On Joy and Sorrow by Kahlil Gibran

[Leadfeather]

On Joy and Sorrow

Kahlil Gibran

 

Then a woman said, "Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow."

 

And he answered:

 

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.

 

And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.

 

And how else can it be?

 

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.

 

Is not the cup that hold your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?

 

And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?

 

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.

 

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

 

Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."

 

But I say unto you, they are inseparable.

 

Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

 

Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.

 

Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.

 

When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.

[BrokenHeart2]

Beautiful Leadfeather. Thank you for this!

 

[motski]

It has been to long since I have read Kahlil Gibran. Thanks for sharing.

[Leadfeather]

I recently purchased the collected works of Kahlil Gibran. I was reading it this morning (instead of going to church) and came across this poem.

 

A Tear and a Smile

 

I would not exchange the sorrows of my heart

For the joys of the multitude.

And I would not have the tears that sadness makes

To flow from my every part turn into laughter.

 

I would that my life remain a tear and a smile.

 

A tear to purify my heart and give me understanding

Of life's secrets and hidden things.

A smile to draw me nigh to the sons of my kind and

To be a symbol of my glorification of the gods.

 

A tear to unite me with those of broken heart;

A smile to be a sign of my joy in existence.

 

I would rather that I died in yearning and longing than that I live Weary and despairing.

 

I want the hunger for love and beauty to be in the

Depths of my spirit,for I have seen those who are

Satisfied the most wretched of people.

I have heard the sigh of those in yearning and Longing, and it is sweeter than the sweetest melody.

 

With evening's coming the flower folds her petals

And sleeps, embracing her longing.

At morning's approach she opens her lips to meet

The sun's kiss.

 

The life of a flower is longing and fulfilment.

A tear and a smile.

 

The waters of the sea become vapor and rise and come

Together and are a cloud.

 

And the cloud floats above the hills and valleys

Until it meets the gentle breeze, then falls weeping

To the fields and joins with brooks and rivers to Return to the sea, its home.

 

The life of clouds is a parting and a meeting.

A tear and a smile.

 

And so does the spirit become separated from

The greater spirit to move in the world of matter

And pass as a cloud over the mountain of sorrow

And the plains of joy to meet the breeze of death

And return whence it came.

 

To the ocean of Love and Beauty----to God.