finished reading: A Tear And A Smile, Kahlil Gibran.

unlike most of people who would read The Prophet or some other works by him, I start small and simple with one of his poetry books. there are only 75 pages, i would ask for more if i could (they’re really great).

(and as i intend it to be, i’m currently searching for light books to read after maghrib (i swear the feel is just different. blue hours). and after morning chores while charging my phone. and i happened to stumble (not really but lets phrase it like that) into A Tear And A Smile

this book shows two side of the world and emotions. starting with The Chapter: Two Infants which two newborns were born in the same day, different fortunes. there are a lot of things contained in this book but i think the title, “A Tear And A Smile.” is perfect to sums it up.

to quote, (i think this was supposed to be the introduction) “The Creation: And the god laughed and cried. He felt an overwhelming love and pity for Man, and sheltered him beneath His guidance.” i really want to quote the whole chapter (i actually did on instagram lol)

in which, The God offers the Man a drink from two different cups; joy and sorrow. and tell him each of its flavour, in a very poetic verses. as you see, i’ve only used one page of my notebook to quote his work because in this case, i don’t think you can just cut a piece off it.

the poetry should be whole as Gibran wrote it as a whole. (so i kind of just screenshoted a lot of pages instead of writing it down). it wouldn’t reach its peak if you cut it. so my advice is to read the book as a whole.

honestly i don’t even know why i’m making this thread because i already ranted on instagram but i ended up closing the pic to fit the caption:/ i’m petty like that. (+ can you tell? i added dramatic filter to the pic because that’s just what Arabic lits are).

+ i really live how Gibran written his POV as whatever he is writing. if he wrote about the fire he would place himself as the burning roar or the ashes. if he wrote about trees, he would place himself as the falling leaves, etc. and my favourite is the one where he is the Rain.

+ there are some about wars. so last night i fell asleep as the rain and when i fell into the arms of the Morpehus, i found myself mourning for the soldiers and the victims from the hatred of human kinds. like??? what even.

i believe it also has something to do with Siken’s work i was currently reading. (The War of The Foxes).

+ Kahlil Gibran really said eat the rich lol