In the poem On Pain

Kahlil Gibran is famous for his "deep" lines and desire to better understand the self. In the poem On Pain Gibran makes the statement that we cannot have the good without the bad. With his rich use of metaphor, Gibran paints a picture of the reality of life with statements like "Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain."(WOP 1). Kahlil Gibran weaves these rich images into his works in order to show the reader exactly how bittersweet life is. It is almost as if he is trying to comfort the reader, so that they might better know the truth. In another poem, A Tear and a Smile, he repeats the same message, this time using the metaphor of the tear to represent sadness, and the smile to balance as happiness.


According to the Journal of Arabic Literature, "Gibran was primarily a poet and a mystic... In whom thought..." was "...a state of being rather than a state of mind." (JAL 2) While his personality no doubt influenced his style, I am more impressed with his ability to use the trope of metaphor to his advantage so naturally.  His words can relate to many, while still remaining profound, which I believe is the pinnacle of his talent.