A book of poetry I am reading presently. It is entitled "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran.

http://leb.net/mira/works/prophet/prophet.html

"Although practically ignored by the literary establishment in the West, lines from the book have inspired song lyrics, political speeches and have been read out at weddings and funerals all around the world.

'It serves various occasions or big moments in one's life so it tends to be a book that is often gifted to a lover, or for a birth, or death. That is why it has spread so widely, and by word of mouth,' says Dr Mohamed Salah Omri, lecturer in Modern Arabic literature at Oxford University."

My namesake.

Is this were you picked your name from too? Or is it coincidence?


Kind regards,

The Traveler

Yes, my name is from Kahlil Gibran. I first read The Prophet over 30 years ago, and continue to read it every few years. A beautiful little book.

Is "The Traveler" from The Prophet?

When I first picked up the book, I thought of you gibran I assumed (rightly) that it was the source of your name.

My first guess would be The Traveler is from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/The_Traveler

He was one of my favorite characters from that series.

Anyhow, back on topic, I am really enjoying The Prophet. I believe it will be something that I come back to again and again over the years. I'm not usually one who goes in for poetry very often, but Gibran is outstanding.

My favorite thus far is entitled "Pain"

And a woman spoke, saying, "Tell us of Pain."

And he said:

Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.

Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain.

And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy;

And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields.

And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief.

Much of your pain is self-chosen.

It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self.

Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquillity:

For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen,

And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips, has been fashioned of the clay which the Potter has moistened with His own sacred tears.

It's a fantastic book.

I need to go see if my library has it and re-read it.

Just the greatest of books - you can re-read it any number of times.

I have a friend who can recite the whole book by heart.