Kahlil Gibran

Kahlil Gibran was a Lebanese-American poet, writer, and visual artist of the early twentieth century. His poetry is best known for its spiritual and philosophical themes, particularly in the collection "The Prophet" (1923). Biography ↓More ↓

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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 trapped by withering laurels. And in you I have found aloneness And the joy of being shunned and scorned. Defeat, my Defeat, my shining sword and shield, In your eyes I have read That to be enthroned is to be enslaved, And to be understood is to be leveled down, And to be grasped is but to reach one's fullness And like a ripe fruit to fall and be consumed. Defeat, my Defeat, my bold companion,

Kahlil Gibran

Repentance

On a moonless night a man entered into his neighbour’s garden and stole the largest melon he could find and brought it home. He opened it and found it still unripe. Then behold a marvel! The man’s conscience woke and smote him with remorse; and he repented having stolen the melon.

On Marriage

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On Marriage

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 the 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.

Biography

Kahlil Gibran was a Lebanese-American poet, writer, and visual artist who wrote in both Arabic and English during the early twentieth century. He was born in Bsharri, Lebanon, in 1883 and immigrated to the United States in 1895. His poetry is characterized by lyrical, mystical prose that explores themes of love, freedom, spirituality, and the human condition. He often used natural imagery and allegorical figures to express philosophical and religious ideas. His most famous work is "The Prophet," a collection of twenty-six poetic essays published in 1923. That book has been translated into more than one hundred languages and has never been out of print. He also published other notable works, including the poetry collection "The Madman" (1918) and the novella "Broken Wings" (1912). He was a leading figure in the Mahjar movement, a literary group of Arab writers in the Americas. His writings have had a lasting influence on both Arabic and English literature. He died in New York City in 1931.

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