> [!QUOTE] Poem > > # *On Love* > > Then said Almitra, Speak to us of Love. > And he raised his head and looked upon > the people, and there fell a stillness upon > them. And with a great voice he said: > When love beckons to you, follow him, > Though his ways are hard and steep. > And when his wings enfold you yield to him, > Though the sword hidden among his > pinions may wound you. > And when he speaks to you believe in him, > Though his voice may shatter your dreams > as the north wind lays waste the garden. > > For even as love crowns you so shall he > crucify you. Even as he is for your growth > so is he for your pruning. > Even as he ascends to your height and > caresses your tenderest branches that quiver > in the sun, > So shall he descend to your roots and > shake them in their clinging to the earth. > > Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto > himself. > He threshes you to make you naked. > He sifts you to free you from your husks. > He grinds you to whiteness. > He kneads you until you are pliant; > And then he assigns you to his sacred > fire, that you may become sacred bread for > God’s sacred feast. > > All these things shall love do unto you > that you may know the secrets of your > heart, and in that knowledge become a > fragment of Life’s heart. > > 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. > > Love gives naught but itself and takes > naught but from itself. > Love possesses not nor would it be > possessed; > For love is sufficient unto love. > > When you love you should not say, > “God is in my heart,” but rather, “I am > in the heart of God.” > And think not you can direct the course > of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, > directs your course. > > Love has no other desire but to fulfil > itself. > But if you love and must needs have > desires, let these be your desires: > To melt and be like a running brook > that sings its melody to the night. > To know the pain of too much tenderness. > To be wounded by your own understanding > of love; > And to bleed willingly and joyfully. > To wake at dawn with a winged heart > and give thanks for another day of loving; > To rest at the noon hour and meditate > love’s ecstasy; > To return home at eventide with gratitude; > And then to sleep with a prayer for the > beloved in your heart and a song of praise > upon your lips. > > — [[Khalil Gibran]]