THEBOOKSOFKAHLILGIBRAN
TheMadman.
1918TwentyDrawings.
1919TheForerunner.
1920TheProphet.
1923SandandFoam.
1926JesustheSonofMan.
1928TheForthGods.
1931TheWanderer.
1932TheGardenoftheProphet1933ProsePoems.
1934NymphsoftheValley.
THEPROPHET
Almustafa,thechosenandthebeloved,whowasadawnuntohisownday,hadwaitedtwelveyearsinthecityofOrphaleseforhis
skepp
shipthatwastoreturnandbära
bearhimbacktotheisleofhisbirth.Andinthetwelfthyear,ontheseventhdayofIelool,themonthofreaping,heclimbedthehillwithoutthecitywallsandlookedseaward;
andhebeheldhis
skepp
shipcomingwiththemist.Thenthegatesofhisheartwereflungopen,andhisjoy
flög
flewfaroverthesea.Andheclosedhiseyesand
bad
prayedinthesilencesofhissoul.Butashedescendedthehill,asadnesscameuponhim,andhethoughtinhisheart:.
HowshallIgoin
frid
peaceandwithoutsorrow?Nay,notwithoutawoundinthespiritshallIleavethiscity.
Longwerethedaysof
smärta
painIhavespentwithinitswalls,andlongwerethenightsofaloneness;andwhocandepartfromhis
smärta
painandhisalonenesswithoutregret?Toomanyfragmentsofthe
ande
spirithaveIscatteredinthesestreets,andtoomanyarethechildrenofmylongingthatwalknakedamongthesehills,andIcannotwithdrawfromthemwithoutaburdenandanache.ItisnotagarmentIcastoffthisday,butaskinthatItearwithmyownhands.
Inte heller
NorisitathoughtIleavebehindme,butaheartmadesweetwithhungerandwiththirst.YetIcannottarrylonger.
The
havet
seathatcallsallthingsuntohercallsme,andImustembark.Fortostay,thoughthehours
brinner
burninthenight,istofreezeandcrystallizeandbeboundinamould.FainwouldItakewithmeallthatishere.
ButhowshallI?
A
röst
voicecannotcarrythetongueandthelipsthatgaveitwings.Alonemustitseektheether.
Andaloneandwithouthisnestshalltheeagle
flyga
flyacrossthesun.Nowwhenhe
nådde
reachedthefootofthehill,heturnedagaintowardsthehavet
sea,andhesawhisskepp
shipapproachingtheharbour,anduponherprowthemariners,themenofhisownland
land.Andhissoulcriedouttothem,andhesaid:.
Sonsofmyancientmother,youridersofthetides,.
How
ofta
oftenhaveyousailedinmydreams.Andnowyoucomeinmyawakening,whichismydeeperdream.
ReadyamItogo,andmyeagernesswithsailsfullsetawaitsthewind.
OnlyanotherbreathwillI
andas
breatheinthisstillair,onlyanotherlovinglookcastbackward,.AndthenIshallstandamongyou,aseafareramongseafarers.
Andyou,vast
hav
sea,sleeplessmother,.Whoaloneare
fred
peaceandfreedomtothefloden
riverandthestream,.Onlyanotherwindingwillthisstreammake,onlyanothermurmurinthisglade,.
AndthenshallIcometoyou,aboundless
droppe
droptoaboundlessocean.Andashewalkedhesawfromafarmenandwomenleavingtheirfieldsandtheirvineyardsandhasteningtowardsthecitygates.
Andheheardtheirvoicescallinghisname,andshoutingfromfieldtofieldtellingoneanotherofthecomingofhisship.
Andhesaidtohimself:.
Shallthedayofpartingbethedayofgathering?
Andshallitbesaidthatmyevewasintruthmydawn?
AndwhatshallIgiveuntohimwhohaslefthisploughinmidfurrow,ortohimwhohasstoppedthewheelofhiswinepress?
Shallmyheartbecomea
träd
treeheavy-ladenwithfruitthatImaygatherandgiveuntothem?AndshallmydesiresflowlikeafountainthatImayfilltheircups?
AmIaharpthatthehandofthemightymaytouchme,oraflutethathisbreathmay
passera
passthroughme?AseekerofsilencesamI,andwhattreasurehaveIfoundinsilencesthatImaydispensewithconfidence?
Ifthisismydayofharvest,inwhatfieldshaveIsowedtheseed,andinwhatunrememberedseasons?
IfthisindeedbethehourinwhichIliftupmylantern,itisnotmyflamethatshall
brinna
burntherein.EmptyanddarkshallI
höja
raisemylantern,.Andtheguardianofthenightshallfillitwithoilandheshalllightitalso.
Thesethingshesaidinwords.
Butmuchinhisheartremainedunsaid.
Forhehimselfcouldnotspeakhisdeeper
hemlighet
secret.Andwhenheenteredintothecityallthepeoplecametomeethim,andtheywerecryingouttohimaswithone
röst
voice.Andtheeldersofthecitystoodforthandsaid:.
Gonotyetawayfromus.
Anoontidehaveyoubeeninourtwilight,andyouryouthhasgivenusdreamstodream.
Nostrangerareyouamongus,
inte heller
noraguest,butoursonandourdearlybeloved.Suffernotyetoureyestohungerforyourface.
Andthepriestsandthepriestessessaiduntohim:.
Letnotthewavesoftheseaseparateusnow,andtheyearsyouhave
tillbringat
spentinourmidstbecomeaminne
memory.Youhavewalkedamongusa
ande
spirit,andyourshadowhasbeenalightuponourfaces.Muchhavewelovedyou.
Butspeechlesswasourlove,andwithveilshasitbeenveiled.
Yetnowitcriesalouduntoyou,andwouldstandrevealedbeforeyou.
Andeverhasitbeenthatloveknowsnotitsowndepthuntilthehourofseparation.
Andotherscamealsoandentreatedhim.
Butheansweredthemnot.
Heonlybenthishead;
andthosewhostoodnearsawhistearsfallinguponhisbreast.
Andheandthepeopleproceededtowardsthegreatsquarebeforethetemple.
AndtherecameoutofthesanctuaryawomanwhosenamewasAlmitra.
Andshewasaseeress.
Andhelookeduponherwithexceedingtenderness,foritwasshewhohadfirstsoughtandbelievedinhimwhenhehadbeenbutadayintheircity.
Andshehailedhim,saying:.
ProphetofGod,inquestoftheuttermost,longhaveyousearchedthedistancesforyour
skepp
ship.Andnowyourshiphascome,andyoumustneedsgo.
Djup
Deepisyourlongingforthelandofyourmemoriesandthedwellingplaceofyourgreaterdesires;andourlovewouldnotbindyou
eller
norourneedsholdyou.Yetthisweaskereyouleaveus,thatyouspeaktousandgiveusofyourtruth.
Andwewillgiveituntoourchildren,andtheyuntotheirchildren,anditshallnotperish.
Inyouralonenessyouhavewatchedwithourdays,andinyourwakefulnessyouhavelistenedtotheweepingandthelaughterofoursleep.
Nowthereforediscloseustoourselves,andtellusallthathasbeenshownyouofthatwhichisbetweenbirthanddeath.
Andheanswered,.
PeopleofOrphalese,ofwhatcanIspeaksaveofthatwhichisevennowmovingwithinyoursouls?
ThensaidAlmitra,SpeaktousofLove.
Andheraisedhisheadandlookeduponthepeople,andtherefellastillnessuponthem.
Andwithagreat
röst
voicehesaid:.Whenlovebeckonstoyou,followhim,.
Thoughhiswaysarehardandsteep.
Andwhenhiswingsenfoldyouyieldtohim,.
Thoughthesword
gömt
hiddenamonghispinionsmaywoundyou.Andwhenhespeakstoyoubelieveinhim,.
Thoughhis
röst
voicemayshatteryourdreamsasthenorra
northwindlayswastethegarden.Forevenaslovecrownsyousoshallhecrucifyyou.
Evenasheisforyourgrowthsoisheforyourpruning.
Evenasheascendstoyourheightandcaressesyourtenderestbranchesthatquiverinthe
solen
sun,.Soshallhedescendtoyourrootsandshakethemintheirclingingtotheearth.
Likesheavesofcornhegathersyouuntohimself.
Hethreshesyoutomakeyounaked.
Hesiftsyoutofreeyoufromyourhusks.
Hegrindsyoutowhiteness.
Hekneadsyouuntilyouarepliant;.
Andthenheassignsyoutohissacredfire,thatyoumaybecomesacredbreadforGod’ssacredfeast.
Allthesethingsshalllovedountoyouthatyoumayknowthesecretsofyourheart,andinthatknowledgebecomeafragmentofLife’sheart.
Butifinyour
rädsla
fearyouwouldseekonlylove’sfrid
peaceandlove’spleasure,.Thenitisbetterforyouthatyou
täcker
coveryournakednessandpassoutoflove’sthreshing-floor,.Intotheseasonlessworldwhereyoushall
skratta
laugh,butnotallofyourlaughter,andweep,butnotallofyourtears.Lovegivesnaughtbutitselfandtakesnaughtbutfromitself.
Lovepossessesnot
inte heller
norwoulditbepossessed;.Forloveissufficientuntolove.
Whenyouloveyoushouldnotsay,“Godisinmyheart,”but
snarare
rather,“IamintheheartofGod.”Andthinknotyoucandirectthecourseoflove,forlove,ifitfindsyouworthy,directsyourcourse.
Lovehasnootherdesirebuttofulfilitself.
Butifyouloveandmustneedshavedesires,letthesebeyourdesires:.
Tomeltandbelikearunningbrookthatsingsitsmelodytothenight.
Toknowthepainoftoomuchtenderness.
Tobewoundedbyyourownunderstandingoflove;.
Andtobleedwillinglyandjoyfully.
Towakeatdawnwithawingedheartandgivethanksforanotherdayofloving;.
Torestatthenoonhourandmeditatelove’secstacy;.
Toreturnhomeateventidewithgratitude;.
Andthentosleepwithaprayerforthebelovedinyourheartandasongofpraiseuponyourlips.
ThenAlmitraspokeagainandsaid,AndwhatofMarriagemaster?
Andheansweredsaying:.
Youwereborntogether,andtogetheryoushallbeforevermore.
Youshallbetogetherwhenthewhitewingsofdeathscatteryourdays.
Aye,youshallbetogethereveninthesilent
minne
memoryofGod.Butlettherebespacesinyourtogetherness,.
Andletthewindsoftheheavensdancebetweenyou.
Loveoneanother,butmakenotabondoflove:.
Letit
snarare
ratherbeamovingseabetweentheshoresofyoursouls.Filleachother’scupbutdrinknotfromonecup.
Giveoneanotherofyourbreadbuteatnotfromthesameloaf.
Singanddancetogetherandbejoyous,butleteachoneofyoubealone,.
Evenasthestringsofalutearealonethoughtheyquiverwiththesamemusic.
Giveyourhearts,butnotintoeachother’skeeping.
ForonlythehandofLifecancontainyourhearts.
Andstandtogetheryetnottoo
nära
neartogether:.Forthepillarsofthetemplestandapart,.
Andtheoaktreeandthecypress
växer
grownotineachother’sshadow.Andawomanwhoheldababeagainstherbosomsaid,SpeaktousofChildren.
Andhesaid:.
Yourchildrenarenotyourchildren.
TheyarethesonsanddaughtersofLife’slongingforitself.
Theycomethroughyoubutnotfromyou,.
Andthoughtheyarewithyouyettheybelongnottoyou.
Youmaygivethemyourlovebutnotyourthoughts,.
Fortheyhavetheirownthoughts.
Youmayhousetheirbodiesbutnottheirsouls,.
Fortheirsoulsdwellinthehouseoftomorrow,whichyoucannot
besöka
visit,noteveninyourdreams.Youmaystrivetobelikethem,butseeknottomakethemlikeyou.
Forlifegoesnotbackwardnortarrieswithyesterday.
Youarethebowsfromwhichyourchildrenaslivingarrowsaresentforth.
Thearcherseesthemarkuponthepathoftheinfinite,andHebendsyouwithHismightthatHisarrowsmaygoswiftandfar.
LetyourbendingintheArcher’shandbeforgladness;.
Forevenashelovesthearrowthatflies,soHelovesalsothebowthatisstable.
Thensaida
rik
richman,SpeaktousofGiving.Andheanswered:.
Yougivebutlittlewhenyougiveofyourpossessions.
Itiswhenyougiveofyourselfthatyoutrulygive.
Forwhatareyourpossessionsbutthingsyoukeepand
vaktar
guardforfearyoumayneedthemtomorrow?Andtomorrow,whatshalltomorrowbringtotheoverprudentdogburyingbonesinthetracklesssandashefollowsthepilgrimstothe
heliga
holycity?Andwhatis
rädsla
fearofneedbutneeditself?Isnotdreadofthirstwhenyourwellisfull,thethirstthatisunquenchable?
Therearethosewhogivelittleofthemuchwhichtheyhave—andtheygiveitforrecognitionandtheirhiddendesiremakestheirgiftsunwholesome.
Andtherearethosewhohavelittleandgiveitall.
Thesearethebelieversinlifeandthebountyoflife,andtheircofferisnever
tom
empty.Therearethosewhogivewithjoy,andthatjoyistheirreward.
Andtherearethosewhogivewith
smärta
pain,andthatpainistheirbaptism.Andtherearethosewhogiveandknownot
smärta
painingiving,nordotheyseekjoy,norgivewithmindfulnessofvirtue;.Theygiveasinyondervalleythemyrtle
andas
breathesitsfragranceintospace.ThroughthehandsofsuchastheseGodspeaks,andfrombehindtheireyesHe
ler
smilesupontheearth.Itiswelltogivewhenasked,butitisbettertogiveunasked,throughunderstanding;.
Andtotheopen-handedthe
söka
searchforonewhoshallreceiveisjoygreaterthangiving.Andisthereaughtyouwouldwithhold?
Allyouhaveshallsomedaybegiven;.
Thereforegivenow,thattheseasonofgivingmaybeyoursandnotyourinheritors’.
You
ofta
oftensay,“Iwouldgive,butonlytothedeserving.”Thetreesinyourorchardsaynotso,
inte 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.
Ratherrisetogetherwiththegiveronhisgiftsasonwings;.
Fortobeovermindfulofyourdebt,isito
tvivla
doubthisgenerositywhohasthefreeheartedearthformother,andGodforfather.Thenanoldman,akeeperofaninn,said,SpeaktousofEatingandDrinking.