Analysis of The Poet VIII

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



He is a link between this and the coming world.
He is
A pure spring from which all thirsty souls may drink.

He is a tree watered by the River of Beauty, bearing
Fruit which the hungry heart craves;
He is a nightingale, soothing the depressed
Spirit with his beautiful melodies;
He is a white cloud appearing over the horizon,
Ascending and growing until it fills the face of the sky.
Then it falls on the flows in the field of Life,
Opening their petals to admit the light.
He is an angel, send by the goddess to
Preach the Deity's gospel;
He is a brilliant lamp, unconquered by darkness
And inextinguishable by the wind. It is filled with
Oil by Istar of Love, and lighted by Apollon of Music.

He is a solitary figure, robed in simplicity and
Kindness; He sits upon the lap of Nature to draw his
Inspiration, and stays up in the silence of the night,
Awaiting the descending of the spirit.

He is a sower who sows the seeds of his heart in the
Prairies of affection, and humanity reaps the
Harvest for her nourishment.

This is the poet -- whom the people ignore in this life,
And who is recognized only when he bids the earthly
World farewell and returns to his arbor in heaven.

This is the poet -- who asks naught of
Humanity but a smile.
This is the poet -- whose spirit ascends and
Fills the firmament with beautiful sayings;
Yet the people deny themselves his radiance.

Until when shall the people remain asleep?
Until when shall they continue to glorify those
Who attain greatness by moments of advantage?
How long shall they ignore those who enable
Them to see the beauty of their spirit,
Symbol of peace and love?
Until when shall human beings honor the dead
And forget the living, who spend their lives
Encircled in misery, and who consume themselves
Like burning candles to illuminate the way
For the ignorant and lead them into the path of light?

Poet, you are the life of this life, and you have
Triumphed over the ages of despite their severity.

Poet, you will one day rule the hearts, and
Therefore, your kingdom has no ending.

Poet, examine your crown of thorns; you will
Find concealed in it a budding wreath of laurel.


Scheme XAX BXXXCXDEXFXXX GAEH IIX DJC KXGXX XXXFHKXXXXE XJ GB XF
Poetic Form
Metre 110101100101 11 01111110111 110110101011010 1101011 11010010001 1011100100 11011010100010 010010011101101 11110100111 10011010101 11110110101 10110 1101011110 011011111 1111101011110 110100101001000 10110101110111 0100110010101 01000101010 11010110111100 1010100010010 1010100 11010101001011 0111010111010 110011110010 110101111 0100101 11010110010 101110010 101001011100 01110100101 011110101101 101101101010 11110111010 1110101110 101101 011110101001 0010101111 0100100010101 110101010001 10100011010111 101101111011 101001010110100 1011111010 11101110 10010111111 101010101110
Closest metre Iambic hexameter
Characters 2,142
Words 393
Sentences 19
Stanzas 10
Stanza Lengths 3, 13, 4, 3, 3, 5, 11, 2, 2, 2
Lines Amount 48
Letters per line (avg) 35
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 169
Words per stanza (avg) 39
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:58 min read
39

Khalil Gibran

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

All Khalil Gibran poems | Khalil Gibran Books

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