The Essential Taj

The Solo: The sun on the first morn of sweet summer The snap of a shutter amidst cold blue winter The scowl of an envious other A smattering of scarlet freckles, tender on skin pale and easily flush -ed. The first word on a notebook afresh A great novel: endless mystery page-turner. Cold sea water                          on warm sandy feet The shy smile of a lover                          between linen sheets And the steadfast heavy gaze of kohl-ed eyes                          as dark as the bejeweled night.   The string quartet: The reciprocation of love at first sight The softest kiss on a moo...

By Lebanese poet Gibran Kahlil Gibran Then Almitra spoke again and said, And what of Marriage, master?      And he answered saying:      You were born together, and together you  shall be forevermore.      You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.      Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.      But let there be spaces in your togetherness,      And let the winds of the heavens dance  between you.        Love one another, but make not a bond of love:      Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.      Fill each other’s cup but drink not from  one cup.      Give one another of your bread but eat  not from the same loaf.      Sing and dance together and be joyous,  but let...