War Poem by Kahlil Gibran

War

Rating: 3.1


One night a feat was held in the palace, and there came a man and
prostrated himself before the prince, and all the feasters looked
upon him; and they saw that one of his eyes was out and that
the empty socket bled. And the prince inquired of him, 'What has
befallen you?' And the man replied, 'O prince, I am by profession
a thief, and this night, because there was no moon, I went to rob
the money-changer's shop, and as I climbed in through the window
I made a mistake and entered the weaver's shop, and in the dark I
ran into the weaver's loom and my eye was plucked out. And now,
O prince, I ask for justice upon the weaver.'

Then the prince sent for the weaver and he came, and it was decreed
that one of his eyes should be plucked out.

'O prince,' said the weaver, 'the decree is just. It is right that
one of my eyes be taken. And yet, alas! both are necessary to me
in order that I may see the two sides of the cloth that I weave.
But I have a neighbour, a cobbler, who has also two eyes, and in
his trade both eyes are not necessary.'

Then the prince sent for the cobbler. And he came. And they took
out one of the cobbler's two eyes.

And justice was satisfied.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Rajesh Thankappan 16 November 2013

Wars utter madness is so beautifully conveyed in this poem.

5 2 Reply
Ratnakar Mandlik 05 March 2016

Best example of unjust justice delivered by immature mind. A beautifully conceived poem to show the injustices committed during war on innocents.

5 1 Reply
Edward Kofi Louis 05 March 2016

War is not the answer to peace! It destroys everything. Thanks for sharing.

4 1 Reply
Rajnish Manga 05 March 2016

Like all other stories of Khalil Gibran, this one, too, gives us something to think upon. The question is as to who will challenge the injustice done by an all powerful judge?

3 1 Reply

I likes the great story in this poem written by the great poet.

1 1 Reply
Adeeb Alfateh 21 July 2019

O prince, ' said the weaver, 'the decree is just. It is right that one of my eyes be taken. And yet, alas! both are necessary to me in order that I may see the two sides of the cloth that I weave. But I have a neighbour, a cobbler, who has also two eyes, and in his trade both eyes are not necessary.' great 10+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

0 0 Reply
krita gupta 15 November 2018

the poem tells us about foolish people in the world. they are given high posts but dont deserve them. people who deserve something should be given it. That would be JUSTICE

0 0 Reply
* Sunprincess * 05 March 2016

.....and they say all is fair in War...honestly war is never fair...there's always someone taking something which doesn't belong to them ★

2 1 Reply
Susan Williams 05 March 2016

Well, at least Solomon didn't really cut the babe in two. Indeed, in the hands of the foolish, justice is blind.

19 1 Reply
Uzefa Rashida M.a 05 March 2016

Justice is sometimes blind. A heartrending tale. A true just ruler is a blessing in disguise to any kingdom. Truth presented very boldly. the poet has expressed it so beautifully well.

1 0 Reply
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