THEBOOKSOFKAHLILGIBRAN
TheMadman.
1918TwentyDrawings.
1919TheForerunner.
1920TheProphet.
1923
Sand
SandandFoam.1926JesustheSonofMan.
1928TheForthGods.
1931TheWanderer.
1932The
Trädgård
GardenoftheProphet1933ProsePoems.1934Nymphsofthe
Dalen
Valley.THEPROPHET
Almustafa,thechosenandthe
älskade
beloved,whowasadawnuntohisownday,hadwaitedtwelveyearsinthecityofOrphaleseforhisshipthatwastoreturnandbearhimbacktotheisleofhisbirth.Andinthetwelfthyear,ontheseventhdayofIelool,themonthofreaping,he
klättrade
climbedthehillwithoutthecitywallsandlookedseaward;andhebeheldhisshipcomingwiththemist.
Thenthegatesofhisheartwereflungopen,andhis
glädje
joyflewfaroverthesea.Andheclosedhiseyesandprayedinthesilencesofhissoul.
Butashedescendedthehill,asadnesscameuponhim,andhethoughtinhisheart:.
HowshallIgoinpeaceandwithoutsorrow?
Nay,notwithouta
sår
woundinthespiritshallIleavethiscity.LongwerethedaysofpainIhavespentwithinitswalls,andlongwerethenightsofaloneness;
andwhocandepartfromhispainandhisalonenesswithout
ånger
regret?ToomanyfragmentsofthespirithaveIscatteredinthesestreets,andtoomanyarethechildrenofmylongingthatwalk
nakna
nakedamongthesehills,andIcannotwithdrawfromthemwithoutaburdenandanache.ItisnotagarmentI
kastar
castoffthisday,butaskinthatIsliter
tearwithmyownhands.NorisitathoughtIleavebehindme,butaheartmadesweetwithhungerandwiththirst.
YetIcannottarrylonger.
Theseathatcallsallthingsuntohercallsme,andImustembark.
Fortostay,thoughthehoursburninthenight,isto
frysa
freezeandcrystallizeandbebunden
boundinamould.FainwouldItakewithmeallthatishere.
ButhowshallI?
Avoicecannotcarrythe
tungan
tongueandthelipsthatgaveitwings.Alonemustit
söka
seektheether.Andaloneandwithouthisnestshalltheeagleflyacrossthesun.
Nowwhenhereachedthefootofthehill,heturnedagain
mot
towardsthesea,andhesawhisshipapproachingtheharbour,anduponherprowthemariners,themenofhisownland.Andhissoulcriedouttothem,andhesaid:.
Sonsofmy
forntida
ancientmother,youridersofthetides,.Howoftenhaveyousailedinmydreams.
Andnowyoucomeinmyawakening,whichismydeeperdream.
ReadyamItogo,andmyeagernesswithsailsfullsetawaitsthewind.
Onlyanother
andetag
breathwillIbreatheinthisstillair,onlyanotherlovinglookcastbackward,.AndthenIshallstand
bland
amongyou,aseafareramongseafarers.Andyou,vastsea,sleeplessmother,.
Whoalonearepeaceand
frihet
freedomtotheriverandthestream,.Onlyanotherwindingwillthisstreammake,onlyanothermurmurinthisglade,.
AndthenshallIcometoyou,aboundlessdroptoaboundless
hav
ocean.Andashewalkedhesawfromafarmenandwomenleavingtheirfieldsandtheirvineyardsandhastening
mot
towardsthecitygates.Andheheardtheirvoicescallinghisname,and
ropade
shoutingfromfieldtofieldtellingoneanotherofthecomingofhisship.Andhesaidtohimself:.
Shallthedayofpartingbethedayof
samlas
gathering?Andshallitbesaidthatmyevewasintruthmy
gryning
dawn?AndwhatshallIgiveuntohimwhohaslefthisploughinmidfurrow,ortohimwhohasstoppedthewheelofhiswinepress?
Shallmyheartbecomeatreeheavy-ladenwith
frukt
fruitthatImaygatherandgiveuntothem?AndshallmydesiresflowlikeafountainthatImay
fylla
filltheircups?AmIaharpthatthehandofthemightymaytouchme,oraflutethathis
andedräkt
breathmaypassthroughme?AseekerofsilencesamI,andwhat
skatt
treasurehaveIfoundinsilencesthatImaydispensewithförtroende
confidence?Ifthisismydayofharvest,inwhatfieldshaveIsowedtheseed,andinwhatunrememberedseasons?
Ifthis
verkligen
indeedbethehourinwhichIlyfter
liftupmylantern,itisnotmyflamethatshallburntherein.EmptyanddarkshallIraisemylantern,.
Andtheguardianofthenightshall
fylla
fillitwithoilandheshalllightitalso.Thesethingshesaidinwords.
Butmuchinhisheart
förblev
remainedunsaid.Forhehimselfcouldnotspeakhisdeepersecret.
Andwhenheenteredintothecityallthepeoplecametomeethim,andtheywerecryingouttohimaswithonevoice.
Andtheeldersofthecitystoodforthandsaid:.
Gonotyetawayfromus.
Anoontidehaveyoubeeninourtwilight,andyour
ungdom
youthhasgivenusdreamstodream.No
främling
strangerareyouamongus,noragäst
guest,butoursonandourdearlyälskade
beloved.Suffernotyetoureyestohungerforyourface.
Andthepriestsandthepriestessessaiduntohim:.
Letnotthewavesofthesea
skilja
separateusnow,andtheyearsyouhavespentinourmidstbecomeamemory.Youhavewalked
bland
amongusaspirit,andyourskugga
shadowhasbeenalightuponourfaces.Muchhavewelovedyou.
Butspeechlesswasourlove,andwithveilshasitbeenveiled.
Yetnowitcriesalouduntoyou,andwouldstandrevealedbeforeyou.
Andeverhasitbeenthatloveknowsnotitsowndepthuntilthehourofseparation.
Andotherscamealsoandentreatedhim.
Butheansweredthemnot.
Heonlybenthishead;
andthosewhostoodnearsawhistearsfallinguponhisbreast.
Andheandthepeopleproceeded
mot
towardsthegreatsquarebeforethetemplet
temple.AndtherecameoutofthesanctuaryawomanwhosenamewasAlmitra.
Andshewasaseeress.
Andhelookeduponherwithexceedingtenderness,foritwasshewhohadfirst
sökt
soughtandbelievedinhimwhenhehadbeenbutadayintheircity.Andshehailedhim,saying:.
ProphetofGod,inquestoftheuttermost,longhaveyousearchedthedistancesforyourship.
Andnowyourshiphascome,andyoumustneedsgo.
Deepisyourlongingforthelandofyourmemoriesandthedwellingplaceofyour
större
greaterdesires;andourlovewouldnotbindyounorourneedsholdyou.
Yetthisweaskereyouleaveus,thatyouspeaktousandgiveusofyourtruth.
Andwewillgiveituntoourchildren,andtheyuntotheirchildren,anditshallnotperish.
Inyouralonenessyouhavewatchedwithourdays,andinyourwakefulnessyouhavelistenedtotheweepingandthe
skratt
laughterofoursleep.Now
därför
thereforediscloseustoourselves,andtellusallthathasbeenvisats
shownyouofthatwhichisbetweenfödelse
birthanddeath.Andheanswered,.
PeopleofOrphalese,ofwhatcanIspeaksaveofthatwhichisevennowmovingwithinyoursouls?
ThensaidAlmitra,SpeaktousofLove.
Andheraisedhisheadandlookeduponthepeople,andtherefellastillnessuponthem.
Andwithagreatvoicehesaid:.
Whenlovebeckonstoyou,followhim,.
Thoughhiswaysarehardandsteep.
Andwhenhiswingsenfoldyouyieldtohim,.
Thoughtheswordhidden
bland
amonghispinionsmaywoundyou.Andwhenhespeakstoyoubelieveinhim,.
Thoughhisvoicemayshatteryourdreamsasthenorthwindlayswastethegarden.
Forevenaslovecrownsyousoshallhecrucifyyou.
Evenasheisforyourgrowthsoisheforyourpruning.
Evenasheascendstoyourheightandcaressesyourtenderestbranchesthatquiverinthesun,.
Soshallhedescendtoyourrootsand
skaka
shakethemintheirclingingtotheearth.Likesheavesofcornhe
samlar
gathersyouuntohimself.Hethreshesyoutomakeyou
naken
naked.Hesiftsyoutofreeyoufromyourhusks.
Hegrindsyoutowhiteness.
Hekneadsyouuntilyouarepliant;.
Andthenheassignsyoutohissacredfire,thatyoumaybecomesacred
bröd
breadforGod’ssacredfeast.Allthesethingsshalllovedountoyouthatyoumayknowthesecretsofyourheart,andinthatknowledgebecomeafragmentofLife’sheart.
Butifinyourfearyouwould
söka
seekonlylove’speaceandlove’spleasure,.Thenitisbetterforyouthatyoucoveryournakednessandpassoutoflove’sthreshing-floor,.
Intotheseasonlessworldwhereyoushalllaugh,butnotallofyourlaughter,andweep,butnotallofyourtears.
Lovegivesnaughtbutitselfandtakesnaughtbutfromitself.
Lovepossessesnotnorwoulditbepossessed;.
Forloveissufficientuntolove.
Whenyouloveyoushouldnotsay,“Godisinmyheart,”butrather,“IamintheheartofGod.”
Andthinknotyoucandirectthecourseoflove,forlove,ifitfindsyouworthy,directsyourcourse.
Lovehasnoother
önskan
desirebuttofulfilitself.Butifyouloveandmustneedshavedesires,letthesebeyourdesires:.
Tomeltandbelikearunningbrookthatsingsitsmelodytothenight.
Toknowthepainoftoomuchtenderness.
Tobewoundedbyyourownunderstandingoflove;.
Andtobleedwillinglyandjoyfully.
Towakeat
gryningen
dawnwithawingedheartandgivethanksforanotherdayofloving;.Torestatthenoonhourandmeditatelove’secstacy;.
Toreturnhomeateventidewithgratitude;.
Andthentosleepwithaprayerforthe
älskade
belovedinyourheartandasongofpraiseuponyourlips.ThenAlmitraspokeagainandsaid,AndwhatofMarriagemaster?
Andheansweredsaying:.
Youwereborntogether,andtogetheryoushallbeforevermore.
Youshallbetogetherwhenthewhitewingsofdeathscatteryourdays.
Aye,youshallbetogethereveninthe
tysta
silentmemoryofGod.Butlettherebespacesinyourtogetherness,.
Andletthewindsoftheheavensdancebetweenyou.
Loveoneanother,butmakenotabondoflove:.
Letitratherbeamovingseabetweentheshoresofyoursouls.
Fyll
Filleachother’scupbutdrinknotfromonecup.Giveoneanotherofyourbreadbuteatnotfromthesameloaf.
Singanddancetogetherandbejoyous,butleteachoneofyoubealone,.
Evenasthestringsofalutearealonethoughtheyquiverwiththesamemusic.
Giveyourhearts,butnotintoeachother’skeeping.
ForonlythehandofLifecancontainyourhearts.
Andstandtogetheryetnottooneartogether:.
Forthepillarsofthetemplestandapart,.
Andtheoaktreeandthecypressgrownotineachother’s
skugga
shadow.Andawomanwhoheldababeagainstherbosomsaid,SpeaktousofChildren.
Andhesaid:.
Yourchildrenarenotyourchildren.
TheyarethesonsanddaughtersofLife’slongingforitself.
Theycomethroughyoubutnotfromyou,.
Andthoughtheyarewithyouyetthey
tillhör
belongnottoyou.Youmaygivethemyourlovebutnotyourthoughts,.
Fortheyhavetheirownthoughts.
Youmayhousetheirbodiesbutnottheirsouls,.
Fortheirsoulsdwellinthehouseoftomorrow,whichyoucannotvisit,noteveninyourdreams.
Youmaystrivetobelikethem,butseeknottomakethemlikeyou.
Forlifegoesnotbackwardnortarrieswithyesterday.
Youarethebowsfromwhichyourchildrenaslivingarrowsaresentforth.
Thearcherseesthemarkuponthe
vägen
pathoftheinfinite,andHebendsyouwithHismightthatHisarrowsmaygoswiftandfar.LetyourbendingintheArcher’shandbeforgladness;.
Forevenashelovesthearrowthatflies,soHelovesalsothe
båge
bowthatisstable.Thensaidarichman,SpeaktousofGiving.
Andheanswered:.
Yougivebutlittlewhenyougiveofyourpossessions.
Itiswhenyougiveofyourselfthatyou
verkligen
trulygive.Forwhatareyourpossessionsbutthingsyoukeepandguardforfearyoumayneedthemtomorrow?
Andtomorrow,whatshalltomorrowbringtotheoverprudentdog
begraver
buryingbonesinthetracklesssanden
sandashefollowsthepilgrimstotheholycity?Andwhatisfearofneedbutneeditself?
Isnotdreadofthirstwhenyourwellisfull,thethirstthatisunquenchable?
Therearethosewhogivelittleofthemuchwhichtheyhave—andtheygiveitforrecognitionandtheirhidden
önskan
desiremakestheirgiftsunwholesome.Andtherearethosewhohavelittleandgiveitall.
Thesearethebelieversinlifeandthebountyoflife,andtheircofferisneverempty.
Therearethosewhogivewith
glädje
joy,andthatjoyistheirbelöning
reward.Andtherearethosewhogivewithpain,andthatpainistheirbaptism.
Andtherearethosewhogiveandknownotpainingiving,nordothey
söker
seekjoy,norgivewithmindfulnessofvirtue;.Theygiveasinyonder
dalen
valleythemyrtlebreathesitsfragranceintospace.ThroughthehandsofsuchastheseGodspeaks,andfrombehindtheireyesHesmilesupontheearth.
Itiswelltogivewhenasked,butitisbettertogiveunasked,throughunderstanding;.
Andtotheopen-handedthesearchforonewhoshall
ta emot
receiveisjoygreaterthangiving.Andisthereaughtyouwouldwithhold?
Allyouhaveshallsomedaybegiven;.
Därför
Thereforegivenow,thattheseasonofgivingmaybeyoursandnotyourinheritors’.Youoftensay,“Iwouldgive,butonlytothedeserving.”
Thetreesinyourorchardsaynotso,northeflocksinyourpasture.
Theygivethattheymaylive,fortowithholdistoperish.
Surelyhewhoisworthyto
få
receivehisdaysandhisnights,isworthyofallelsefromyou.Andhewhohasdeservedtodrinkfromthe
hav
oceanoflifedeservestofylla
fillhiscupfromyourlittlestream.Andwhat
öken
desertgreatershalltherebe,thanthatwhichliesinthemodet
courageandtheconfidence,naythecharity,ofreceiving?Andwhoareyouthatmenshouldrendtheirbosomandunveiltheir
stolthet
pride,thatyoumayseetheirworthnaken
nakedandtheirprideunabashed?Seefirstthatyouyourself
förtjänar
deservetobeagiver,andaninstrumentofgiving.Forintruthitislifethatgivesuntolife—whileyou,whodeemyourselfagiver,arebuta
vittne
witness.Andyoureceivers—andyouareallreceivers—assumeno
tyngd
weightofgratitude,lestyoulayayokeuponyourselfanduponhimwhogives.Rather
stiga
risetogetherwiththegiveronhisgiftsasonwings;.Fortobeovermindfulofyour
skuld
debt,isitodoubthisgenerositywhohasthefreeheartedearthformother,andGodforfather.Thenanoldman,akeeperofaninn,said,SpeaktousofEatingandDrinking.