THEBOOKSOFKAHLILGIBRAN
TheMadman.
1918TwentyDrawings.
1919TheForerunner.
1920The
Profeten
Prophet.1923SandandFoam.
1926JesustheSonofMan.
1928TheForthGods.
1931TheWanderer.
1932TheGardenoftheProphet1933ProsePoems.
1934NymphsoftheValley.
THE
Profeten
PROPHETAlmustafa,thechosenandthebeloved,whowasadawnuntohisownday,hadwaitedtwelveyearsinthecityofOrphaleseforhisshipthatwastoreturnandbearhimbacktothe
øya
isleofhisbirth.Andinthetwelfthyear,onthe
syvende
seventhdayofIelool,themonthofreaping,heclimbedthehillwithoutthecitywallsandlookedseaward;andhebeheldhisshipcomingwiththe
tåken
mist.Thenthegatesofhisheartwereflungopen,andhisjoyflewfaroverthesea.
Andheclosedhiseyesandprayedinthesilencesofhissoul.
Butashedescendedthehill,a
tristhet
sadnesscameuponhim,andhethoughtinhisheart:.HowshallIgoinpeaceandwithout
sorg
sorrow?Nay,notwithoutawoundinthespiritshallIleavethiscity.
LongwerethedaysofpainIhavespentwithinitswalls,andlongwerethenightsofaloneness;
andwhocandepartfromhispainandhisalonenesswithoutregret?
ToomanyfragmentsofthespirithaveIscatteredinthesestreets,andtoomanyarethechildrenofmylongingthatwalknakedamongthesehills,andIcannot
trekke
withdrawfromthemwithoutabyrde
burdenandanache.ItisnotagarmentIcastoffthisday,butaskinthatItearwithmyownhands.
NorisitathoughtIleavebehindme,butaheartmadesweetwith
sult
hungerandwiththirst.YetIcannottarrylonger.
Theseathatcallsallthingsuntohercallsme,andImustembark.
Fortostay,thoughthehoursburninthenight,istofreezeandcrystallizeandbeboundinamould.
FainwouldItakewithmeallthatishere.
ButhowshallI?
Avoicecannotcarrythetongueandthelipsthatgaveitwings.
Alonemustitseekthe
eter
ether.Andaloneandwithouthisnestshallthe
ørnen
eagleflyacrossthesun.Nowwhenhereachedthefootofthehill,heturnedagaintowardsthesea,andhesawhisshipapproachingtheharbour,anduponherprowthemariners,themenofhisownland.
Andhissoulcriedouttothem,andhesaid:.
Sonsofmyancientmother,youridersofthetides,.
Howoftenhaveyou
seilt
sailedinmydreams.Andnowyoucomeinmyawakening,whichismydeeperdream.
ReadyamItogo,andmyeagernesswithsailsfullset
venter
awaitsthewind.OnlyanotherbreathwillIbreatheinthisstillair,onlyanotherlovinglookcastbackward,.
AndthenIshallstandamongyou,aseafareramongseafarers.
Andyou,
vidstrakt
vastsea,sleeplessmother,.Whoalonearepeaceandfreedomtotheriverandthestream,.
Onlyanotherwindingwillthis
strømmen
streammake,onlyanothermurmurinthisglade,.AndthenshallIcometoyou,aboundlessdroptoaboundlessocean.
Andashewalkedhesawfromafarmenandwomenleavingtheirfieldsandtheirvineyardsandhasteningtowardsthecitygates.
Andheheardtheirvoicescallinghisname,andshoutingfromfieldtofieldtellingoneanotherofthecomingofhisship.
Andhesaidtohimself:.
Shallthedayofpartingbethedayofgathering?
Andshallitbesaidthatmyevewasintruthmydawn?
AndwhatshallIgiveuntohimwhohaslefthisploughinmidfurrow,ortohimwhohasstoppedthewheelofhiswinepress?
Shallmyheartbecomeatreeheavy-ladenwithfruitthatImaygatherandgiveuntothem?
Andshallmydesires
flyte
flowlikeafountainthatImayfilltheircups?AmIa
harpe
harpthatthehandofthemightymaytouchme,orafløyte
flutethathisbreathmaypassthroughme?AseekerofsilencesamI,andwhattreasurehaveIfoundinsilencesthatImaydispensewithconfidence?
Ifthisismydayofharvest,inwhatfieldshaveIsowedthe
frøet
seed,andinwhatunrememberedseasons?IfthisindeedbethehourinwhichIliftupmy
lanterne
lantern,itisnotmyflamme
flamethatshallburntherein.EmptyanddarkshallIraisemy
lanterne
lantern,.Andtheguardianofthenightshallfillitwithoilandheshalllightitalso.
Thesethingshesaidinwords.
Butmuchinhisheartremainedunsaid.
Forhehimselfcouldnotspeakhisdeepersecret.
Andwhenheenteredintothecityallthepeoplecametomeethim,andtheywerecryingouttohimaswithonevoice.
Andtheeldersofthecitystood
frem
forthandsaid:.Gonotyetawayfromus.
Anoontidehaveyoubeeninour
skumring
twilight,andyouryouthhasgivenusdreamstodream.Nostrangerareyouamongus,noraguest,butoursonandourdearlybeloved.
Suffernotyetoureyestohungerforyourface.
Andthepriestsandthepriestessessaiduntohim:.
Letnotthewavesoftheseaseparateusnow,andtheyearsyouhavespentinourmidstbecomeamemory.
Youhavewalkedamongusaspirit,andyourshadowhasbeenalightuponourfaces.
Muchhavewelovedyou.
Butspeechlesswasourlove,andwithveilshasitbeenveiled.
Yetnowitcries
høyt
alouduntoyou,andwouldstandrevealedbeforeyou.Andeverhasitbeenthatloveknowsnotitsown
dybde
depthuntilthehourofseparasjon
separation.Andotherscamealsoandentreatedhim.
Butheansweredthemnot.
Heonly
bøyde
benthishead;andthosewhostoodnearsawhistearsfallinguponhisbreast.
Andheandthepeople
fortsatte
proceededtowardsthegreatsquarebeforethetemple.AndtherecameoutofthesanctuaryawomanwhosenamewasAlmitra.
Andshewasaseeress.
Andhelookeduponherwithexceeding
ømhet
tenderness,foritwasshewhohadfirstsoughtandbelievedinhimwhenhehadbeenbutadayintheircity.Andshehailedhim,saying:.
Profet
ProphetofGod,inquestoftheuttermost,longhaveyousearchedthedistancesforyourship.Andnowyourshiphascome,andyoumustneedsgo.
Deepisyourlongingforthelandofyourmemoriesandthedwellingplaceofyourgreaterdesires;
andourlovewouldnot
binde
bindyounorourneedsholdyou.Yetthisweaskereyouleaveus,thatyouspeaktousandgiveusofyourtruth.
Andwewillgiveituntoourchildren,andtheyuntotheirchildren,anditshallnot
grunne
perish.Inyouralonenessyouhavewatchedwithourdays,andinyourwakefulnessyouhavelistenedtotheweepingandthelaughterofoursleep.
Nowtherefore
avsløre
discloseustoourselves,andtellusallthathasbeenshownyouofthatwhichisbetweenbirthanddeath.Andheanswered,.
PeopleofOrphalese,ofwhatcanIspeaksaveofthatwhichisevennowmovingwithinyoursouls?
ThensaidAlmitra,SpeaktousofLove.
Andheraisedhisheadandlookeduponthepeople,andtherefellastillnessuponthem.
Andwithagreatvoicehesaid:.
Whenlovebeckonstoyou,followhim,.
Thoughhiswaysarehardandsteep.
Andwhenhiswingsenfoldyou
gi
yieldtohim,.Thoughtheswordhiddenamonghispinionsmaywoundyou.
Andwhenhespeakstoyoubelieveinhim,.
Thoughhisvoicemay
knuse
shatteryourdreamsasthenorthwindlayswastethegarden.Forevenaslovecrownsyousoshallhecrucifyyou.
Evenasheisforyour
vekst
growthsoisheforyourpruning.Evenashe
stiger
ascendstoyourheightandcaressesyourtenderestbranchesthatquiverinthesun,.Soshallhe
stige
descendtoyourrootsandshakethemintheirclingingtotheearth.Likesheavesofcornhegathersyouuntohimself.
Hethreshesyoutomakeyounaked.
Hesiftsyoutofreeyoufromyourhusks.
He
maler
grindsyoutowhiteness.Hekneadsyouuntilyouarepliant;.
Andthenhe
tildeler
assignsyoutohissacredfire,thatyoumaybecomehellige
sacredbreadforGod’ssacredfest
feast.Allthesethingsshalllovedountoyouthatyoumayknowthesecretsofyourheart,andinthatknowledgebecomeafragmentofLife’sheart.
Butifinyourfearyouwouldseekonlylove’speaceandlove’spleasure,.
Thenitisbetterforyouthatyoucoveryournakednessandpassoutoflove’sthreshing-floor,.
Intotheseasonlessworldwhereyoushalllaugh,butnotallofyourlaughter,andweep,butnotallofyourtears.
Lovegivesnaughtbutitselfandtakesnaughtbutfromitself.
Lovepossessesnotnorwoulditbepossessed;.
Forloveis
tilstrekkelig
sufficientuntolove.Whenyouloveyoushouldnotsay,“Godisinmyheart,”butrather,“IamintheheartofGod.”
Andthinknotyoucandirectthecourseoflove,forlove,ifitfindsyou
verdig
worthy,directsyourcourse.Lovehasnootherdesirebutto
oppfylle
fulfilitself.Butifyouloveandmustneedshavedesires,letthesebeyourdesires:.
To
smelte
meltandbelikearunningbrookthatsingsitsmelodi
melodytothenight.Toknowthepainoftoomuch
ømhet
tenderness.Tobewoundedbyyourownunderstandingoflove;.
Andtobleedwillinglyandjoyfully.
Towakeatdawnwithawingedheartandgivethanksforanotherdayofloving;.
Torestatthenoonhourandmeditatelove’secstacy;.
Toreturnhomeateventidewith
takknemlighet
gratitude;.Andthentosleepwitha
bønn
prayerforthebelovedinyourheartandasongoflovprisning
praiseuponyourlips.ThenAlmitraspokeagainandsaid,AndwhatofMarriagemaster?
Andheansweredsaying:.
Youwereborntogether,andtogetheryoushallbeforevermore.
Youshallbetogetherwhenthewhitewingsofdeathscatteryourdays.
Aye,youshallbetogethereveninthesilentmemoryofGod.
Butlettherebespacesinyourtogetherness,.
Andletthewindsoftheheavensdancebetweenyou.
Loveoneanother,butmakenotabondoflove:.
Letitratherbeamovingseabetweentheshoresofyoursouls.
Filleachother’scupbutdrinknotfromonecup.
Giveoneanotherofyourbreadbuteatnotfromthesameloaf.
Singanddancetogetherandbejoyous,butleteachoneofyoubealone,.
Evenasthestringsofalutearealonethoughtheyquiverwiththesamemusic.
Giveyourhearts,butnotintoeachother’skeeping.
ForonlythehandofLifecan
inneholde
containyourhearts.Andstandtogetheryetnottooneartogether:.
Forthepillarsofthetemplestandapart,.
Andtheoaktreeandthecypressgrownotineachother’sshadow.
Andawomanwhoheldababeagainstherbosomsaid,SpeaktousofChildren.
Andhesaid:.
Yourchildrenarenotyourchildren.
TheyarethesonsanddaughtersofLife’slongingforitself.
Theycomethroughyoubutnotfromyou,.
Andthoughtheyarewithyouyettheybelongnottoyou.
Youmaygivethemyourlovebutnotyourthoughts,.
Fortheyhavetheirownthoughts.
Youmayhousetheirbodiesbutnottheirsouls,.
Fortheirsouls
bor
dwellinthehouseoftomorrow,whichyoucannotvisit,noteveninyourdreams.Youmay
streve
strivetobelikethem,butseeknottomakethemlikeyou.Forlifegoesnotbackwardnortarrieswithyesterday.
Youarethebowsfromwhichyourchildrenaslivingarrowsaresentforth.
Thearcherseesthemarkuponthepathoftheinfinite,andHebendsyouwithHismightthatHisarrowsmaygoswiftandfar.
LetyourbendingintheArcher’shandbeforgladness;.
Forevenashelovesthe
pilen
arrowthatflies,soHelovesalsothebowthatisstabil
stable.Thensaidarichman,SpeaktousofGiving.
Andheanswered:.
Yougivebutlittlewhenyougiveofyourpossessions.
Itiswhenyougiveofyourselfthatyoutrulygive.
Forwhatareyourpossessionsbutthingsyoukeepandguardforfearyoumayneedthemtomorrow?
Andtomorrow,whatshalltomorrowbringtotheoverprudentdogburyingbonesinthetracklesssandashefollowsthepilgrimstotheholycity?
Andwhatisfearofneedbutneeditself?
Isnotdreadof
tørst
thirstwhenyourwellisfull,thetørst
thirstthatisunquenchable?Therearethosewhogivelittleofthemuchwhichtheyhave—andtheygiveitfor
anerkjennelse
recognitionandtheirhiddendesiremakestheirgiftsunwholesome.Andtherearethosewhohavelittleandgiveitall.
Thesearethebelieversinlifeandthebountyoflife,andtheircofferisneverempty.
Therearethosewhogivewithjoy,andthatjoyistheirreward.
Andtherearethosewhogivewithpain,andthatpainistheir
dåp
baptism.Andtherearethosewhogiveandknownotpainingiving,nordotheyseekjoy,norgivewithmindfulnessof
dyd
virtue;.Theygiveasinyondervalleythemyrtlebreathesits
duft
fragranceintospace.ThroughthehandsofsuchastheseGodspeaks,andfrombehindtheireyesHesmilesupontheearth.
Itiswelltogivewhenasked,butitisbettertogiveunasked,throughunderstanding;.
Andtotheopen-handedthesearchforonewhoshallreceiveisjoygreaterthangiving.
Andisthereaughtyouwouldwithhold?
Allyouhaveshallsomedaybegiven;.
Thereforegivenow,thattheseasonofgivingmaybeyoursandnotyourinheritors’.
Youoftensay,“Iwouldgive,butonlytothedeserving.”
Thetreesinyourorchardsaynotso,northeflocksinyourpasture.
Theygivethattheymaylive,fortowithholdisto
grunne
perish.Surelyhewhois
verdig
worthytoreceivehisdaysandhisnights,isverdig
worthyofallelsefromyou.Andhewhohasdeservedtodrinkfromtheoceanoflifedeservestofillhiscupfromyourlittle
bekk
stream.Andwhatdesertgreatershalltherebe,thanthatwhichliesinthecourageandtheconfidence,
nei
naythecharity,ofreceiving?Andwhoareyouthatmenshouldrendtheirbosomandunveiltheirpride,thatyoumayseetheirworthnakedandtheirprideunabashed?
Seefirstthatyouyourselfdeservetobeagiver,andaninstrumentofgiving.
Forintruthitislifethatgivesuntolife—whileyou,whodeemyourselfagiver,arebutawitness.
Andyoureceivers—andyouareallreceivers—assumenoweightof
takknemlighet
gratitude,lestyoulayayokeuponyourselfanduponhimwhogives.Ratherrisetogetherwiththegiveronhisgiftsasonwings;.
Fortobeovermindfulofyourdebt,isitodoubthis
gavmildhet
generositywhohasthefreeheartedearthformother,andGodforfather.Thenanoldman,akeeperofaninn,said,SpeaktousofEatingandDrinking.