Khalil Gibran – Children Chapter IV

And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, "Speak to us of Children."And he said:Your children are not your children.They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.They come through you but not from you,And though they are with you, yet they belong not...

Khalil Gibran – Death XXVII

Then Almitra spoke, saying, "We would ask now of Death."And he said:You would know the secret of death.But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light.If you would indeed behold...

Kahlil Gibran – Self-Knowledge XVII

And a man said, "Speak to us of Self-Knowledge." And he answered, saying: Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights. But your ears thirst for the sound of your heart's knowledge. You would know in words that which you have always know in thought. You...

Kahlil Gibran – Song of the Soul XXII

In the depth of my soul there isA wordless song - a song that livesIn the seed of my heart.It refuses to melt with ink onParchment; it engulfs my affectionIn a transparent cloak and flows,But not upon my lips.How can I sigh it? I fear it mayMingle with earthly ether;To whom shall...

Kahlil Gibran – Song of Man XXV

I was here from the moment of theBeginning, and here I am still. AndI shall remain here until the endOf the world, for there is noEnding to my grief-stricken being.I roamed the infinite sky, andSoared in the ideal world, andFloated through the firmament. ButHere I am, prisoner of...

Kahlil Gibran – Beauty XXV

And a poet said, "Speak to us of Beauty."Where shall you seek beauty, and how shall you find her unless she herself be your way and your guide?And how shall you speak of her except she be the weaver of your speech?The aggrieved and the injured say, "Beauty is kind and gentle.Like...

Kahlil Gibran – Defeat

Defeat, my Defeat, my solitude and my aloofness; You are dearer to me than a thousand triumphs, And sweeter to my heart than all world-glory. Defeat, my Defeat, my self-knowledge and my defiance, Through you I know that I am yet young and swift of foot And not to be...

Kahlil Gibran – Crucified

I cried to men, “I would be crucified!” And they said, “Why should your blood be upon our heads?” And I answered, “How else shall you be exalted except by crucifying madmen?” And they heeded and I was crucified.  And the crucifixion appeased me. And when I...

Kahlil Gibran – The Blessed City

In my youth I was told that in a certain city every one lived according to the Scriptures. And I said, “I will seek that city and the blessedness thereof.” And it was far.  And I made great provision for my journey.  And after forty days I beheld the city and...

Kahlil Gibran – The Astronomer

In the shadow of the temple my friend and I saw a blind man sitting alone.  And my friend said, “Behold the wisest man of our land.” Then I left my friend and approached the blind man and greeted him. And we conversed. After a while I said, “Forgive my question;...

Kahlil Gibran – And When My Sorrow was Born

And when my Joy was born, I held it in my arms and stood on the house-top shouting, “Come ye, my neighbours, come and see, for Joy this day is born unto me.  Come and behold this gladsome thing that laugheth in the sun.” But none of my neighbours came to look upon...

Kahlil Gibran – Ambition

Three men met at a tavern table.  One was a weaver, another a carpenter and the third a ploughman. Said the weaver, “I sold a fine linen shroud today for two pieces of gold.  Let us have all the wine we want.” “And I,” said the carpenter, “I sold my best...

Khalil Gibran – A Lover's Call XXVII

Where are you, my beloved? Are you in that littleParadise, watering the flowers who look upon youAs infants look upon the breast of their mothers?Or are you in your chamber where the shrine ofVirtue has been placed in your honor, and uponWhich you offer my heart and soul as sacrifice?Or...