Khalil Gibran

Kahlil Gibran was a Lebanese American artist, poet and writer. He is chiefly known in the English speaking world for his 1923 book The Prophet, a series of philosophical essays written in English prose. His poetry reflects his spiritual beliefs.

I am dotted silver threads dropped from heaven By the gods. Nature then takes me, to adorn Her fields and valleys.

The rain is divine. It falls from the sky it appears to be like silver threads. It calls itself silver threads as it connects heaven and earth. It is dropped by the god . As it drops down on the earth it spreads all over the fields and valleys. It suggests that the rain is life giving.

I am beautiful pearls, plucked from the Crown of Ishtar by the daughter of Dawn To embellish the gardens. 

The rain says that it drops down early in the Morning like a pearl. The poet has compared the rain dropswith the pearl. The Babylonian mother goddesswears the crown studded with pearls. The rain dropsfalling makes the poet feel as if the nature has pluckedpearls from the crown to decorate the earth. TheBabylonian mother goddess is the queen of heaven and goddess of fertility. Thus rain beautifies the earth.

When I cry the hills laugh;When I humble myself the flowers rejoice;When I bow, all things are elated.

When the rain falls the hills are cheerful because the rain gives life. The word ‘cry’ here suggests that it rains heavily on hills. The echo of the rain sounds like the laughter of the hills. The rain ‘humbles’ means that it falls moderately i.e. neither heavy nor low. As a result the flowers feel happy. Everything that bestows on nature seems to be happy. The rain ‘bows’ means that it falls low and gives immense joy to everything on the earth. The rain is the source of rejuvenation and renewal.

The field and the cloud are lovers And between them I am a messenger of mercy. I quench the thirst of one; I cure the ailment of the other.

The field refers to earth and the clouds refer to the heaven. The rain as a messenger between the two tries to connect them as it is divine. It quenches the thirst of , of course the earth. For earth is dry, it needs water as water is an elixir of life. Therefore the clouds burst resulting in rainfall and the clouds are relieved.The rain is trying to suggest that both the earth and heaven need each other and they both depend on rain.

The voice of thunder declares my arrival; The rainbow announces my departure. I am like earthly life, which begins at The feet of the mad elements and ends Under the upraised wings of death. 

The rain falls accompanied by thundering. Its sound appears as if it announces the arrival of rain. Soon after the rain falls the beautiful rainbow appears in the sky as if it is informing the earth about the departure of the rain.The rain is as short lived as is the man’s life on earth. It comes and goes just as the man is born and he dies. Both the rain and the earthly life are similar as both of them are born out of elements of nature and they both meet their death.

The voice of thunder declares my arrival; The rainbow announces my departure. I am like earthly life, which begins at The feet of the mad elements and ends Under the upraised wings of death. 

The rain falls accompanied by thundering. Its sound appears as if it announces the arrival of rain. Soon after the rain falls the beautiful rainbow appears in the sky as if it is informing the earth about the departure of the Rain. The rain is as short lived as is the man’s life on earth. It comes and goes just as the man is born and he dies.Both the rain and the earthly life are similar as both of them are born out of elements of nature and they both meet their death.

I emerge from the heart of the sea Soar with the breeze. When I see a field in Need, I descend and embrace the flowers and The trees in a million little ways.

The poet has described the rain here in a scientific way. The water evaporates from the sea to the great heights of the sky and the water vapors accumulate in the clouds. These fall down on the earth in the form of rain droplets. Thus rain falls in millions of droplets , It falls in different forms i.e.. snow, hail etc. It refreshes the trees, adds to more the plants, helps in their healthy growth and waters them.

I touch gently at the windows with my Soft fingers, and my announcement is a Welcome song. All can hear, but only The sensitive can understand

The rain falls gently and its sound is a proclamation of its arrival on the earth. At the same time its sound echoes which makes the rain feel that it is being welcomed. Every one hears the sound of rain but those who are sensitive really recognize its significance. They understand how important rain is for earth.

I am the sigh of the sea; The laughter of the field; The tears of heaven.

The water evaporating from the sea has been referred as the sigh of the sea. When the rain falls on the earth it spreads joy as it is a blessing particularly for the farmers in the field. So the laughter is referred to happiness due to rain. The rain drops falling on the earth are referred as tears of the sky as they fall from the sky.

So with love - Sighs from the deep sea of affection; Laughter from the colorful field of the spirit; Tears from the endless heaven of memories.

The poet highlights qualities of the rain. The rain is the sigh of the sea when the water vapours rise from the sea into the sky. It spreads the laughter through the colourful fields. It means that rejuvenation takes place due to the rain. The crops which are the spirit of the field flourish. Therefore the fields appear to the poet as if they are laughing. The rain drops fall like tears from the heaven to the earth and give new life to it. The rain bridges a link between the earth and heaven.

simile personificationI am like earthly life When I cry. When I humble

metaphor Nature then takes me

I am dotted silver thread I am a messenger of mercy

I am beautiful pearls Upraised wings of death

The daughter of dawn The heart of the sea

I am messenger of mercy I descend and embrace the flowers

I quench the thirst

I cure the ailment

I touch gently at the window

Auditory imagery

Visual imagery Tactile imagery Kinesthetic imagery

The hills laugh I am dotted silver thread

I touch gently at the windows with my soft fingers

The flowers rejoice

Tears from heaven

The voice of thunder

I am beautiful pearl I embrace the flowers

All things are elated

Laughter I descend and embrace the flowers

I quench the thirst of one

I am the sigh of the sea