A TEAR AND A SMILE - GIBRAN KAHLIL GIBRAN - Song of the Wave

Song of the Wave

The strong shore is my beloved

And I am his sweetheart.

We are at last united by love, and

Then the moon draws me from him.

I go to him in haste and depart

Reluctantly, with many Little farewells.

I steal swiftly from behind the

Blue horizon to cast the silver of

My foam upon the gold of his sand, and

We blend in melted brilliance.

I quench his thirst and submerge his

Heart; he softens my voice and subdues

My temper.

At dawn I recite the rules of love upon

His ears, and he embraces me longingly.
At eventide I sing to him the song of

Hope, and then print smooth hisses upon

His face; I am swift and fearful, but he

Is quiet, patient, and thoughtful.

His Broad bosom soothes my restlessness.

As the tide comes we caress each other,

When it withdraws,

I drop to his feet in Prayer.

Many times have

I danced around mermaids

As they rose from the depths and rested

Upon my crest to watch the stars;

Many times have

I heard lovers complain

Of their smallness, and

I helped them to sigh.

Many times have

I teased the great rocks

And fondled them with a smile, but never

Have I received laughter from them;

Many times have

I lifted drowning souls

And carried them tenderly to my beloved

Shore. He gives them strength as he

Takes mine.

Many times have

I stolen gems from the

Depths and presented them to my beloved

Shore. He takes them in silence, but still

I give fro he welcomes me ever.

In the heaviness of night, when all

Creatures seek the ghost of Slumber,

I Sit up, singing at one time and sighing

At another. I am awake always.

Alas! Sleeplessness has weakened me!

But I am a lover, and the truth of love

Is strong.

I may be weary, but I shall never die.