The Prophet ; ebook

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.

YOU may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts.

You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.

YOUR reason and your passion are the rudder and the sails of your seafaring soul. If either your sails or your rudder be broken, you can but toss and drift, or else be held at a standstill in mid–seas.

Beauty is eternity gazing at itself in a mirror. But you are eternity and you are the mirror.

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

And your body is the harp of your soul, And it is yours to bring forth sweet music from it or confused sounds.

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.

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.