Passage of the day - 10 Dec 2003

[Mephisto2]

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Extract - 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 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.

This was one of the readings at my marriage ceremony. I love the sentiments in this passage. I had a bit of a struggle to convince the catholic priest who married us to allow us a non-religious reading, but I feel that Gibran's words speak volumes to me and describe a true marriage much better than many of the traditional biblical readings.

I just like the imagery. There's good advice here folks.


Mr Mephisto

[Cycler]

Good stuff, it says it is an extract do you have the place where the whole work is at?

[ratbastid]

It's from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. Like it says at the top of the quote.

Brilliant choice, Mr. Meph. I haven't read Gibran in ages. May have to go pick him up again!

[water_boy1999]

A very nice ode to matrimony Mr. Meph. Good choice!!!

[Cycler]

Originally posted by ratbastid
It's from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. Like it says at the top of the quote.

<p>Yeah thanks, I know, I was just wondering if he had the complete work linked somewhere.<p>I've got it Mr. M thanks for posting the extract.

[Mephisto2]

Try either of the following links:

http://www.columbia.edu/~gm84/gibtable.html
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/5484/Gibran.htm


Mr Mephisto

[Cycler]

Thanks, it looks like it is going to take some time to read I may print it out at work.

[moonstrucksoul]

beautiful!