
On Children by Kahlil Gibran
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 they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
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 with 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 flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.
Poem Attribution © Kahlil Gibran, On Children (Excerpt from The Prophet (Knopf, 1923).
Copyright (c) 2021 Goff James – All Rights Reserved
Painting Attribution © Barbara Rivera, Children of the World, 2020
Source Attribution https://fineartamerica.com/featured/children-of-the-world-barbara-rivera.html
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Kahlil Gibran Is one of my favorite thinkers. So profound and inspiring. I like the arrows to tomorrow which we will never see…
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Hi, Rebecca. A wonderful poem filled with so many thoughts to ponder over. So pleased you enjoyed. Happy Saturday.
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Thoughtful and profound… really gets me thinking…
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A wonderful poem by Kahlil Gibran. Happy Saturday.
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Reblogged this on anitadawesauthor.com.
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Hi, Anita. Many thanks for the read and share with your followers. Your support is truly valued. Have a wonderful weekend.
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You too, Goff!
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Hi. Many thanks for calling in, view and share with your followers. Much appreciated. Great poem. There appears to be a problem visiting your site. I have tried the usual ways including WP Reader and the message ‘Coming Soon” keeps popping up. Have a wonderful day.
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This is a wonderful share, Goff! Happy Saturday!
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Thanks, Eugenia. So pleased you enjoyed. A wonderful poem by Kahlil Gibran
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My pleasure, Goff! Happy Saturday! 😊
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Cheers.
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😊
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🤙
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Love this
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Hi, Beth. Great poem. So pleased you enjoyed my selection of the day. Have a great weekend.
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Very wise words.
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Great poem.
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Always good to reread this one Goff! 🙏💕
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Great poem, Cindy.
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