Kahlil Gibran: On Joy and Sorrow

Photo by Molly

On Joy and Sorrow

 

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 the sorrow carves into your being,

the more joy you can contain.

Is not the cup that holds 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 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 sleeping 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.

 

— Kahlil Gibran

From The Prophet