The View from my Window

Poem by Khalil Gibran titled “ On Children”

June 21, 2000 on 2:57 pm | In Miscellaneous Musings!, Poems-Birthdays, Writings by Others | Comments Off

CRL  Toastmaster Club    Wednesday  June  21, 2000    - Pravin Shah

 Story   or  Joke  (  2min. )

I have  a poem which was  published in Ann Landers syndicated column .  I think it is very appropriate to  to-days theme  “ inventions “ and results of inventions. The reproduction process for human and other living beings is the most original invention and the results are the offspring,   our children. This poem   is from The Prophet  by Khalil Gibran  titled   “ On Children”  and  plainly  tells us to  let go easily  and graciously our children as they grow out  away from our cocoon.                                

“  On Children ”

“Your Children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of life’s longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you, yet theybelong not to you.

You may give them your love , but not our thoughts. For they have their ownthoughts .

You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.  

“You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows  are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite and he bends you to his might that his arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness ; for even as he loves the arrow that lies, so he loves also the  bow  that is stable. “