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I post on Monday with an occasional random blog thrown in for good measure. I do my best to answer all comments via email and visit around on the days I post.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

K is for Khalil...



For this, my third year doing the challenge, I am going literary. For every letter of the alphabet I will talk about a book, an author or a character from fiction or myth that made an impression, was inspirational, or caused me to think.




...as in Gibran.
"Work is love made visible."

This quote from his most famous work, The Prophet, has been a motto I have striven to embrace since I first read the book when I was probably around 17 or 18. Of course, I fail daily to make love visible, to not complain about having to dust or sweep the floor. But still...I keep working at it.

You can read a short biography of his life here, from Cornell University.

This Man from Lebanon, by Barbara Young, is a lovely biography of this talented man.

During that time in my life when I devoured every book of his that I could lay my hands on, I came across this little piece from The Forerunner. It is totally applicable to writers, artists and other creative types and reminds us of a basic truth.

"Said a Sheet of Snow-White Paper"

   Said a sheet of snow-white paper, "Pure was I created, and pure will I remain for ever. I would rather be burnt and turn to white ashes than suffer darkness to touch me or the the unclean to come near me."
   The ink-bottle heard what the paper was saying, and it laughed in its dark heart; but it never dared to approach her. And the multicoloured pencils heard her also, and they too never came near her.
   And the snow-white sheet of paper did remain pure and chaste for ever -- pure and chaste -- and empty.

Do you have a favorite Gibran quote or book?

K is for Khalil Gibran  Other K influences: Kidnapped by R. L. Stevenson, Kadath as in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath, by H. P. Lovecraft. King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

19 comments:

  1. "But let there be spaces in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls."
    Khalil Gibran

    Love him :D

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  2. I read it, Bish. That part about his shoulder and the cross was amazing. I love him!

    When love beckons to you, follow him, though his ways are hard and steep. (((hugs)))

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  3. I have to admit I've never read the Prophet. Guess I need to add that one to my list too. Man is it getting LONG.

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  4. You are always so timely for me. I don't know if you knew I have 3 houses and all of them filled with books. I'm smack dab in the middle of getting rid of #1, (time for them all to go) Yesterday as I was wading through books I picked up the tattered Prophet, held it for a moment and put it in the "save" pile. But aside.... I'm tearing my hair out.... what a job.... don't collect.

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  5. I think this is a book I need to put on my list to read.

    Lucy

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  6. He is a great writer no doubt

    My favorite quote of Khalil Gibran is :

    "A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle""

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  7. I've heard of Gibran, but haven't read anything by him. That snippet about the paper is sad and speaks to how we refuse to grow and change according to circumstances.

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  8. Haven't read his work but the quote is profound. I have read Lovecraft though.

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  9. Bish, while I have never read The Prophet, I have read plenty of quotes and passages of his...I love things that make you think!

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  10. Ah yes. This takes me back (way back) to when I DID read Gibran. It was all lovely and profound, but I can't recall any quote at the moment. My little (deceased) brother like him too, and quoted some from him at our father's funeral back in 1995. You've brought back memories with this lovely post...!
    Ann Best, Author of In the Mirror & Other Memoirs

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  11. I love that quote. I sadly admit I've never read any of his works. :)

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  12. I've not heard of this author before, but the last bit, "Said a Sheet of Snow-White Paper" is how I feel about a lot of things and experiences. Why have them if you don't enjoy them?

    Just another A to Z Challenger stopping by...

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  13. "The ink-bottle heard what the paper was saying, and it laughed in its dark heart; but it never dared to approach her. And the multicoloured pencils heard her also, and they too never came near her.
    And the snow-white sheet of paper did remain pure and chaste for ever -- pure and chaste -- and empty."

    Okay, so I just have to say. Wow! Just, wow! Hope I can write like that someday.

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  14. I'm not familiar with this author, so I can't say that I do have a favorite book, but the quotes that you featured here today are nice to read.

    Cheers!

    ~Nicole
    Tackling the A to Z Challenge
    Blog: The Madlab Post
    @MadlabPost on Twitter

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  15. Haven't read Gibran, but love "Said a sheet of snow white paper."

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  16. I have to stop making lists of things I want to read. Thanks for making it a little longer.

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  17. interesting. This is my first challenge and I've enjoyed those posts of the historical and literary. thank you.

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  18. Um, I'd not heard of Khalil Gibran... I don't think.

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  19. Those are great quotes.

    I read one of his books in high school, but I can't remember which one.

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Your Random Thoughts are most welcome!