A review of The Prophet by Khalil Gibran. Published in Australia by Penguin.

“Then said a rich man, Speak to us of Giving.
And he answered:
You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard
For fear you may need them tomorrow?
…. And what is fear of need but need itself?
….You often say, “I would give, but only to the deserving.”
The trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture.
They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish.
Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and his nights is worthy of all else from you.
…. And who are you that men should rend their bosom and unveil their pride, that you may see their worth naked and their pride unabashed?
First see that you yourself deserve to be a giver,
And an instrument of giving.”

So says Almustafa, the titular Prophet from Khalil Gibran’s part-poetic, part-fable book. Gibran’s best known work, The Prophet is set in the mythical port city of Orphalese. There Almustafa is waiting for his ship to carry him home.

We meet him on the hilltop where he first sees his ship, which has finally arrived after twelve years of waiting. He heads into town to meet it and is waylaid by the citizens, come to hear his wisdom for the last time. So he speaks to them in pithy reflections for a full day: each chapter begins with a different townsperson coming forward to ask about a different life question. He covers topics such as love, children, freedom, wealth, good, evil, work, religion, joy and sorrow.

A popular text that has never been out of print since first published in the 1920’s, Gibran’s concise but challenging reflection on life has been loved and used by many. In particular, his statements on Marriage, which have made it into many wedding ceremonies:

“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 one 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.”

As the book progresses, his ambiguous and mildly self-indulgent style of poetry can feel a little strenuous. Each chapter follows a similar template, there is little narrative progression, and Almustafa is occasionally too much like the stereotype of the ‘all knowing but ambiguous and inconclusive wise man’. For this reason, it’s best that the book be read as all poetry should be: slowly enjoying the author’s perspective and skill with words by reading one or two chapters a day, with space to reflect in between.

Gibran was a Lebanese artist and writer of poetry and prose. Born in the mountains of Lebanon in 1883, he grew up in a Maronite Christian family who immigrated to America in 1985. He lived in both Lebanon and America until his death at age 48. The art and culture of these two worlds had a significant impact on him, as did his Maronite background, the mystic views of the Muslim Sufis, and some philosophies of the Bahai Faith.

His varying religious influences are apparent in the text: The Prophet’s phrases are often reminiscent of Biblical passages, such as Acts 20:35, “….the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Much of the book relates easily to a Biblical worldview, and is an inspiring read. However The Prophet finishes on a distinctly Buddhist note, which doesn’t sit as well: “A little while, a moment of rest upon the wind, and another woman shall bear me.”

The text certainly requires critical reading by Christians, but it need not be a fearful reading. This is not a book that seeks to convert the reader to Universalism or Buddhism or even Christianity: it is a book of poetic prose, written from a human author’s worldview, which in many cases correlates with a Biblical worldview. In the end, it attempts to do what all art should: take a truth we have heard so often that perhaps we have become immune to it, and reshape that truth into something that can get through our defenses of habit and cynicism. It is not canon, but it is a beautiful, reflective and challenging collection of poetic prose, with many gems to be found within.

Born in Australia in 1989, Miriam lived in Egypt, Germany and Syria before returning to Melbourne for university. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Theology at Ridley College of Ministry and Theology.