Explore the World of Books with Us

Join Our Club Today

Before The Throne Of Beauty by Kahlil Gibran

Oct 9, 2024 | Articles, Poetry, Religious Poems, Stories | 0 comments

By Admin

before the throne by khalil Gibran emeraldbookclub.org

One heavy day I ran away from the grim face of society and the dizzying clamor of the city and directed my weary step to the spacious alley. I pursued the beckoning course of the rivulet and the musical sounds of the birds until I reached a lonely spot where the flowing branches of the trees prevented the sun from the touching the earth.

I stood there, and it was entertaining to my soul – my thirsty soul who had seen naught but the mirage of life instead of its sweetness.

I was engrossed deeply in thought and my spirits were sailing the firmament when a hour, wearing a sprig of grapevine that covered part of her naked body, and a wreath of poppies about her golden hair, suddenly appeared to me. As she she realized my astonishment, she greeted me saying, ‘Fear me not; I am the Nymph of the Jungle.’

‘How can beauty like yours be committed to live in this place? Please tell me who your are, and whence you come? ‘ I asked. She sat gracefully on the green grass and responded, ‘I am the symbol of nature! I am the ever virgin your forefathers worshipped, and to my honor they erected shrines and temples at Baalbek and Jbeil.’ And I dared say, ‘But those temples and shrines were laid waste and the bones of my adoring ancestors became a part of the earth; nothing was left to commemorate their goddess save a pitiful few and the forgotten pages in the book of history.’

She replied, ‘Some goddesses live in the lives of their worshippers and die in their deaths, while some live an eternal and infinite life. My life is sustained by the world of beauty which you will see where ever you rest your eyes, and this beauty is nature itself; it is the beginning of the shepherds joy among the hills, and a villagers happiness in the fields, and the pleasure of the awe filled tribes between the mountains and the plains. This Beauty promotes the wise into the throne the truth.’

Then I said, ‘Beauty is a terrible power! ‘ And she retorted, ‘Human beings fear all things, even yourselves. You fear heaven, the source of spiritual peace; you fear nature, the haven of rest and tranquility; you fear the God of goodness and accuse him of anger, while he is full of love and mercy.’

After a deep silence, mingled with sweet dreams, I asked, ‘Speak to me of that beauty which the people interpret and define, each one according to his own conception; I have seen her honored and worshipped in different ways and manners.’

She answered, ‘Beauty is that which attracts your soul, and that which loves to give and not to receive. When you meet Beauty, you feel that the hands deep within your inner self are stretched forth to bring her into the domain of your heart. It is the magnificence combined of sorrow and joy; it is the Unseen which you see, and the Vague which you understand, and the Mute which you hear – it is the Holy of Holies that begins in yourself and ends vastly beyond your earthly imagination.’

Then the Nymph of the Jungle approached me and laid her scented hands upon my eyes. And as she withdrew, I found me alone in the valley. When I returned to the city, whose turbulence no longer vexed me, I repeated her words:

‘Beauty is that which attracts your soul, and that which loves to give and not to receive.’

Recent Comments

No comments to show.

You Might Also Enjoy

Let Peace Prevail In This World

Let Peace Prevail In This World

Oct 25, 2025 | , ,

Let Peace Prevail In This World by Ravi Sathasivam When you look for peacethen the peace lies within youWhen you search for peacethen it is not hard to findWhen you want to keep peace alivethen you allow white doves to fly over youWhen you make peace with othersthen...

read more
Stories of Peace

Stories of Peace

Oct 25, 2025 | , , , ,

šŸŒæ Stories of Peace: A Community Storytelling Walk in the Park šŸŒæ Part of the Coventry Peace Festival 2025 šŸ•Šļø A Walk for Peace and Connection What if stories could bring people closer, heal divisions, and inspire hope?This November, Emerald Book Club invites you to...

read more
Carpe Diem

Carpe Diem

Oct 21, 2025 | , , , ,

Meaning "Carpe diem" isĀ a Latin phrase meaning "seize the day" or "pluck the day".Ā It encourages people to make the most of the present moment without dwelling on the future.Ā The expression originates from the Roman poet Horace, who used it in hisĀ OdesĀ as part of a...

read more

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *