Khalil Gibran


THE DANCER An Excerpt From The Wanderer by Khalil Gibran, courtesy of Iman:
Once there came to the court of the Prince of Birkasha a dancer and her musicians. And she was admitted to the court. And she danced to the music of the flute, the lute, and the zither.

She danced the dance of flames and fire, and the dance of swords and spears; she danced the dance of stars and the dance of space, and then she danced the dance of flowers in the wind.

When she had finished, she approached the prince and bowed her body before him. The price bade her to come nearer, and said unto her, "Beautiful woman, daughter of grace and delight, whence comes your art? And how is it that you command all the elements in your rythyms and your rhymes?"

And the dancer came near and bowed her body again and said, "Gracious majesty, I know not the answer to your qustionings. Only this I know: The philosopher sould dwells within his head, the poets sould dwells within his heart, the singers soul dwells about his throat, but the soul of the dancer abides in all her body.


Last Modified: 15 Jun 1997
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