And When my Joy 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
Khalil Gibran
19 poems
Children
And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, Speak to us of Children. / And he said:
Death
Then Almitra spoke, saying, We would ask now of Death. / And he said:
Joy and Sorrow
Then a woman said, Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow. / And he answered:
Marriage
Then Almitra spoke again and said, And what of Marriage, master? / And he answered saying:
Pain
And a woman spoke, saying, Tell us of Pain. / And he said:
Said A Sheet Of Snow-White Paper
Said a sheet of snow-white paper, Pure was I created, and pure will I remain for ever. I would rather be burnt and turn to white ashes than suffer darkness to touch me or the unclean to come near me. / The ink-bottle heard what the paper was saying, and it laughed in its dark heart; but it never dared to approach her. And the multicoloured pencils heard her also, and they too never came near her.
Said a Blade of Grass
Said a blade of grass to an autumn leaf, You make such a noise / falling! You scatter all my winter dreams.
Self-Knowledge
And a man said, Speak to us of Self-Knowledge. / And he answered, saying:
Song of the Flower
I am a kind word uttered and repeated / By the voice of Nature;
Talking
And then a scholar said, Speak of Talking. / And he answered, saying:
Teaching
Then said a teacher, Speak to us of Teaching. / And he said:
The Fox
A fox looked at his shadow at sunrise and said, I will have / a camel for lunch today. And all morning he went about looking
The Greater Self
This came to pass. After the coronation of Nufsibaal King of Byblus, he retired to his bed-chamber -- the very room which the three hermit-magicians of the mountains had built for him. He took off his crown and his royal raiment, and stood in the centre of the room thinking of himself, now the all-powerful ruler of Byblus. / Suddenly he turned; and he saw stepping out of the silver mirror which his mother had given him, a naked man.
The Scarecrow
Once I said to a scarecrow, You must be tired of standing in this / lonely field.
The Two Hermits
Upon a lonely mountain, there lived two hermits who worshipped God / and loved one another.
The Wise King
Once there ruled in the distant city of Wirani a king who was both / mighty and wise. And he was feared for his might and loved for
Time
And an astronomer said, Master, what of Time? / And he answered:
When My Sorrow Was Born
When my Sorrow was born I nursed it with care, and watched over it / with loving tenderness.