As promised.....

I shall be sharing extracts from Kahlil Gibran's book "The Prophet."

I sms'ed Shaheema last night and asked her to bring her copy of the book to work with her. I received an email from her this morning with the extract already typed out!! She knew which one I would request even without me saying anything!! Couz, you know me too well, hehehehehe!!

With today's post, I'll share what the author writes about marriage. On my reading of this particular extract, I developed goosebumps!!! I sometimes wonder if my situation with my failed marriage would have been different had I read this extract earlier in my life. But like Shaheema always says, and so do I, there's a particular reason why I didn't. Lessons come when the pupil is ready to learn!!

Then Almitra spoke again and said...

"And what of Marriage, master?"

And he answered saying:

You were born together,

and together you shall be forevermore.

You shall be together when the white wings

of death scatter your days.

Aye, you shall be together even in the silent

memory of God.

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.

Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.

Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.

Sing and dance together and be joyous,
but let each of you be alone.

Even as the strings of a lute are alone

though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.

For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.

And stand together, yet not too near together.

For the pillars of the temple stand apart.

And the oak tree and the cypress

grow not in each other's shadow.

From a personal perspective, I think that every couple embarking on marriage should read this extract & learn from it. It holds boundless wisdom, and if we should take cognisance of it there would be less marriages ending. Don't you think??

I'm quite ecstatic to report that Shaheema has asked Moi to read this particular extract at her wedding reception Insha-Allah!! And why wouldn't I?? It's the most appropriate piece of poetry to start on a lifelong journey Insha-Allah Ameen!!