Poetry
The Enchanting Houri -Kahlil Gibran[/b
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
hearts secrets through your strange
Eyes. Stop and rest, for I am weary,
And my soul is trembling with fear
Upon this terrible 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, meditating upon the
Temples and palaces in the city of the
Colorful 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 soul's eyes
The crushing of my heart? Halt for a
Moment : I am regaining my strength
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? 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.