where are you leading me, oh enchanting houri, and how long shall i follow you upon this hispid road, planted with Thorns? How long shall our souls ascend And descend painfully on this twisting and Rocky path?
Like a child following his mother I am Following you, holding the extreme end of your garment, forgetting my dreams |And staring at your beauty, blinding My eyes under your spell to the Procession of spectres hovering above me, and attracted to you by an inner Force within me which I cannot deny.
Halt for a moment and let me see your Countenance; and look upon me for a Moment; perhaps I will learn your Heart's secrets through your strange Eyes. Stop and rest, for I am weary, And my soul is trembling with fear Upon this horrible trail. Halt, for We have reached that terrible crossroad Where Death embraces Life.
Oh Houri, listen to me! I was as free As the birds, probing the valleys and The forests, and flying in the spacious Sky. At eventide I rested upon the Branches of the trees, mediating the Temples and palaces in the City of the Colourful Clouds which the Sun builds In the morning and destroys before Twilight.
I was like a thought, walking alone And at peace to the East and West of The Universe, rejoicing with the Beauty and joy of Life, and inquiring Into the magnificent mystery of Existence.
I was like a dream, stealing out under The friendly wings of the night, Entering through the closed windows Into the maidens' chambers, frolicking And awakening their hopes... Then I Sat by the youths and agitated their Desires...
Then I probed the elders' Quarters and penetrated their thoughts
Of serene contentment.
Then you captured my fancy, and since
That hypnotic moment I felt like a
Prisoner dragging his shackles and
Impelled into an unknown place...
I became intoxicated with your sweet
Wine that has stolen my will, and I
Now find my lips kissing the hand
That strikes me sharply. Can you
Not see with your soul's eye the
Crushing of my heart? Halt for a
Moment; I am regaining my strenght
And untying my weary feet from the
Heavy chains. I have crushed the
Cup from which I have drunk your
Tasty venom... But now I am in
A strange land, and bewildered;
Which road shall I follow?
My freedom has been restored; will
You now accept me as a willing
Companion, who looks at the Sun
With glazed eyes and grasps the
Fire with untrembling fingers?
I have unbound my wings and I am
Ready to ascend; will you accompany
A youth who spends his days roaming
The mountains like the lone eagle, and
Wastes his nights wandering in the
Deserts like the restless lion?
Will you content yourself with the
Affection of one who looks upon Love
As but an entertainer, and declines
To accept her as his master?
Will you accept a heart that loves,
But never yields? And burns, but
Never melts? Will you be at ease
With a soul that quivers before the
Tempest, but never surrenders to it?
Will you accept one as a companion
Who makes not slaves, nor will become
One? Will you own me but not possess
Me, by taking my body and not my heart?
Then here is my hand - grasp it with
Your beautiful hand; and here is my
Body - embrace it with your loving
Arms
And here are my lips. Bestow upon them a deep and dizzying kiss.
xxxxxxxxxx
"Secrets of the heart" Kahlil Gibran> author of the Prophet