Khalil Gibran on Love

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There have been many attempts to define the extraordinary feeling of love, but it is not an easy task. I know that, as I have also grappled with it repeatedly. Here, I would like to present Khalil Gibran’s approach. I hope you will enjoy it.🙏💖

The illustration on the top by Jeramondo Djeriandi

From The Prophet

Love gives naught but itself
and takes naught but from itself.
Love processed not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.

Khalil Gibran Speaks of 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 fulfil itself.
But if you love and must needs 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 sleep to with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise
upon your lips.

32 thoughts on “Khalil Gibran on Love”

  1. Well done Aladin, this is a wonderful translation of Kahlil’s passage! Me, I love to love, although as a young girl, love looked more like a punch in the gut than anything worth pursuing. Happy ever after, I decided early on, wasn’t what I ever wanted, especially if ‘love’ looked anything like my parent’s marriage!

    Thankfully, I grew up to discover other paths to love, and so I stopped looking in all the wrong places. That scene from ‘The Graduate’ makes me think that sometimes we end up with the love we think we need (thrill of the chase!) only to discover we don’t know what to do with it. Love and light, Deborah.

    Liked by 3 people

    • That’s an excellent description! Thank you, my angel. I know love by exciting looking, sneaking behind the house door, or waiting in the corner of her way to school to have only a chance for a short encounter of eyes. Now, as you said, I have a deeper look at this monster! That is something we might always take seriously.🙏💖🦋🌟

      Liked by 2 people

  5. This makes sense to me.

    Then the god word is used.

    If love is sufficient unto itself, then “God is in my heart,” or, “I am in the heart of God.” is redundant. God has nothing to do with something sufficient unto itself.

    “you may become sacred bread forGod’s sacred feast” Sorry, I don’t need that! Yet, I love and love is sufficient unto itself.

    Don’t get me wrong! This is beautiful writing. I agree with much. I just don’t see why god has to enter the equation?!

    Thank you, Aladin!

    ❦🌹🎼❦🌹🎼

    Liked by 2 people

    • My dear Resa. I understand what you mean, though. To understand Kahlil Gibran’s view of love, you might realise the oriental point of view in this issue! That is, as I know it as well, love always means suffering. In our world, love reigns, and that is where the comparison with God comes in. He describes this as the only way to understand God and the Self, and if not, he says:
      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!
      I do never get you wrong, buddy; I always appreciate your thoughts. Thank you!🙏🥰🌹

      Liked by 2 people

  10. My answer to ‘What is love?’ is Pride’s Children, which I’ve been working on for 24 years now, and of which I’ve published the first two volumes, PURGATORY and NETHERWORLD.

    I can’t remember if I’ve ever offered you electronic ARCs of them (epub) – I think your comments would be very interesting – so let me know. Reviews optional, of course.

    I’m working on the grand finale, THE answer, LIMBO. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Alicia, Thank you so much for your worthy offer. Unfortunately, I have a lot to do in my private life at the moment that is of priority to me. That’s why I had to forgo the comfort of reading any books in a quiet corner. I wish you great success with the finale part, Limbo (the name of my brother’s last work is “Season of Limbo”!). However, I will definitely fall back on your offer. Take care and stay well.🙏💖🌹

      Like

  11. elainemansfield

    I’ve been to many weddings where these lines were repeated and then on to the end of what you’re shared: “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.”

    And it’s true–and true that we need to be ready to bleed and feel pain when we open to love.

    Thank you for sharing these powerful words.

    Liked by 1 person

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