THEBOOKSOFKAHLILGIBRAN
TheMadman.
1918TwentyDrawings.
1919TheForerunner.
1920TheProphet.
1923SandandFoam.
1926JesustheSonofMan.
1928TheForthGods.
1931TheWanderer.
1932TheGardenoftheProphet1933ProsePoems.
1934NymphsoftheValley.
THEPROPHET
Almustafa,thechosenandthebeloved,whowasadawnuntohisownday,hadwaitedtwelveyearsinthecityofOrphaleseforhis
skip
shipthatwastoreturnandbære
bearhimbacktotheisleofhisbirth.Andinthetwelfthyear,ontheseventhdayofIelool,themonthofreaping,heclimbedthehillwithoutthecitywallsandlookedseaward;
andhebeheldhis
skipet
shipcomingwiththemist.Thenthegatesofhisheartwereflungopen,andhisjoy
fløy
flewfaroverthesea.Andheclosedhiseyesandprayedinthesilencesofhis
sjel
soul.Butashedescendedthehill,asadnesscameuponhim,andhethoughtinhisheart:.
HowshallIgoin
fred
peaceandwithoutsorrow?Nay,notwithoutawoundinthe
ånden
spiritshallIleavethiscity.Longwerethedaysof
smerte
painIhavespentwithinitswalls,andlongwerethenightsofaloneness;andwhocandepartfromhis
smerte
painandhisalonenesswithoutregret?Toomanyfragmentsofthe
ånden
spirithaveIscatteredinthesestreets,andtoomanyarethechildrenofmylongingthatwalknakedamongthesehills,andIcannotwithdrawfromthemwithoutaburdenandanache.ItisnotagarmentIcastoffthisday,butaskinthatItearwithmyownhands.
Heller
NorisitathoughtIleavebehindme,butaheartmadesweetwithhungerandwiththirst.YetIcannottarrylonger.
The
havet
seathatcallsallthingsuntohercallsme,andImustembark.Fortostay,thoughthehours
brenner
burninthenight,istofreezeandcrystallizeandbeboundinamould.FainwouldItakewithmeallthatishere.
ButhowshallI?
A
stemme
voicecannotcarrythetongueandthelipsthatgaveitwings.Alonemustitseektheether.
Andaloneandwithouthisnestshalltheeagle
fly
flyacrossthesun.Nowwhenhe
nådde
reachedthefootofthehill,heturnedagaintowardsthesjøen
sea,andhesawhisskip
shipapproachingtheharbour,anduponherprowthemariners,themenofhisownland
land.Andhissoulcriedouttothem,andhesaid:.
Sonsofmyancientmother,youridersofthetides,.
How
ofte
oftenhaveyousailedinmydreams.Andnowyoucomeinmyawakening,whichismydeeperdream.
ReadyamItogo,andmyeagernesswithsailsfullsetawaitsthewind.
OnlyanotherbreathwillIbreatheinthisstillair,onlyanotherlovinglookcastbackward,.
AndthenIshallstandamongyou,aseafareramongseafarers.
Andyou,vast
hav
sea,sleeplessmother,.Whoaloneare
fred
peaceandfreedomtotheelven
riverandthestream,.Onlyanotherwindingwillthisstreammake,onlyanothermurmurinthisglade,.
AndthenshallIcometoyou,aboundless
dråpe
droptoaboundlessocean.Andashewalkedhesawfromafarmenandwomenleavingtheirfieldsandtheirvineyardsandhasteningtowardsthecitygates.
Andheheardtheirvoicescallinghisname,andshoutingfromfieldtofieldtellingoneanotherofthecomingofhis
skipet
ship.Andhesaidtohimself:.
Shallthedayofpartingbethedayofgathering?
Andshallitbesaidthatmyevewasintruthmydawn?
AndwhatshallIgiveuntohimwhohaslefthisploughinmidfurrow,ortohimwhohasstoppedthewheelofhiswinepress?
Shallmyheartbecomea
tre
treeheavy-ladenwithfruitthatImaygatherandgiveuntothem?AndshallmydesiresflowlikeafountainthatImayfilltheircups?
AmIaharpthatthehandofthemightymaytouchme,oraflutethathisbreathmay
passere
passthroughme?AseekerofsilencesamI,andwhattreasurehaveIfoundinsilencesthatImaydispensewithconfidence?
Ifthisismydayofharvest,inwhatfieldshaveIsowedtheseed,andinwhatunrememberedseasons?
IfthisindeedbethehourinwhichIliftupmylantern,itisnotmyflamethatshall
brenne
burntherein.EmptyanddarkshallI
heve
raisemylantern,.Andtheguardianofthenightshallfillitwithoilandheshalllightitalso.
Thesethingshesaidinwords.
Butmuchinhisheartremainedunsaid.
Forhehimselfcouldnotspeakhisdeeper
hemmelighet
secret.Andwhenheenteredintothecityallthepeoplecametomeethim,andtheywerecryingouttohimaswithone
stemme
voice.Andtheeldersofthecitystoodforthandsaid:.
Gonotyetawayfromus.
Anoontidehaveyoubeeninourtwilight,andyouryouthhasgivenusdreamstodream.
Nostrangerareyouamongus,
heller
noraguest,butoursonandourdearlybeloved.Suffernotyetoureyestohungerforyourface.
Andthepriestsandthepriestessessaiduntohim:.
Letnotthewavesofthe
havet
seaseparateusnow,andtheyearsyouhavespentinourmidstbecomeaminne
memory.Youhavewalkedamongusa
ånd
spirit,andyourshadowhasbeenalightuponourfaces.Muchhavewelovedyou.
Butspeechlesswasourlove,andwithveilshasitbeenveiled.
Yetnowitcriesalouduntoyou,andwouldstandrevealedbeforeyou.
Andeverhasitbeenthatloveknowsnotitsowndepthuntilthehourofseparation.
Andotherscamealsoandentreatedhim.
Butheansweredthemnot.
Heonlybenthishead;
andthosewhostoodnearsawhistearsfallinguponhisbreast.
Andheandthepeopleproceededtowardsthegreatsquarebeforethetemple.
AndtherecameoutofthesanctuaryawomanwhosenamewasAlmitra.
Andshewasaseeress.
Andhelookeduponherwithexceedingtenderness,foritwasshewhohadfirstsoughtandbelievedinhimwhenhehadbeenbutadayintheircity.
Andshehailedhim,saying:.
ProphetofGod,inquestoftheuttermost,longhaveyou
søkt
searchedthedistancesforyourskip
ship.Andnowyourshiphascome,andyoumustneedsgo.
Dypt
Deepisyourlongingforthelandet
landofyourmemoriesandthedwellingplaceofyourgreaterdesires;andourlovewouldnotbindyou
eller
norourneedsholdyou.Yetthisweaskereyouleaveus,thatyouspeaktousandgiveusofyourtruth.
Andwewillgiveituntoourchildren,andtheyuntotheirchildren,anditshallnotperish.
Inyouralonenessyouhavewatchedwithourdays,andinyourwakefulnessyouhavelistenedtotheweepingandthelaughterofoursleep.
Nowthereforediscloseustoourselves,andtellusallthathasbeenshownyouofthatwhichisbetweenbirthanddeath.
Andheanswered,.
PeopleofOrphalese,ofwhatcanIspeaksaveofthatwhichisevennowmovingwithinyoursouls?
ThensaidAlmitra,SpeaktousofLove.
Andheraisedhisheadandlookeduponthepeople,andtherefellastillnessuponthem.
Andwithagreat
stemme
voicehesaid:.Whenlovebeckonstoyou,followhim,.
Thoughhiswaysarehardandsteep.
Andwhenhiswingsenfoldyouyieldtohim,.
Thoughthesword
skjult
hiddenamonghispinionsmaywoundyou.Andwhenhespeakstoyoubelieveinhim,.
Thoughhis
stemme
voicemayshatteryourdreamsasthenorthwindlayswastethegarden.Forevenaslovecrownsyousoshallhecrucifyyou.
Evenasheisforyourgrowthsoisheforyourpruning.
Evenasheascendstoyourheightandcaressesyourtenderestbranchesthatquiverinthe
solen
sun,.Soshallhedescendtoyourrootsandshakethemintheirclingingtotheearth.
Likesheavesofcornhegathersyouuntohimself.
Hethreshesyoutomakeyounaked.
Hesiftsyoutofreeyoufromyourhusks.
Hegrindsyoutowhiteness.
Hekneadsyouuntilyouarepliant;.
Andthenheassignsyoutohissacredfire,thatyoumaybecomesacredbreadforGod’ssacredfeast.
Allthesethingsshalllovedountoyouthatyoumayknowthesecretsofyourheart,andinthatknowledgebecomeafragmentofLife’sheart.
Butifinyour
frykt
fearyouwouldseekonlylove’sfred
peaceandlove’spleasure,.Thenitisbetterforyouthatyou
dekker
coveryournakednessandpassoutoflove’sthreshing-floor,.Intotheseasonlessworldwhereyoushall
le
laugh,butnotallofyourlaughter,andweep,butnotallofyourtears.Lovegivesnaughtbutitselfandtakesnaughtbutfromitself.
Lovepossessesnot
heller
norwoulditbepossessed;.Forloveissufficientuntolove.
Whenyouloveyoushouldnotsay,“Godisinmyheart,”but
heller
rather,“IamintheheartofGod.”Andthinknotyoucandirectthecourseoflove,forlove,ifitfindsyouworthy,directsyourcourse.
Lovehasnootherdesirebuttofulfilitself.
Butifyouloveandmustneedshavedesires,letthesebeyourdesires:.
Tomeltandbelikearunningbrookthatsingsitsmelodytothenight.
Toknowthepainoftoomuchtenderness.
Tobewoundedbyyourownunderstandingoflove;.
Andtobleedwillinglyandjoyfully.
Towakeatdawnwithawingedheartandgivethanksforanotherdayofloving;.
Torestatthenoonhourandmeditatelove’secstacy;.
Toreturnhomeateventidewithgratitude;.
Andthentosleepwithaprayerforthebelovedinyourheartanda
sang
songofpraiseuponyourlips.ThenAlmitraspokeagainandsaid,Andwhatof
Ekteskap
Marriagemaster?Andheansweredsaying:.
Youwere
født
borntogether,andtogetheryoushallbeforevermore.Youshallbetogetherwhenthewhitewingsofdeathscatteryourdays.
Aye,youshallbetogethereveninthesilentmemoryofGod.
Butlettherebespacesinyourtogetherness,.
Andletthewindsoftheheavensdancebetweenyou.
Loveoneanother,butmakenotabondoflove:.
Letit
heller
ratherbeamovingseabetweentheshoresofyoursouls.Filleachother’s
koppen
cupbutdrinknotfromonekoppen
cup.Giveoneanotherofyourbreadbuteatnotfromthesameloaf.
Singanddancetogetherandbejoyous,butleteachoneofyoubealone,.
Evenasthestringsofalutearealonethoughtheyquiverwiththesamemusic.
Giveyourhearts,butnotintoeachother’skeeping.
ForonlythehandofLifecancontainyourhearts.
Andstandtogetheryetnottoo
nær
neartogether:.Forthepillarsofthetemplestand
hverandre
apart,.Andtheoaktreeandthecypress
vokser
grownotineachother’sshadow.Andawomanwhoheldababeagainstherbosomsaid,SpeaktousofChildren.
Andhesaid:.
Yourchildrenarenotyourchildren.
TheyarethesonsanddaughtersofLife’slongingforitself.
Theycomethroughyoubutnotfromyou,.
Andthoughtheyarewithyouyettheybelongnottoyou.
Youmaygivethemyourlovebutnotyourthoughts,.
Fortheyhavetheirownthoughts.
Youmayhousetheirbodiesbutnottheirsouls,.
Fortheirsoulsdwellinthehouseoftomorrow,whichyoucannot
besøke
visit,noteveninyourdreams.Youmaystrivetobelikethem,butseeknottomakethemlikeyou.
Forlifegoesnotbackwardnortarrieswithyesterday.
Youarethebowsfromwhichyourchildrenaslivingarrowsaresentforth.
Thearcherseesthe
merket
markuponthepathoftheinfinite,andHebendsyouwithHismightthatHisarrowsmaygoswiftandfar.LetyourbendingintheArcher’shandbeforgladness;.
Forevenashelovesthearrowthatflies,soHelovesalsothebowthatisstable.
Thensaida
rik
richman,SpeaktousofGiving.Andheanswered:.
Yougivebutlittlewhenyougiveofyourpossessions.
Itiswhenyougiveofyourselfthatyoutrulygive.
Forwhatareyourpossessionsbutthingsyoukeepand
vokter
guardforfearyoumayneedthemtomorrow?Andtomorrow,whatshalltomorrowbringtotheoverprudentdogburyingbonesinthetracklesssandashefollowsthepilgrimstothe
hellige
holycity?Andwhatis
frykt
fearofneedbutneeditself?Isnotdreadofthirstwhenyourwellisfull,thethirstthatisunquenchable?
Therearethosewhogivelittleofthemuchwhichtheyhave—andtheygiveitforrecognitionandtheir
skjulte
hiddendesiremakestheirgiftsunwholesome.Andtherearethosewhohavelittleandgiveitall.
Thesearethebelieversinlifeandthebountyoflife,andtheircofferisnever
tom
empty.Therearethosewhogivewithjoy,andthatjoyistheirreward.
Andtherearethosewhogivewith
smerte
pain,andthatpainistheirbaptism.Andtherearethosewhogiveandknownot
smerte
painingiving,nordotheyseekjoy,norgivewithmindfulnessofvirtue;.Theygiveasinyondervalleythemyrtle
puster
breathesitsfragranceintospace.ThroughthehandsofsuchastheseGodspeaks,andfrombehindtheireyesHe
smiler
smilesupontheearth.Itiswelltogivewhenasked,butitisbettertogiveunasked,throughunderstanding;.
Andtotheopen-handedthesearchforonewhoshallreceiveisjoygreaterthangiving.
Andisthereaughtyouwouldwithhold?
Allyouhaveshallsomedaybegiven;.
Thereforegivenow,thattheseasonofgivingmaybeyoursandnotyourinheritors’.
You
ofte
oftensay,“Iwouldgive,butonlytothedeserving.”Thetreesinyourorchardsaynotso,
heller
northeflocksinyourpasture.Theygivethattheymaylive,fortowithholdistoperish.
Surelyhewhoisworthytoreceivehisdaysandhisnights,isworthyofallelsefromyou.
Andhewhohasdeservedtodrinkfromtheoceanoflifedeservestofillhis
kopp
cupfromyourlittlestream.Andwhatdesertgreatershalltherebe,thanthatwhichliesinthecourageandtheconfidence,naythecharity,ofreceiving?
Andwhoareyouthatmenshouldrendtheirbosomandunveiltheirpride,thatyoumayseetheirworthnakedandtheirprideunabashed?
Seefirstthatyouyourselfdeservetobeagiver,andaninstrumentofgiving.
Forintruthitislifethatgivesuntolife—whileyou,whodeemyourselfagiver,arebutawitness.
Andyoureceivers—andyouareallreceivers—assumenoweightofgratitude,lestyoulayayokeuponyourselfanduponhimwhogives.
Snarere
Ratherrisetogetherwiththegiveronhisgiftsasonwings;.Fortobeovermindfulofyourdebt,isito
tvile
doubthisgenerositywhohasthefreeheartedearthformother,andGodforfather.Thenanoldman,akeeperofaninn,said,SpeaktousofEatingandDrinking.