Khalil Gibran was born in 1883. He was not just a poet, but also a philosopher, an artist, a dreamer.
His fame and influence spread far beyond his native Lebanon.
He is widely recognised as the author of the Prophet.
His poetry has been translated into more than twenty languages. His drawings and paintings have been exhibited in the great capitals of the world.
May Ziadah was one of the foremost writers of Arabic literature in this century: her correspondence with author Khalil Gibran led to love and reflections on life which are presented via their letters and documented in this book.
Following are some excerpts from the book.
’’A man can be free without being great, but no man can be great without being free.’’
’’Sometimes you have not even begun to speak - and I am at the end of what you are saying.’’
’’I care about your happiness just as you care about mine. I could not be at peace if you were not.’’
’’What-to-Love is a fundamental human problem. And if we have this solution - Love what may be - we see that this is the way Reality loves - and that there is no other loving that lasts or understands.’’
’’I am so happy in your happiness. To you happiness is a form of freedom, and of all the people I know you should be the freest. Surely you have earned this happiness and this freedom. Life cannot be but kind and sweet to you. You have been so sweet and kind to life.’’
’’Marriage doesn’t give one any rights in another person except such rights that a person gives - nor any freedom except the freedom which that person gives.’’
’’Among intelligent people the surest basis for marriage is friendship - the sharing of real interests- the ability to fight out ideas together and understand each other’s thoughts and dreams.’’
’’I realized that all the trouble I ever had about you came from some smallness or fear in myself.’’
’’Follow your heart. Your heart is the right guide in everything big. Mine is so limited. What you want to do is determined by that divine element that is in each of us.’’
’’The relation between you and me is the most beautiful thing in my life. It is the most wonderful thing that I have known in any life. It is eternal.’’
’’An expression of that sacred desire to find this world and behold it naked; and that is the soul of the poetry of Life. Poets are not merely those who write poetry, but those whose hearts are full of the spirit of life.’’
’’You listen to so much more than I can say. You hear consciousness. You go with me where the words I say can’t carry you.’’
Infinite words of wisdom from the man who knew it all. Gibran’s writing gives one solace in times of sadness and happiness.
His readings help you reflect inside yourself and in turn help you be a better person or at least a more aware person.
Gibran’s writings are eternal just like his wisdom.