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 fulfill itself.
But if you love and must need 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.
Kahlil Gibran's poem "On Love" is a lyrical and evocative expression of the complex nature of love. With its vivid imagery and poetic language, the poem explores the many dimensions of love, from the joy of falling in love to the pain of loss and the enduring power of love that transcends time and space.
The poem begins with a description of love as a flame that burns bright in the heart of the lover. Gibran writes, "When love beckons to you, follow him, / Though his ways are hard and steep." This image of love as a beckoning force that calls to us with its irresistible allure is a recurring theme throughout the poem.
Kahlil Gibran goes on to describe the many facets of love, from the playful and carefree love of youth to the deeper, more profound love that comes with maturity. He writes, "And when you have reached the mountaintop, then you shall begin to climb. / And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance."
The poem also explores the idea of love as a force that connects us to the divine. Gibran writes, "For love is the ultimate meaning of everything around us. / It is not a mere sentiment; it is truth; it is the joy that is at the root of all creation." This idea that love is not just a feeling, but a transcendent force that connects us to something greater, is a recurring theme in Gibran's writing.
Another important theme in the poem is the idea of the impermanence of love. Gibran acknowledges the pain of loss that comes with loving deeply, writing, "Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; / For love is sufficient unto love." This idea that love is not about possession or control, but rather about mutual respect and a willingness to let go, is a central theme in Gibran's work.
Finally, the poem ends with a powerful image of love that transcends time and space. Gibran writes, "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."
This image of a seasonless world where love endures beyond the bounds of time and space is a poignant reminder of the enduring power of love, even in the face of loss and impermanence.
In conclusion, Kahlil Gibran's poem "On Love" is a moving and powerful expression of the many dimensions of love. Through its vivid imagery and poetic language, the poem explores the joys and pains of loving deeply, the connection between love and the divine, and the enduring power of love that transcends time and space. Ultimately, the poem reminds us that love is not just an emotion, but a force that can transform us and the world around us.
currently listening to Your love supreme, by Chante Moore
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