Thursday, July 22, 2010

The enchanting Houri -Kahlil Gibran

Where are you leading me, Oh enchanting
Houri, and how long shall I follow you
Upon this hispid road, planted with
Thorns? How long shall our souls ascend
And descend painfully on  this twisting
And rocky path?

Like a child following his mother I am
Following you, holding the extreme end
Of your garment, forgetting my dreams
And staring at your beauty, blinding
My eyes under your spell to the
Procession of spectres hovering above
Me, and attracted to you by an inner
force within me which I cannot deny.

Halt for a moment and let me see your
Countenance; and look upon me for a
Moment; perhaps I will learn your
hearts secrets through your strange
Eyes. stop and rest, for I am weary,
And my soul is trembling with fear
Upon this terrible trail. Halt, for
We have reached that terrible crossword
Where death embraces life.

Oh Houri, listen to me! I was as free
As the birds, probing the valleys and
the forests, and flying in the spacious
Sky. At eventide I rested upon the
Branches of the trees, meditating the
Temples and palaces in  the city of the
Colorful clouds which the sun builds
In the morning and destroys before
Twilight.

I was like a thought, walking alone
And at peace to the East and West of
The universe, rejoicing with the
Beauty and joy of life, and inquiring
Into the magnificent mystery of
Existence.

I was like a dream, stealing out under
The friendly wings of the night,
Entering through the closed windows
Into the maidens' chambers, frolicking
and awakening their hopes...Then I
sat by the youths and agitated their
Desires...then I probed the elders'
Quarters and penetrated their thoughts
of serene contentment

Then you captured my fancy and since
That hypnotic moment I felt like a
Prisoner dragging his shackles and
Impelled into an unknown place...
I became intoxicated with your soul's eyes the
crushing ouf my heart? halt for a
Moment : I am regaining my strength
and untying my weary feet from the
Heavy chains. I have crushed the
Cup from which I have drunk your
Tasty venom ..but now I am in
A strange land, and bewildered ;
Which road shall I follow?

My freedom has been restored;will
You now accept me as a willing
Companion, who looks at the sun
with glazed eyes and grasps the
Fire with untrembling fingers?

I have unbound my wings and I am
Ready to ascend ;will you accompany
A youth who spends his days roaming
The mountains like the lone eagle, and
Wastes his nights wandering in the deserts like the restless lion?

Will you content yourself with the
Affection of one, who looks upon
Love as but an entertainer and declines
To accept her as his master?

Will you accept a heart that loves ,
but never yields? will you be at ease,
with a soul that quivers before the tempest ,
But never surrenders to it?
Will you accept one as a companion
Who makes not slaves, nor will become
One? will you own me but not possess
Me, by taking my body and not my heart?

Then here is my hand-grasp it with
Your beautiful hand; and here is my
Body-embrace it with your loving
Arms; and here are my lips-bestow
Upon them a deep and dizzying kiss.

13 comments:

Rakesh Vanamali said...

Wonderful comeback! Gibran evokes the best and the mightiest emotions in man! Undoubtedly there aren't many equals to this maestro!

The Unsure Ascetic said...

Thanks bhai!! How is it down there in OOty?lucky dude!!

AS said...

hiii

nice poem by Gibran!
ur Houri Khan rocks!
;D

The Unsure Ascetic said...

yea I know, houri khan meri khan!!

em said...

wow! wonderful poem..thanks for sharing...

Rakesh Vanamali said...

Sailing smooth pal! Ooty is awesome, laid-back and cool as always! Far, far away from the maddening world!

How r things with you? Hows the new job treating you? Must've comfortably settled in?

ZB said...

Dude, i read the post 'Reflections of India' on the reader,but, alas, couldn't find it on your blog. Why did you delete it?

Let me congratulate the writer. Absolute Gospel truth. Very very candid, and i am sure Indians wont like it. I feel there lies our problem. we cant take criticism, even if they are true. India is SHIT...I am sorry to say this, and having traveled Europe, Middle east, Africa and South asia, i can say that confidently.India is Indeed the dirtiest and most polluted places on earth. ANd the worst part is that We dont give a damn. Sad:(

Please post it please, even if we dont like to hear this about us.

ZB said...

Buddy, If you dont mind, and if you have no plans of posting it again, can i copy/paste it in my blog. I want people to read it.

The Unsure Ascetic said...

@ Rakesh!
Hey , I am doing fine mate. Hope you are enjoying life and tasting success in all that you do. My job has treated me really well so far except that it has stolen my blog time from me. I guess i will soon find a way through finding some time daily. cheers

The Unsure Ascetic said...

@ ZB:
How are you? Please go ahead and post this article in your blog. i really feel there is no harm in showing a mirror to someone who is wrong. In this case alas it is we as a country who have failed. there is hope for a better tommorow. i was appalled by the TV news on CWG preps, hence did some serious thinking abt out public admin and stumbled upon this article. I cannot agree more with this guy, we do need some serious disciplining! I do hope this article reaches a lot of ppl.

Anonymous said...

Il semble que vous soyez un expert dans ce domaine, vos remarques sont tres interessantes, merci.

- Daniel

mitra said...

you seem to have missed few lines from the below stanza
"Then you captured my fancy and since
That hypnotic moment I felt like a
Prisoner dragging his shackles and
Impelled into an unknown place...
I became intoxicated with your SWEET WINE THAT HAS STOLEN MY WILL,AND I NOW FIND MY LIPS KISSING THE HAND THAT STRIKES ME SHARPLY.CAN YOU NOT SEE WITH YOUR soul's eyes the
crushing ouf my heart? halt for a
Moment : I am regaining my strength
and untying my weary feet from the
Heavy chains. I have crushed the
Cup from which I have drunk your
Tasty venom ..but now I am in
A strange land, and bewildered ;
Which road shall I follow?

mitra said...

few lines missing in this stanza

"Then you captured my fancy and since
That hypnotic moment I felt like a
Prisoner dragging his shackles and
Impelled into an unknown place...
I became intoxicated with your {SWEET WINE THAT HAS STOLEN MY WILL,AND I NOW FIND MY LIPS KISSING THE HAND THAT STRIKES ME SHARPLY.CAN YOU NOT SEE WITH YOUR} soul's eyes the
crushing ouf my heart? halt for a
Moment : I am regaining my strength
and untying my weary feet from the
Heavy chains. I have crushed the
Cup from which I have drunk your
Tasty venom ..but now I am in
A strange land, and bewildered ;
Which road shall I follow?