Tag: garment

Glimmer of Dewdrops

And on the first day of the week when the sounds of the temple bells sought their ears, one spoke and said: “Master, we hear much talk of God hereabout. What say you of God, and who is He in very truth?”

And he stood before them like a young tree, fearless of wind or tempest, and he answered saying: “Think now, my comrades and beloved, of a heart that contains all your hearts, a love that encompasses all your loves, a spirit that envelops all your spirits, a voice enfolding all your voices, and a silence deeper than all your silences, and timeless.

“Seek now to perceive in your self-fullness a beauty more enchanting than all things beautiful, a song more vast than the song of the sea and the forest, a majesty seated upon a throne for which Orion is but a footstool, holding a sceptre in which the Pleiades are naught save the glimmer of dewdrops.

“You have sought alawys only food and shelter, a garment and a staff; seek now One who is neither an aim for your arrows nor a stony cave to shield you from the elements.

“And if my words are a rock and a riddle, then seek, none the less, that your hearts may be broken, and that your questionings may bring you unto the love and the wisdom of the Most High, whom men call God.”

And they were silent, every one, and they were perplexed in their heart.

Kahlil Gibran, The Garden of the Prophet

The Hymn of the Pearl

Black Pearl by Mbz1

When I was an infant too young to talk, in my father’s palace, Reposing in the wealth and luxury of those who nourished me, My parents equipped me with supplies and sent me out from the East, our country, on a mission.

From the wealth of their treasuries they gave me a great cargo, Which was light, so that I could carry it by myself – The cargo was gold frmo the high country, silver plate of the great treasuries, Emerald jewels of India, and agates of Kosan; and they armed me with steel.

They took away from me the jewel-studded garment shot with gold, That they had made out of love for me, And the robe of yellow colour (tailored) to my size. But they made an agreement with me, Impressed it on my mind, (so that) I might (not) forget it, and said:

“If you go down to Egypt and bring from there the one pearl, Which resides there near the ravenous dragon, You shall put (back)  on that jewel-studded garment and teh robe, which you like; And you shall be a herald for our kingdom, along with your well-remembered Brother.

So I started out from the East, on a hard and frightening road, accompanied by two guides; For I was unused to traveling on it. I passed the borders of the Mosani, where there is the inn of the Eastern traveling merchants; And reached the land of Babylon.

The Hymn of the Pearl

Starry Heaven

Laid I down upon the pillow

Soft, my sleepy head one evening.

Holding fast a cross from Israel

O’er my heart, for Love’s forgiveness.

Then I saw a sight, quite welcome,

To a child of starry heaven:

On a board of dark-night matter

Drew the Master with his finger

Five points joined, a star-shaped image

Finished by a sixth point, centred.

Once His finger left the black board

Burst a light; a new-made star born.

What a clever One! I wondered

Hoping then He’d make the sun shine,

Yet He made a second star light

Up the night before my wide eyes.

Very soon – in deep hypnosis –

Did I reach the land of dreaming.

In that realm I found another –

Dark with unrequited passion.

Gave this one my self a garment,

Woven in the strangest fashion.

And he gave me food to savour,

Made me feel a princess, favoured.

Later did he stand behind me,

Put his head upon my shoulder,

Kiss my neck to make me bolder.

Lord of night, my dream-self’s other

Showed me that our bond is soldered,

Soothed my soul my Spirit’s lover.