Home
Back To Poetry and Writings Index
The Wanderer
Kahlil Gibran


Upon a day Beauty and Ugliness met on the shore of a sea. And they said to one another, "Let us bathe in the sea."
Then they disrobed and swam in the waters. And after a while Ugliness came back to shore and garmented himself with the garments of Beauty and walked his way.
And Beauty too came out of the sea, and found not her raiment, and she was too shy to be naked, therefore she dressed herself with the raimant of Ugliness. And Beauty walked her way.
And to this very day men and women mistake one for the other.
Yet some there are who have beheld the face of Beauty, and they know her notwithstanding her garments. And some there be who know the face of Ugliness, and the cloth conceals him not from their eyes.
The Madman

When it is day with thee, my friend, it
is night with me; yet even then I speak of
the noontide that dances upon the hills
and of the purple shadow that steals its
way across the valley; for thou canst not
hear the songs of my darkness nor see my
wings beating against the stars--and I
fain would not have thee hear or see.?I
would be with night alone.

Kahlil Gibran

Open Your Own Treasure House

Daiju visited the master Baso in China.
Baso asked: "What do you seek?"
"Enlightenment" , replied Daiju.
"You have your own treasure house. Why do you search outside?" Baso asked.
Daiju inquired: "Where is my treasure house?"
Baso answered: "What you are asking is your treasure house."
Daiju was enlightened! Ever after he urged his friends: "Open your own treasure house and use those treasures."

Zen Flesh, Zen Bones