Love Poem by Kahlil Gibran

Love

Rating: 3.6


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, 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.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Adnan Khalifeh 17 March 2010

I like this great poem of the greatest poet ever been at all....The Lebanese Gibran……

4 2 Reply
Cynthia Plummer 16 January 2014

Another aspect of Khalil Gibran that I relate to so well & feel as if I were there when he wrote it. His writing captivates me and takes me to the deepest depths of my imagination & feelings.

3 2 Reply
M Asim Nehal 14 January 2019

Well said, I agree. .

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Sandra Feldman 14 January 2019

Different from any other, I have ever read, love between the carnal and the divine seems to be the thread. But almost all its facets here expressed are amazingly profound and rightly addressed and beautifully expressed. A poem to be read many times and to slowly understand and embrace.

2 3 Reply
Rose Marie Juan-austin 30 November 2021

A powerful and profound poem so well narrated and crafted.

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Khairul Ahsan 14 January 2019

The second portion of the firat line, after the comma, should read: 'it takes some time for the lines to sink into our hearts.

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Khairul Ahsan 14 January 2019

A wonderful poem on love, it takes some for the lines to sink into our hearts. '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.' - Loved these lines.

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Practicing Poetess 14 January 2019

Another thought-provoking poem penned by the Prophet Khalil Gibran, with depth.

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Gordon Walter 14 January 2019

Nice poem, But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure....SO fear is must according to this philosopher, FEAR of WHAT? ? ? ?

0 1 Reply
khalil gibran 03 January 2021

teezak ya kalb

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