Knights of the Pain Table

 “The Prophet”, recited by the Irish actor Richard Harris, enraptured me, a young Knight, the first time I heard it.  The words were carried with a Shakespearean lilt  and seeped into a deep place in my soul.  Kahlil Gibran, author and poet, wrote this beautiful story about a Prophet who is departing from the city he has lived in for many years.  He is about to board the ship that will take him away, when he turns to the people of Orphalese to speak to them for a last time.  Giving his final gift of wisdom, he searches his heart to a respond to their questions on life including: Friendship, Beauty, Children and Love.  The words will never be forgotten.

And since Richard Harris, the great Irish actor, gave one of his best performances as King Arthur, it is fitting that this recording would touch our souls here in Camelot.  Let me share a bit of the Prophet tonight to remember this wonderful recording and muse in the ethereal words of this poetic man.

 On Joy and Sorrow

Then a woman said, “Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow.”

And he answered:

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.

And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.

And how else can it be?

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.

Is not the cup that hold your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter’s oven?

And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Some of you say, “Joy is greater than sorrow,” and others say, “Nay, sorrow is the greater.”

But I say unto you, they are inseparable.

Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.

Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.

When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.

Fare thee well,,

Lady Sharon

Tags: Kahlil Gibran, on Joy and Sorrow, Philosophy, Spirituality, The Prophet

This entry was posted by Lady Sharon on Saturday, June 16th, 2007 at 12:53 am and is filed under Inspiration for Our Hertes, Literature and Scribes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.