THEBOOKSOFKAHLILGIBRAN
TheMadman.
1918TwentyDrawings.
1919TheForerunner.
1920TheProphet.
1923SandandFoam.
1926JesustheSonofMan.
1928TheForthGods.
1931TheWanderer.
1932TheGardenoftheProphet1933ProsePoems.
1934NymphsoftheValley.
THEPROPHET
Almustafa,the
elegido
chosenandthebeloved,whowasadawnuntohisownday,hadwaitedtwelveyearsinthecityofOrphaleseforhisbarco
shipthatwastoreturnandbearhimbacktotheisleofhisbirth.Andinthetwelfthyear,ontheseventhdayofIelool,the
mes
monthofreaping,heclimbedthehillwithoutthecitywallsandlookedseaward;andhebeheldhis
barco
shipcomingwiththemist.Thenthegatesofhisheartwereflungopen,andhisjoy
voló
flewfaroverthesea.Andheclosedhiseyesand
oró
prayedinthesilencesofhisalma
soul.Butashedescendedthehill,asadnesscameuponhim,andhethoughtinhisheart:.
HowshallIgoin
paz
peaceandwithoutsorrow?Nay,notwithoutawoundinthe
espíritu
spiritshallIleavethiscity.Longwerethedaysof
dolor
painIhavespentwithinitswalls,andlongwerethenightsofaloneness;andwhocandepartfromhis
dolor
painandhisalonenesswithoutregret?Toomanyfragmentsofthe
espíritu
spirithaveIscatteredinthesestreets,andtoomanyarethechildrenofmylongingthatwalknakedamongthesehills,andIcannotwithdrawfromthemwithoutaburdenandanache.ItisnotagarmentIcastoffthisday,buta
piel
skinthatItearwithmyownhands.NorisitathoughtIleavebehindme,butaheartmadesweetwithhungerandwiththirst.
YetIcannottarrylonger.
The
mar
seathatcallsallthingsuntohercallsme,andImustembark.Fortostay,thoughthehours
arden
burninthenight,istofreezeandcrystallizeandbeboundinamould.FainwouldItakewithmeallthatishere.
ButhowshallI?
A
voz
voicecannotcarrythetongueandthelipsthatgaveitwings.Alonemustitseektheether.
Andaloneandwithouthisnestshalltheeagle
volará
flyacrossthesun.Nowwhenhe
llegó
reachedthefootofthehill,heturnedagaintowardsthemar
sea,andhesawhisbarco
shipapproachingtheharbour,anduponherprowthemariners,themenofhisowntierra
land.Andhissoulcriedouttothem,andhesaid:.
Sonsofmyancientmother,youridersofthetides,.
Howoftenhaveyousailedinmydreams.
Andnowyoucomeinmyawakening,whichismydeeperdream.
ReadyamItogo,andmyeagernesswithsailsfullsetawaitsthe
viento
wind.OnlyanotherbreathwillI
respiraré
breatheinthisstillair,onlyanotherlovinglookcastbackward,.AndthenIshallstandamongyou,aseafareramongseafarers.
Andyou,vast
mar
sea,sleeplessmother,.Whoalonearepeaceandfreedomtothe
río
riverandthestream,.Onlyanotherwindingwillthisstreammake,onlyanothermurmurinthisglade,.
AndthenshallIcometoyou,aboundless
gota
droptoaboundlessocean.Andashewalkedhesawfromafarmenandwomenleavingtheirfieldsandtheirvineyardsandhasteningtowardsthecitygates.
Andheheardtheirvoicescallinghisname,andshoutingfrom
campo
fieldtofieldtellingoneanotherofthecomingofhisnave
ship.Andhesaidtohimself:.
Shallthedayofpartingbethedayofgathering?
Andshallitbesaidthatmyevewasintruthmydawn?
AndwhatshallIgiveuntohimwhohaslefthisploughinmidfurrow,ortohimwhohasstoppedthewheelofhiswinepress?
Shallmyheartbecomea
árbol
treeheavy-ladenwithfruitthatImaygatherandgiveuntothem?AndshallmydesiresflowlikeafountainthatImayfilltheircups?
AmIaharpthatthehandofthemightymaytouchme,oraflutethathisbreathmay
pase
passthroughme?AseekerofsilencesamI,andwhattreasurehaveIfoundinsilencesthatImaydispensewithconfidence?
Ifthisismydayofharvest,inwhatfieldshaveIsowedtheseed,andinwhatunrememberedseasons?
IfthisindeedbethehourinwhichIliftupmylantern,itisnotmyflamethatshall
arderá
burntherein.EmptyanddarkshallI
levantaré
raisemylantern,.Andtheguardianofthenightshallfillitwithoilandheshalllightitalso.
Thesethingshesaidinwords.
Butmuchinhisheartremainedunsaid.
Forhehimselfcouldnotspeakhisdeeper
secreto
secret.Andwhenheenteredintothecityallthepeoplecametomeethim,andtheywerecryingouttohimaswithone
voz
voice.Andtheeldersofthecitystoodforthandsaid:.
Gonotyetawayfromus.
Anoontidehaveyoubeeninourtwilight,andyouryouthhasgivenusdreamstodream.
Nostrangerareyouamongus,
ni
noraguest,butoursonandourdearlybeloved.Suffernotyetoureyestohungerforyourface.
Andthepriestsandthepriestessessaiduntohim:.
Letnotthewavesofthe
mar
seaseparateusnow,andtheyearsyouhavepasado
spentinourmidstbecomearecuerdo
memory.Youhavewalkedamongusa
espíritu
spirit,andyourshadowhasbeenalightuponourfaces.Muchhavewelovedyou.
Butspeechlesswasourlove,andwithveilshasitbeenveiled.
Yetnowitcriesalouduntoyou,andwouldstandrevealedbeforeyou.
Andeverhasitbeenthatloveknowsnotitsowndepthuntilthehourofseparation.
Andotherscamealsoandentreatedhim.
Butheansweredthemnot.
Heonlybenthishead;
andthosewhostood
cerca
nearsawhistearsfallinguponhisbreast.Andheandthepeopleproceededtowardsthegreatsquarebeforethetemple.
Andtherecameoutofthesanctuaryawoman
cuyo
whosenamewasAlmitra.Andshewasaseeress.
Andhelookeduponherwithexceedingtenderness,foritwasshewhohadfirstsoughtandbelievedinhimwhenhehadbeenbutadayintheircity.
Andshehailedhim,saying:.
ProphetofGod,inquestoftheuttermost,longhaveyousearchedthedistancesforyour
nave
ship.Andnowyourshiphascome,andyoumustneedsgo.
Profundo
Deepisyourlongingforthetierra
landofyourmemoriesandthedwellingplaceofyourgreaterdesires;andourlovewouldnotbindyou
ni
norourneedsholdyou.Yetthisweaskereyouleaveus,thatyouspeaktousandgiveusofyourtruth.
Andwewillgiveituntoourchildren,andtheyuntotheirchildren,anditshallnotperish.
Inyouralonenessyouhavewatchedwithourdays,andinyourwakefulnessyouhavelistenedtotheweepingandthelaughterofoursleep.
Nowthereforediscloseustoourselves,andtellusallthathasbeenshownyouofthatwhichisbetweenbirthanddeath.
Andheanswered,.
PeopleofOrphalese,ofwhatcanIspeaksaveofthatwhichisevennowmovingwithinyoursouls?
ThensaidAlmitra,SpeaktousofLove.
Andhe
levantó
raisedhisheadandlookeduponthepeople,andtherefellastillnessuponthem.Andwithagreat
voz
voicehesaid:.Whenlovebeckonstoyou,followhim,.
Thoughhiswaysarehardandsteep.
Andwhenhiswingsenfoldyouyieldtohim,.
Thoughtheswordhiddenamonghispinionsmaywoundyou.
Andwhenhespeakstoyoubelieveinhim,.
Thoughhis
voz
voicemayshatteryourdreamsasthenorte
northwindlayswastethegarden.Forevenaslovecrownsyousoshallhecrucifyyou.
Evenasheisforyourgrowthsoisheforyourpruning.
Evenasheascendstoyourheightandcaressesyourtenderestbranchesthatquiverinthe
sol
sun,.Soshallhedescendtoyourrootsandshakethemintheirclingingtotheearth.
Likesheavesofcornhegathersyouuntohimself.
Hethreshesyoutomakeyounaked.
Hesiftsyoutofreeyoufromyourhusks.
Hegrindsyoutowhiteness.
Hekneadsyouuntilyouarepliant;.
Andthenheassignsyoutohissacredfire,thatyoumaybecomesacredbreadforGod’ssacredfeast.
Allthesethingsshalllovedountoyouthatyoumayknowthesecretsofyourheart,andinthatknowledgebecomeafragmentofLife’sheart.
Butifinyour
miedo
fearyouwouldseekonlylove’spaz
peaceandlove’spleasure,.Thenitisbetterforyouthatyou
cubras
coveryournakednessandpassoutoflove’sthreshing-floor,.Intotheseasonlessworldwhereyoushalllaugh,butnotallofyourlaughter,andweep,butnotallofyourtears.
Lovegivesnaughtbutitselfandtakesnaughtbutfromitself.
Lovepossessesnot
ni
norwoulditbepossessed;.Forloveissufficientuntolove.
Whenyouloveyoushouldnotsay,“Godisinmyheart,”butrather,“IamintheheartofGod.”
Andthinknotyoucandirectthecourseoflove,forlove,ifitfindsyouworthy,directsyourcourse.
Lovehasnootherdesirebuttofulfilitself.
Butifyouloveandmustneedshavedesires,letthesebeyourdesires:.
Tomeltandbelikearunningbrookthatsingsitsmelodytothenight.
Toknowthe
dolor
painoftoomuchtenderness.Tobewoundedbyyourownunderstandingoflove;.
Andtobleedwillinglyandjoyfully.
Towakeatdawnwithawingedheartandgivethanksforanotherdayofloving;.
Torestatthenoonhourandmeditatelove’secstacy;.
Toreturnhomeateventidewithgratitude;.
Andthentosleepwithaprayerforthebelovedinyourheartanda
canción
songofpraiseuponyourlips.ThenAlmitraspokeagainandsaid,Andwhatof
Matrimonio
Marriagemaster?Andheansweredsaying:.
Youwere
nacisteis
borntogether,andtogetheryoushallbeforevermore.Youshallbetogetherwhenthewhitewingsofdeathscatteryourdays.
Aye,youshallbetogethereveninthesilent
recuerdo
memoryofGod.Butlettherebespacesinyourtogetherness,.
Andletthewindsoftheheavensdancebetweenyou.
Loveoneanother,butmakenotabondoflove:.
Letitratherbeamoving
mar
seabetweentheshoresofyoursouls.Filleachother’scupbutdrinknotfromonecup.
Giveoneanotherofyourbreadbuteatnotfromthesameloaf.
Singanddancetogetherandbejoyous,butleteachoneofyoubealone,.
Evenasthestringsofalutearealonethoughtheyquiverwiththesamemusic.
Giveyourhearts,butnotintoeachother’skeeping.
ForonlythehandofLifecancontainyourhearts.
Andstandtogetheryetnottoo
cerca
neartogether:.Forthepillarsofthetemplestandapart,.
Andtheoaktreeandthecypress
crecen
grownotineachother’sshadow.Andawomanwhoheldababeagainstherbosomsaid,SpeaktousofChildren.
Andhesaid:.
Yourchildrenarenotyourchildren.
TheyarethesonsanddaughtersofLife’slongingforitself.
Theycomethroughyoubutnotfromyou,.
Andthoughtheyarewithyouyettheybelongnottoyou.
Youmaygivethemyourlovebutnotyourthoughts,.
Fortheyhavetheirownthoughts.
Youmayhousetheirbodiesbutnottheirsouls,.
Fortheirsoulsdwellinthehouseoftomorrow,whichyoucannot
visitar
visit,noteveninyourdreams.Youmaystrivetobelikethem,butseeknottomakethemlikeyou.
Forlifegoesnotbackward
ni
nortarrieswithyesterday.Youarethebowsfromwhichyourchildrenaslivingarrowsaresentforth.
Thearcherseesthe
marca
markuponthepathoftheinfinite,andHebendsyouwithHismightthatHisarrowsmaygoswiftandfar.LetyourbendingintheArcher’shandbeforgladness;.
Forevenashelovesthearrowthatflies,soHelovesalsothebowthatisstable.
Thensaida
rico
richman,SpeaktousofGiving.Andheanswered:.
Yougivebutlittlewhenyougiveofyourpossessions.
Itiswhenyougiveofyourselfthatyoutrulygive.
Forwhatareyourpossessionsbutthingsyoukeepandguardfor
temor
fearyoumayneedthemtomorrow?Andtomorrow,whatshalltomorrowbringtotheoverprudentdogburyingbonesinthetracklesssandashefollowsthepilgrimstotheholycity?
Andwhatis
miedo
fearofneedbutneeditself?Isnotdreadofthirstwhenyourwellisfull,thethirstthatisunquenchable?
Therearethosewhogivelittleofthemuchwhichtheyhave—andtheygiveitforrecognitionandtheir
oculto
hiddendesiremakestheirgiftsunwholesome.Andtherearethosewhohavelittleandgiveitall.
Thesearethebelieversinlifeandthebountyoflife,andtheircofferisnever
vacías
empty.Therearethosewhogivewithjoy,andthatjoyistheirreward.
Andtherearethosewhogivewith
dolor
pain,andthatpainistheirbaptism.Andtherearethosewhogiveandknownot
dolor
painingiving,nordotheyseekjoy,ni
norgivewithmindfulnessofvirtue;.Theygiveasinyondervalleythemyrtle
respira
breathesitsfragranceintospace.ThroughthehandsofsuchastheseGodspeaks,andfrombehindtheireyesHe
sonríe
smilesupontheearth.Itiswelltogivewhenasked,butitisbettertogiveunasked,throughunderstanding;.
Andtotheopen-handedthe
búsqueda
searchforonewhoshallreceiveisjoygreaterthangiving.Andisthereaughtyouwouldwithhold?
Allyouhaveshallsomedaybegiven;.
Thereforegivenow,thattheseasonofgivingmaybeyoursandnotyourinheritors’.
Youoftensay,“Iwouldgive,butonlytothedeserving.”
Thetreesinyourorchardsaynotso,
ni
northeflocksinyourpasture.Theygivethattheymaylive,fortowithholdistoperish.
Surelyhewhoisworthytoreceivehisdaysandhisnights,isworthyofallelsefromyou.
Andhewhohasdeservedtodrinkfromtheoceanoflifedeservestofillhiscupfromyourlittlestream.
Andwhatdesertgreatershalltherebe,thanthatwhichliesinthecourageandtheconfidence,naythecharity,ofreceiving?
Andwhoareyouthatmenshouldrendtheirbosomandunveiltheirpride,thatyoumayseetheir
valor
worthnakedandtheirprideunabashed?Seefirstthatyouyourselfdeservetobeagiver,andaninstrumentofgiving.
Forintruthitislifethatgivesuntolife—whileyou,whodeemyourselfagiver,arebutawitness.
Andyoureceivers—andyouareallreceivers—assumenoweightofgratitude,lestyoulayayokeuponyourselfanduponhimwhogives.
Ratherrisetogetherwiththegiveronhisgiftsasonwings;.
Fortobeovermindfulofyourdebt,isito
dudar
doubthisgenerositywhohasthefreeheartedearthformother,andGodforfather.Thenanoldman,akeeperofaninn,said,SpeaktousofEatingandDrinking.