Do you love this poem?? [by a classic poet] [philosophical qualities]?

[Note: This is a poem by by Khalil Gibran (1883-1931)

written in 1923; I love this poem, do you?]

Children Chapter VI [poem title]

And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, "Speak to us of Children."

And he said:

Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts.

For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,

For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;

For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Comments

  • Yes I do it's true I've 4 adult kids & children don't belong to us they're not property all the love nurturing & teaching is to prepare them for their own lives .I especially love the line We may house their bodies but not their souls Thanks for sharing this

  • Years ago I had a beautiful recording of the whole book, spoken by Richard Burton (or Richard Harris, I can't remember clearly), it was a beautiful recording and I believe it is still available. The book (The Prophet) is still being printed too, is that where you took this from? I think it is beautiful. Have you googled Khalil's name? I did and found some lovely sites.

  • I like this poem it has alot of truth to it.

  • no, i don't. i find it extremely boring.

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