Poetry Reading: "On Children" From The Prophet By Khalil Gibran

This is a reading of Khalil Gibran's collection of poems, The Prophet: On Love. This poem is accompanied by beautiful and dreamlike music to lull you into a deeper sleep. It also serves as food for thought, providing profound insight into unconditional love.

Transcript

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.

But his arrows may go swift and far,

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

Or even as he loves the arrow that flies,

So he loves also the bow that is stable.

You are the bow from which your children,

As living arrows are sent forth.

You are the bow from which your children,

As living arrows are sent forth.

You are the bow from which your children,

As living arrows are sent forth.

Reviews

Lovely voice and cadence though a slight echo. I’m practicing using this as my “virtual commute” to home life from my home office at the end of work days.

One of my favorites. I have a very old copy of this book given by my great grandmother to my mother. I cherish it.