Re: Love brings nothing but misery.
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, 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.
The Prophet (Love) by Khalil Gibran