The River
In the valley of Kadisha where the mighty river flows, two little streams met and spoke to one another.
One stream said, "How came you, my friend, and how was your path?"
And the other answered, "My path was most encumbered. The wheel of the mill was broken, and the master farmer who used to conduct me from my channel to his plants, is dead. I struggled down oozing with the filth of those who do naught but sit and bake their laziness in the sun. But how was your path, my brother?"
And the other stream answered and said, "Mine was a different path. I came down the hills among fragrant flowers and shy willows; men and women drank of me with silvery cups, and little children paddled their rosy feet at my edges, and there was laughter all about me, and there were sweet songs. What a pity that your path was not so happy."
At that moment the river spoke with a loud voice and said, "Come in, come in, we are going to the sea. Come in, come in, speak no more. Be with me now. We are going to the sea. Come in, come in, for in me you shall forget your wanderings, sad or gay. Come in, come in. And you and I will forget all our ways when we reach the heart of our mother the sea."
One stream said, "How came you, my friend, and how was your path?"
And the other answered, "My path was most encumbered. The wheel of the mill was broken, and the master farmer who used to conduct me from my channel to his plants, is dead. I struggled down oozing with the filth of those who do naught but sit and bake their laziness in the sun. But how was your path, my brother?"
And the other stream answered and said, "Mine was a different path. I came down the hills among fragrant flowers and shy willows; men and women drank of me with silvery cups, and little children paddled their rosy feet at my edges, and there was laughter all about me, and there were sweet songs. What a pity that your path was not so happy."
At that moment the river spoke with a loud voice and said, "Come in, come in, we are going to the sea. Come in, come in, speak no more. Be with me now. We are going to the sea. Come in, come in, for in me you shall forget your wanderings, sad or gay. Come in, come in. And you and I will forget all our ways when we reach the heart of our mother the sea."
Khalil Gibran, "The Wanderer" (1930)
nice one !!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful passage and a soothing change in a world filled with so much anger and hostility.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThere's a refined and quiet dignity about your blog that I truly appreciate.
Thanks,
CPK
Hindraf is being declared illegal by the home minister.
ReplyDeleteHome Minister Syed Hamid Albar What Are You Going To Do With Utusan???
Disquiet
ReplyDeleteWhen can we really talk among equals?
In a delighting and smooth discourse. Minus the arrogance.
Promoting the love and fairness without needing to create any anger. Selling the idea of togetherness without favoring any clan.
Telling the truth without malice whilst not hiding our shortcomings.
Damansara,
ReplyDeleteyou tell me. I don't even know who you are.
MIS
With so much politicking these days and so many scandals unearthed daily, we are thankful that the sun still shines despite the gloomy days ahead. Whatever that is happening to our beloved nation now, has a purpose. It will teach us that we cannot continue to sit back and relax nor watch from afar when people with evil schemes are playing partisan politics to serve their own agenda.
ReplyDeleteWe need to stand united and go against such rampant abuses of the systems be it in parliament, courts, universities or even in the offices of the ruling regime. We need men and women of courage to take up their rightful roles and say what is wrong is wrong and there is no two ways about it. Until we see such a day, we will still have to dream and hopefully this dream will be a sweet one soon.
Why should we know each other?
ReplyDeleteDifferent tone and view for different people?
Malik
ReplyDeleteKhalil Gibran is a mystic. those of us who have read him may appreciate this. The parable of the little rivers and the big that goes to the union with the ocean is a remarkable one, replete with wonders, beauty and imaginative meaning. But how do you get the p**s in BN to accept the pearls of the Khalil Gibrans of this world. As long as they keep insisting that we trust them without listening to our voices, I wwep for my country