Wednesday, November 19, 2008

WHAT IS LOVE?

I owe Yolanda http://thestufflifesmadeof.blogspot.com/ some gratitude for giving me the inspiration to look this up from my beloved collection of poems (The Prophet) my favorite poet Kahlil Gibran. This poem just about sums up everything about LOVE. So, tonight I am posting this poem instead of my usual conversations with myself.




Kahlil Gibran on Love

Then said Almitra, "Speak to us of Love."
And he raised his head and looked upon the people, and there fell a stillness upon them.
And with a great voice he said:
When love beckons to you follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.
For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you.
Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches
that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.
Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire,
that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.
All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart,
and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.
But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter,
and weep, but not all of your tears.
Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.
When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, I am in the heart of God."
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy,
directs your course.
Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise
upon your lips.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love should always be in the air no matter how bad you felt. Nice poem!

Anonymous said...

I see you are changing gears a little. Maybe this poem will give your two sides a fresh angle.

On a different note. I nominated you and your site. You will see what it's all about from my latest post. I do hope you enjoy it and have fun with it.

CoolDeep said...

God! This can't just be a coincidence.. We seem to have if not many at least a few significant similarities. Two things surprised me in your blog. Your love for Kahlil Gibran and Yanni. And guess what the poem of Gibran that you have posted in your blog I'd posted it about three months back in my blog too.

And the playlist of Yanni, that you have embeded in your blog; can you beleive I am playing Yanni's 'True Nature' in my laptop, while I write to you this post.

I will visit your blog again to go through it in detail.

Love and regards,
CoolDeep

Discover the Essnece of Your Life @ http://problem-n-solution.blogspot.com

P.S: As I end this post, my comps playing Reflection of Passion.. which is so enchanting...

:)

Anonymous said...

I love Kahlil Gibran. When my brother died, my sister read the most beautiful words written by him. He just has such a way with words.

SIMPLY ME said...

Brian,

Thank you for the nomination. I have been laid up in bed with the flu for over a week and I am just getting better. Again, thank you and I'm sure I will have fun with it.

Unknown said...

Hi friend,

I'd told you right.. God, this just cant be a coincidence.. and you too have mentioned. in your response that that nothing in life is a coincidence..

Yes there certaily is a reason.. behind our meeting.. which will continue to unravel.. with/witout our conversation or interaction...

Just so glad to come across someone who shares the same vibe.. and with whom I can resonate..

Love & Regards,
C.D.

Anonymous said...

Sitting on my old rocking chair I visited your wonderful blog.
Beautifull, meaningfull, a melody in words, this poem is fantastic. These are the things that move the world. Love poetry, it is pure sentiment, pure deep feelings. Thank you, Luisa