Song of the Soul XXII

In the depth of my soul there is A wordless song - a song that lives In the seed of my heart. It refuses to melt with ink on Parchment; it engulfs my affection In a transparent cloak and flows, But not upon my lips. How can I sigh it? I fear it may Mingle with earthly ether; To whom shall I sing it? It dwells In the house of my soul, in fear of Harsh ears. When I look into my inner eyes I see the shadow of its shadow; When I touch my fingertips I feel its vibrations. The deeds of my hands heed its Presence as a lake must reflect The glittering stars; my tears Reveal it, as bright drops of dew Reveal the secret of a withering rose. It is a song composed by contemplation, And published by silence, And shunned by clamor, And folded by truth, And repeated by dreams, And understood by love, And hidden by awakening, And sung by the soul. It is the song of love; What Cain or Esau could sing it? It is more fragrant than jasmine; What voice could enslave it? It is heartbound, as a virgin's secret; What string could quiver it? Who dares unite the roar of the sea And the singing of the nightingale? Who dares compare the shrieking tempest To the sigh of an infant? Who dares speak aloud the words Intended for the heart to speak? What human dares sing in voice The song of God? Khalil Gibran

Khalil Gibran Biography

Gibran Khalil Gibran (aka Jubran Kahlil Jubran) was born into a Maronite Family on January 6, 1883 at Bsharri, a town near Mount Fam al-MIzab in Northern Lebanon. Gibran was born as the first child to his mother, second overall (first son named Butros), from her second marriage.

Just two years later, his first sister, Marianna was born and two years after another sister, Sultana was born. When 1888 came about, Gibran entered a small one-class village school where he learned Arabic, Syriac and Arithmetic.

In 1895, Gibran, his two sisters and Butros emigrated to Chinatown in Boston while their father, a tax collector and drunkard, stayed behind. Butros opened a small shop and began earning the families only source of income. Doing so allowed Gibran to join the local school and angelicize to Khalil Gibran.

Showing promise in drawing and painting, Gibran was introduced to the Bostonian photographer and artist Fred Holland Day. As Day was experimenting with photography as art, Gibran was photographed on several occasions, sometimes nude. Gibran was then sent back to Lebanon to further his studies at al-Hikma high school in Beirut. His studies required more learning of Arabic, French and literature.

For a short period in 1901, Gibran returned to Boston with his family. However, shortly after in 1902, while traveling to Lebanon as a translator for an American family, Gibran heard the news of his youngest sister's, Sultana, death from tuberculosis and quickly returned home to visit with his family.

The following year was no better. Gibran faced two more deaths, his half-brother Butros from tuberculosis and his mother from cancer.

In 1904, Gibran's first picture exhibition was held at Fred Holland Day's studio. This exhibition was the start of many publications which came in the following years, including al-Musiqa; which emphasizes on Arabic music and its various forms, al-Arwah al-Mutamclrrida (Spirits Rebellious); four short stories about the spirit of 'Ara is al-Muruj.

In 1908, after his publication in New York, Gibran left to Paris to study art taught by Mary Haskell. Just two years later, Gibran met Ameen Rihani, who was headed to New York City, and visited London to educate themselves by the art in the city. The two then went separate ways. Gibran then returned to Boston after spending two years and four months in Paris and traveling London.