Analysis of A Lover's Call XXVII

Khalil Gibran 1883 (Bsharri) – 1931 (New York City)



Where are you, my beloved? Are you in that little
Paradise, watering the flowers who look upon you
As infants look upon the breast of their mothers?

Or are you in your chamber where the shrine of
Virtue has been placed in your honor, and upon
Which you offer my heart and soul as sacrifice?

Or amongst the books, seeking human knowledge,
While you are replete with heavenly wisdom?

Oh companion of my soul, where are you? Are you
Praying in the temple? Or calling Nature in the
Field, haven of your dreams?

Are you in the huts of the poor, consoling the
Broken-hearted with the sweetness of your soul, and
Filling their hands with your bounty?

You are God's spirit everywhere;
You are stronger than the ages.

Do you have memory of the day we met, when the halo of
You spirit surrounded us, and the Angels of Love
Floated about, singing the praise of the soul's deed?

Do you recollect our sitting in the shade of the
Branches, sheltering ourselves from Humanity, as the ribs
Protect the divine secret of the heart from injury?

Remember you the trails and forest we walked, with hands
Joined, and our heads leaning against each other, as if
We were hiding ourselves within ourselves?

Recall you the hour I bade you farewell,
And the Maritime kiss you placed on my lips?
That kiss taught me that joining of lips in Love
Reveals heavenly secrets which the tongue cannot utter!

That kiss was introduction to a great sigh,
Like the Almighty's breath that turned earth into man.

That sigh led my way into the spiritual world,
Announcing the glory of my soul; and there
It shall perpetuate until again we meet.

I remember when you kissed me and kissed me,
With tears coursing your cheeks, and you said,
"Earthly bodies must often separate for earthly purpose,
And must live apart impelled by worldly intent.

"But the spirit remains joined safely in the hands of
Love, until death arrives and takes joined souls to God.

"Go, my beloved; Love has chosen you her delegate;
Over her, for she is Beauty who offers to her follower
The cup of the sweetness of life.
As for my own empty arms, your love shall remain my
Comforting groom; you memory, my Eternal wedding."

Where are you now, my other self? Are you awake in
The silence of the night? Let the clean breeze convey
To you my heart's every beat and affection.

Are you fondling my face in your memory? That image
Is no longer my own, for Sorrow has dropped his
Shadow on my happy countenance of the past.

Sobs have withered my eyes which reflected your beauty
And dried my lips which you sweetened with kisses.

Where are you, my beloved? Do you hear my weeping
From beyond the ocean? Do you understand my need?
Do you know the greatness of my patience?

Is there any spirit in the air capable of conveying
To you the breath of this dying youth? Is there any
Secret communication between angels that will carry to
You my complaint?

Where are you, my beautiful star? The obscurity of life
Has cast me upon its bosom; sorrow has conquered me.

Sail your smile into the air; it will reach and enliven me!
Breathe your fragrance into the air; it will sustain me!

Where are you, me beloved?
Oh, how great is Love!
And how little am I!


Scheme XAX BXX CX ADX DXE FG BBH DXE XXX XXBI JX XFX EXXX BX XIKJL XXX CXX EG LHX LEAX KE EE XBJ
Poetic Form
Metre 111101110110 1010001011011 110101011110 11101101011 101110110001 11101101110 10101101010 11101110010 101011111111 1000101101000 110111 110011010100 101010101110 10111110 1111010 11101010 1111001011110101 1100101001011 100110011011 1101101000110 1010000110100101 01001101011100 0101010101111 10101100111011 101000101001 110101111 0010111111 11111101101 01100101011010 1110101011 1011111011 1111101010001 01001011101 11010010111 10101111011 111011011 10101101011010 011010111001 1010011100011 101101011111 110111101010 1001111011010100 01101011 1111101111011 10011100101010 1111110111010 010101101101 111110010010 111001101100110 111011110111 11110100101 1110111010110 01111110110 111101111110 101010110111 1110101110 1110100011001010 1101111011110 100010011011101 1101 111110010010011 11101110101101 111010111100101 1110010111011 111101 11111 011011
Closest metre Iambic hexameter
Characters 3,176
Words 580
Sentences 40
Stanzas 23
Stanza Lengths 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4, 2, 5, 3, 3, 2, 3, 4, 2, 2, 3
Lines Amount 67
Letters per line (avg) 37
Words per line (avg) 9
Letters per stanza (avg) 109
Words per stanza (avg) 25
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 01, 2023

2:55 min read
117

Khalil Gibran

Khalil Gibran was a Lebanese artist, poet, and writer. more…

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