THEBOOKSOFKAHLILGIBRAN
TheMadman.
1918TwentyDrawings.
1919TheForerunner.
1920The
Profeta
Prophet.1923SandandFoam.
1926JesustheSonofMan.
1928TheForthGods.
1931TheWanderer.
1932TheGardenofthe
Profeta
Prophet1933ProsePoems.1934NymphsoftheValley.
THE
Profeta
PROPHETAlmustafa,thechosenandthebeloved,whowasadawnuntohisownday,hadwaitedtwelveyearsinthecityofOrphaleseforhisshipthatwastoreturnandbearhimbacktothe
isla
isleofhisbirth.Andinthetwelfthyear,onthe
séptimo
seventhdayofIelool,themonthofcosecha
reaping,heclimbedthehillwithoutthecitywallsandlookedseaward;andhe
vio
beheldhisshipcomingwiththeniebla
mist.Thenthegatesofhisheartwereflungopen,andhisjoyflewfaroverthesea.
Andheclosedhiseyesandprayedinthesilencesofhissoul.
Butashe
bajó
descendedthehill,asadnesscameuponhim,andhethoughtinhisheart:.HowshallIgoinpeaceandwithout
tristeza
sorrow?Nay,notwithoutawoundinthespiritshallIleavethiscity.
LongwerethedaysofpainIhavespentwithinitswalls,andlongwerethenightsofaloneness;
andwhocan
apartarse
departfromhispainandhisalonenesswithoutregret?ToomanyfragmentsofthespirithaveI
esparcido
scatteredinthesestreets,andtoomanyarethechildrenofmyanhelo
longingthatwalknakedamongthesehills,andIcannotwithdrawfromthemwithoutacarga
burdenandanache.Itisnota
prenda
garmentIcastoffthisday,butaskinthatItearwithmyownhands.NorisitathoughtIleavebehindme,butaheartmadesweetwith
hambre
hungerandwiththirst.YetIcannottarrylonger.
Theseathatcallsallthingsuntohercallsme,andImustembark.
Fortostay,thoughthehoursburninthenight,istofreezeandcrystallizeandbeboundinamould.
FainwouldItakewithmeallthatishere.
ButhowshallI?
Avoicecannotcarrythetongueandthelipsthatgaveitwings.
Alonemustitseekthe
éter
ether.Andaloneandwithouthis
nido
nestshalltheeagleflyacrossthesun.Nowwhenhereachedthefootofthehill,heturnedagaintowardsthesea,andhesawhisshipapproachingtheharbour,anduponherprowthemariners,themenofhisownland.
Andhissoulcriedouttothem,andhesaid:.
Sonsofmyancientmother,youridersofthetides,.
Howoftenhaveyou
navegado
sailedinmydreams.Andnowyoucomeinmy
despertar
awakening,whichismydeeperdream.ReadyamItogo,andmyeagernesswithsailsfullset
espera
awaitsthewind.OnlyanotherbreathwillIbreatheinthisstillair,onlyanotherlovinglookcastbackward,.
AndthenIshallstandamongyou,aseafareramongseafarers.
Andyou,vastsea,sleeplessmother,.
Whoalonearepeaceandfreedomtotheriverandthe
arroyo
stream,.Onlyanotherwindingwillthis
arroyo
streammake,onlyanothermurmurinthisglade,.AndthenshallIcometoyou,aboundlessdroptoaboundlessocean.
Andashewalkedhesawfromafarmenandwomenleavingtheirfieldsandtheirvineyardsandhasteningtowardsthecitygates.
Andheheardtheirvoicescallinghisname,andshoutingfromfieldtofieldtellingoneanotherofthecomingofhisship.
Andhesaidtohimself:.
Shallthedayofpartingbethedayofgathering?
Andshallitbesaidthatmyevewasintruthmydawn?
AndwhatshallIgiveuntohimwhohaslefthis
arado
ploughinmidfurrow,ortohimwhohasstoppedthewheelofhiswinepress?Shallmyheartbecomeatreeheavy-ladenwithfruitthatImaygatherandgiveuntothem?
Andshallmydesires
fluirán
flowlikeafountainthatImayfilltheircups?AmIa
arpa
harpthatthehandofthepoderoso
mightymaytouchme,oraflauta
flutethathisbreathmaypassthroughme?AseekerofsilencesamI,andwhattreasurehaveIfoundinsilencesthatImaydispensewithconfidence?
Ifthisismydayof
cosecha
harvest,inwhatfieldshaveIsembrado
sowedtheseed,andinwhatunrememberedseasons?IfthisindeedbethehourinwhichIliftupmylantern,itisnotmy
llama
flamethatshallburntherein.EmptyanddarkshallIraisemylantern,.
Andthe
guardián
guardianofthenightshallfillitwithoilandheshalllightitalso.Thesethingshesaidinwords.
Butmuchinhisheartremainedunsaid.
Forhehimselfcouldnotspeakhisdeepersecret.
Andwhenheenteredintothecityallthepeoplecametomeethim,andtheywerecryingouttohimaswithonevoice.
Andtheeldersofthecitystoodforthandsaid:.
Gonotyetawayfromus.
Anoontidehaveyoubeeninour
crepúsculo
twilight,andyouryouthhasgivenusdreamstodream.Nostrangerareyouamongus,noraguest,butoursonandourdearlybeloved.
Suffernotyetoureyesto
hambre
hungerforyourface.Andthepriestsandthepriestessessaiduntohim:.
Letnotthewavesoftheseaseparateusnow,andtheyearsyouhavespentinourmidstbecomeamemory.
Youhavewalkedamongusaspirit,andyourshadowhasbeenalightuponourfaces.
Muchhavewelovedyou.
Butspeechlesswasourlove,andwithveilshasitbeen
velado
veiled.Yetnowitcries
en voz alta
alouduntoyou,andwouldstandrevelado
revealedbeforeyou.Andeverhasitbeenthatloveknowsnotitsown
profundidad
depthuntilthehourofseparación
separation.Andotherscamealsoandentreatedhim.
Butheansweredthemnot.
Heonlybenthishead;
andthosewhostoodnearsawhistearsfallinguponhis
pecho
breast.Andheandthepeopleproceededtowardsthegreatsquarebeforethetemple.
Andtherecameoutofthe
santuario
sanctuaryawomanwhosenamewasAlmitra.Andshewasaseeress.
Andhelookeduponherwithexceeding
ternura
tenderness,foritwasshewhohadfirstsoughtandbelievedinhimwhenhehadbeenbutadayintheircity.Andshehailedhim,saying:.
Profeta
ProphetofGod,inquestoftheuttermost,longhaveyousearchedthedistancesforyourship.Andnowyourshiphascome,andyoumustneedsgo.
Deepisyour
anhelo
longingforthelandofyourmemoriesandthedwellingplaceofyourgreaterdesires;andourlovewouldnot
ataría
bindyounorourneedsholdyou.Yetthisweaskereyouleaveus,thatyouspeaktousandgiveusofyourtruth.
Andwewillgiveituntoourchildren,andtheyuntotheirchildren,anditshallnot
perecerá
perish.Inyouralonenessyouhavewatchedwithourdays,andinyourwakefulnessyouhavelistenedtotheweepingandthelaughterofoursleep.
Nowthereforediscloseustoourselves,andtellusallthathasbeenshownyouofthatwhichisbetweenbirthanddeath.
Andheanswered,.
PeopleofOrphalese,ofwhatcanIspeaksaveofthatwhichisevennowmovingwithinyoursouls?
ThensaidAlmitra,SpeaktousofLove.
Andheraisedhisheadandlookeduponthepeople,andtherefellastillnessuponthem.
Andwithagreatvoicehesaid:.
Whenlovebeckonstoyou,followhim,.
Thoughhiswaysarehardandsteep.
Andwhenhiswingsenfoldyouyieldtohim,.
Thoughtheswordhiddenamonghispinionsmaywoundyou.
Andwhenhespeakstoyoubelieveinhim,.
Thoughhisvoicemay
romper
shatteryourdreamsasthenorthwindlayswastethegarden.Forevenaslove
corona
crownsyousoshallhecrucifyyou.Evenasheisforyour
crecimiento
growthsoisheforyourpruning.Evenashe
asciende
ascendstoyourheightandacaricia
caressesyourtenderestbranchesthatquiverinthesun,.Soshallhe
descenderá
descendtoyourrootsandshakethemintheirclingingtotheearth.Likesheavesof
maíz
cornhegathersyouuntohimself.Hethreshesyoutomakeyounaked.
Hesiftsyoutofreeyoufromyourhusks.
He
muele
grindsyoutowhiteness.Hekneadsyouuntilyouarepliant;.
Andthenhe
asigna
assignsyoutohissacredfire,thatyoumaybecomesacredbreadforGod’ssacredfiesta
feast.Allthesethingsshalllovedountoyouthatyoumayknowthesecretsofyourheart,andinthatknowledgebecomea
fragmento
fragmentofLife’sheart.Butifinyourfearyouwouldseekonlylove’speaceandlove’spleasure,.
Thenitisbetterforyouthatyoucoveryournakednessandpassoutoflove’sthreshing-floor,.
Intotheseasonlessworldwhereyoushalllaugh,butnotallofyourlaughter,andweep,butnotallofyourtears.
Lovegivesnaughtbutitselfandtakesnaughtbutfromitself.
Lovepossessesnotnorwoulditbepossessed;.
Forloveis
suficiente
sufficientuntolove.Whenyouloveyoushouldnotsay,“Godisinmyheart,”butrather,“IamintheheartofGod.”
Andthinknotyoucandirectthecourseoflove,forlove,ifitfindsyouworthy,directsyourcourse.
Lovehasnootherdesirebuttofulfilitself.
Butifyouloveandmustneedshavedesires,letthesebeyourdesires:.
To
derretirse
meltandbelikearunningbrookthatsingsitsmelodía
melodytothenight.Toknowthepainoftoomuch
ternura
tenderness.Tobewoundedbyyourownunderstandingoflove;.
Andtobleedwillinglyandjoyfully.
Towakeatdawnwithawingedheartandgivethanksforanotherdayofloving;.
Torestatthe
mediodía
noonhourandmeditatelove’secstacy;.Toreturnhomeateventidewith
gratitud
gratitude;.Andthentosleepwitha
oración
prayerforthebelovedinyourheartandasongofalabanza
praiseuponyourlips.ThenAlmitraspokeagainandsaid,AndwhatofMarriagemaster?
Andheansweredsaying:.
Youwereborntogether,andtogetheryoushallbeforevermore.
Youshallbetogetherwhenthewhitewingsofdeath
dispersen
scatteryourdays.Aye,youshallbetogethereveninthesilentmemoryofGod.
Butlettherebespacesinyourtogetherness,.
Andletthewindsoftheheavensdancebetweenyou.
Loveoneanother,butmakenotabondoflove:.
Letitratherbeamovingseabetweentheshoresofyoursouls.
Filleachother’scupbutdrinknotfromonecup.
Giveoneanotherofyourbreadbuteatnotfromthesameloaf.
Singanddancetogetherandbe
alegres
joyous,butleteachoneofyoubealone,.Evenasthestringsofalutearealonethoughtheyquiverwiththesamemusic.
Giveyourhearts,butnotintoeachother’skeeping.
ForonlythehandofLifecan
contener
containyourhearts.Andstandtogetheryetnottooneartogether:.
Forthepillarsofthetemplestandapart,.
Andthe
roble
oaktreeandthecypressgrownotineachother’sshadow.Andawomanwhoheldababeagainsther
pecho
bosomsaid,SpeaktousofChildren.Andhesaid:.
Yourchildrenarenotyourchildren.
TheyarethesonsanddaughtersofLife’s
anhelo
longingforitself.Theycomethroughyoubutnotfromyou,.
Andthoughtheyarewithyouyettheybelongnottoyou.
Youmaygivethemyourlovebutnotyourthoughts,.
Fortheyhavetheirownthoughts.
Youmayhousetheirbodiesbutnottheirsouls,.
Fortheirsouls
habitan
dwellinthehouseoftomorrow,whichyoucannotvisit,noteveninyourdreams.Youmaystrivetobelikethem,butseeknottomakethemlikeyou.
Forlifegoesnotbackwardnortarrieswithyesterday.
Youarethebowsfromwhichyourchildrenaslivingarrowsaresentforth.
The
arquero
archerseesthemarkuponthepathoftheinfinito
infinite,andHebendsyouwithHismightthatHisarrowsmaygoswiftandfar.LetyourbendingintheArcher’shandbeforgladness;.
Forevenashelovesthe
flecha
arrowthatflies,soHelovesalsothebowthatisestable
stable.Thensaidarichman,SpeaktousofGiving.
Andheanswered:.
Yougivebutlittlewhenyougiveofyourpossessions.
Itiswhenyougiveofyourselfthatyoutrulygive.
Forwhatareyourpossessionsbutthingsyoukeepandguardforfearyoumayneedthemtomorrow?
Andtomorrow,whatshalltomorrowbringtotheoverprudentdogburyingbonesinthetracklesssandashefollowsthepilgrimstotheholycity?
Andwhatisfearofneedbutneeditself?
Isnot
temor
dreadofthirstwhenyourwellisfull,thesed
thirstthatisunquenchable?Therearethosewhogivelittleofthemuchwhichtheyhave—andtheygiveitfor
reconocimiento
recognitionandtheirhiddendesiremakestheirgiftsunwholesome.Andtherearethosewhohavelittleandgiveitall.
Thesearethebelieversinlifeandthebountyoflife,andtheircofferisneverempty.
Therearethosewhogivewithjoy,andthatjoyistheirreward.
Andtherearethosewhogivewithpain,andthatpainistheir
bautismo
baptism.Andtherearethosewhogiveandknownotpainingiving,nordotheyseekjoy,norgivewithmindfulnessof
virtud
virtue;.Theygiveasinyondervalleythemyrtlebreathesitsfragranceintospace.
ThroughthehandsofsuchastheseGodspeaks,andfrombehindtheireyesHesmilesupontheearth.
Itiswelltogivewhenasked,butitisbettertogiveunasked,throughunderstanding;.
Andtotheopen-handedthesearchforonewhoshallreceiveisjoygreaterthangiving.
Andisthereaughtyouwouldwithhold?
Allyouhaveshallsomedaybegiven;.
Thereforegivenow,thattheseasonofgivingmaybeyoursandnotyourinheritors’.
Youoftensay,“Iwouldgive,butonlytothedeserving.”
Thetreesinyourorchardsaynotso,northeflocksinyour
pasto
pasture.Theygivethattheymaylive,fortowithholdisto
perecer
perish.Surelyhewhoisworthytoreceivehisdaysandhisnights,isworthyofallelsefromyou.
Andhewhohasdeservedtodrinkfromtheoceanoflifedeservestofillhiscupfromyourlittle
arroyo
stream.Andwhatdesertgreatershalltherebe,thanthatwhichliesinthecourageandtheconfidence,naythe
caridad
charity,ofreceiving?Andwhoareyouthatmenshouldrendtheir
pecho
bosomandunveiltheirpride,thatyoumayseetheirworthnakedandtheirprideunabashed?Seefirstthatyouyourselfdeservetobeagiver,andan
instrumento
instrumentofgiving.Forintruthitislifethatgivesuntolife—whileyou,whodeemyourselfagiver,arebutawitness.
Andyoureceivers—andyouareallreceivers—assumenoweightof
gratitud
gratitude,lestyoulayayokeuponyourselfanduponhimwhogives.Ratherrisetogetherwiththegiveronhisgiftsasonwings;.
Fortobeovermindfulofyourdebt,isitodoubthis
generosidad
generositywhohasthefreeheartedearthformother,andGodforfather.Thenanoldman,akeeperofan
posada
inn,said,SpeaktousofEatingandDrinking.