotheirchildren,anditshallnot
perirà
perish.Inyouralonenessyouhavewatchedwithourdays,andinyourwakefulnessyouhavelistenedtotheweepingandthelaughterofoursleep.
Nowthereforediscloseustoourselves,andtellusallthathasbeenshownyouofthatwhichisbetweenbirthanddeath.
Andheanswered,.
PeopleofOrphalese,ofwhatcanIspeaksaveofthatwhichisevennowmovingwithinyoursouls?
ThensaidAlmitra,SpeaktousofLove.
Andheraisedhisheadandlookeduponthepeople,andtherefellastillnessuponthem.
Andwithagreatvoicehesaid:.
Whenlovebeckonstoyou,followhim,.
Thoughhiswaysarehardandsteep.
Andwhenhiswingsenfoldyouyieldtohim,.
Thoughtheswordhiddenamonghispinionsmaywoundyou.
Andwhenhespeakstoyoubelieveinhim,.
Thoughhisvoicemayshatteryourdreamsasthenorthwindlayswastethegarden.
Forevenaslove
corona
crownsyousoshallhecrucifyyou.Evenasheisforyour
crescita
growthsoisheforyourpruning.Evenashe
sale
ascendstoyourheightandaccarezza
caressesyourtenderestbranchesthatquiverinthesun,.Soshallhe
scenderà
descendtoyourrootsandshakethemintheirclingingtotheearth.Likesheavesof
grano
cornhegathersyouuntohimself.Hethreshesyoutomakeyounaked.
Hesiftsyoutofreeyoufromyourhusks.
Hegrindsyoutowhiteness.
Hekneadsyouuntilyouarepliant;.
Andthenhe
assegna
assignsyoutohissacredfire,thatyoumaybecomesacro
sacredbreadforGod’ssacredfesta
feast.Allthesethingsshalllovedountoyouthatyoumayknowthesecretsofyourheart,andinthatknowledgebecomea
frammento
fragmentofLife’sheart.Butifinyourfearyouwouldseekonlylove’speaceandlove’spleasure,.
Thenitisbetterforyouthatyoucoveryournakednessandpassoutoflove’sthreshing-floor,.
Intotheseasonlessworldwhereyoushalllaugh,butnotallofyourlaughter,andweep,butnotallofyourtears.
Lovegivesnaughtbutitselfandtakesnaughtbutfromitself.
Lovepossessesnotnorwoulditbepossessed;.
Forloveis
sufficiente
sufficientuntolove.Whenyouloveyoushouldnotsay,“Godisinmyheart,”butrather,“IamintheheartofGod.”
Andthinknotyoucandirectthecourseoflove,forlove,ifitfindsyouworthy,directsyourcourse.
Lovehasnootherdesirebuttofulfilitself.
Butifyouloveandmustneedshavedesires,letthesebeyourdesires:.
To
sciogliersi
meltandbelikearunningbrookthatsingsitsmelodia
melodytothenight.Toknowthepainoftoomuchtenderness.
Tobewoundedbyyourownunderstandingoflove;.
Andtobleedwillinglyandjoyfully.
Towakeatdawnwithawingedheartandgivethanksforanotherdayofloving;.
Torestatthe
mezzogiorno
noonhourandmeditatelove’secstacy;.Toreturnhomeateventidewith
gratitudine
gratitude;.Andthentosleepwitha
preghiera
prayerforthebelovedinyourheartandasongoflode
praiseuponyourlips.ThenAlmitraspokeagainandsaid,AndwhatofMarriagemaster?
Andheansweredsaying:.
Youwereborntogether,andtogetheryoushallbeforevermore.
Youshallbetogetherwhenthewhitewingsofdeath
disperderanno
scatteryourdays.Aye,youshallbetogethereveninthesilentmemoryofGod.
Butlettherebespacesinyourtogetherness,.
Andletthewindsoftheheavensdancebetweenyou.
Loveoneanother,butmakenotabondoflove:.
Letitratherbeamovingseabetweentheshoresofyoursouls.
Filleachother’scupbutdrinknotfromonecup.
Giveoneanotherofyourbreadbuteatnotfromthesameloaf.
Singanddancetogetherandbe
gioiosi
joyous,butleteachoneofyoubealone,.Evenasthestringsofalutearealonethoughtheyquiverwiththesamemusic.
Giveyourhearts,butnotintoeachother’skeeping.
ForonlythehandofLifecan
contenere
containyourhearts.Andstandtogetheryetnottooneartogether:.
Forthepillarsofthetemplestandapart,.
Andthe
quercia
oaktreeandthecypressgrownotineachother’sshadow.Andawomanwhoheldababeagainsther
petto
bosomsaid,SpeaktousofChildren.Andhesaid:.
Yourchildrenarenotyourchildren.
TheyarethesonsanddaughtersofLife’s
desiderio
longingforitself.Theycomethroughyoubutnotfromyou,.
Andthoughtheyarewithyouyettheybelongnottoyou.
Youmaygivethemyourlovebutnotyourthoughts,.
Fortheyhavetheirownthoughts.
Youmayhousetheirbodiesbutnottheirsouls,.
Fortheirsouls
dimorano
dwellinthehouseoftomorrow,whichyoucannotvisit,noteveninyourdreams.Youmaystrivetobelikethem,butseeknottomakethemlikeyou.
Forlifegoesnotbackwardnortarrieswithyesterday.
Youarethebowsfromwhichyourchildrenaslivingarrowsaresentforth.
Thearcherseesthemarkuponthepathoftheinfinite,andHe
piega
bendsyouwithHismightthatHisarrowsmaygoswiftandfar.LetyourbendingintheArcher’shandbeforgladness;.
Forevenashelovesthe
freccia
arrowthatflies,soHelovesalsothebowthatisstabile
stable.Thensaidarichman,SpeaktousofGiving.
Andheanswered:.
Yougivebutlittlewhenyougiveofyourpossessions.
Itiswhenyougiveofyourselfthatyoutrulygive.
Forwhatareyourpossessionsbutthingsyoukeepandguardforfearyoumayneedthemtomorrow?
Andtomorrow,whatshalltomorrowbringtotheoverprudentdogburyingbonesinthetracklesssandashefollowsthepilgrimstotheholycity?
Andwhatisfearofneedbutneeditself?
Isnotdreadof
sete
thirstwhenyourwellisfull,thesete
thirstthatisunquenchable?Therearethosewhogivelittleofthemuchwhichtheyhave—andtheygiveitfor
riconoscimento
recognitionandtheirhiddendesiremakestheirgiftsunwholesome.Andtherearethosewhohavelittleandgiveitall.
Thesearethebelieversinlifeandthebountyoflife,andtheircofferisneverempty.
Therearethosewhogivewithjoy,andthatjoyistheirreward.
Andtherearethosewhogivewithpain,andthatpainistheir
battesimo
baptism.Andtherearethosewhogiveandknownotpainingiving,nordotheyseekjoy,norgivewithmindfulnessof
virtù
virtue;.Theygiveasinyondervalleythemyrtlebreathesits
fragranza
fragranceintospace.ThroughthehandsofsuchastheseGodspeaks,andfrombehindtheireyesHesmilesupontheearth.
Itiswelltogivewhenasked,butitisbettertogiveunasked,throughunderstanding;.
Andtotheopen-handedthesearchforonewhoshallreceiveisjoygreaterthangiving.
Andisthereaughtyouwouldwithhold?
Allyouhaveshallsomedaybegiven;.
Thereforegivenow,thattheseasonofgivingmaybeyoursandnotyourinheritors’.
Youoftensay,“Iwouldgive,butonlytothedeserving.”
Thetreesinyour
frutteto
orchardsaynotso,northeflocksinyourpascolo
pasture.Theygivethattheymaylive,fortowithholdisto
perire
perish.Surelyhewhoisworthytoreceivehisdaysandhisnights,isworthyofallelsefromyou.
Andhewhohasdeservedtodrinkfromtheoceanoflifedeservestofillhiscupfromyourlittle
ruscello
stream.Andwhatdesertgreatershalltherebe,thanthatwhichliesinthecourageandtheconfidence,
anzi
naythecharity,ofreceiving?Andwhoareyouthatmenshouldrendtheir
petto
bosomandunveiltheirpride,thatyoumayseetheirworthnakedandtheirprideunabashed?Seefirstthatyouyourselfdeservetobeagiver,andan
strumento
instrumentofgiving.Forintruthitislifethatgivesuntolife—whileyou,whodeemyourselfagiver,arebutawitness.
Andyoureceivers—andyouareallreceivers—assumenoweightof
gratitudine
gratitude,lestyoulayayokeuponyourselfanduponhimwhogives.Ratherrisetogetherwiththegiveronhisgiftsasonwings;.
Fortobeovermindfulofyourdebt,isitodoubthis
generosità
generositywhohasthefreeheartedearthformother,andGodforfather.Thenanoldman,akeeperofan
locanda
inn,said,SpeaktousofEatingandDrinking.