Thursday 20 January 2011

Marriage - Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet"

I have mentioned in previous posts the wonderful works of Kahlil Gibran, philosopher and artist, and now is the time to use an extract from his masterpiece  "The Prophet".  Enjoy it... I certainly did.


'Then Almitra spoke again and said, "And what of Marriage, master?"


And he answered saying:


You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.

But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

Kahlil, the envy of all aspiring writers

...and if you want more of his profound views on other human conditions, check out this link.  I know in my heart this is the right advice, the correct behaviour, the blueprint to happiness...but 'knowing' and 'doing' are two very different things...


:)

3 comments:

  1. Gibran has been one of my favorites for years. I haven't re-read "The Prophet" in quite some time. Thanks for bringing it to mind again.

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  2. Lovely.

    Have you read "Devine Comedy" of Dante?

    xx/Martin

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  3. Suldog; Pleasure, thanks. I'll check out your blog tonight :)

    Martin; thanks for the tip, I will get it as my next read. Big hug

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