Kahlil Gibran's "On Children" —Great Poem for Children of Parents with PDs

[CeliaBea]

Dear All,

Interestingly enough, my older sister had this poem on her bedroom wall when we were growing up: Kahlil Gibran's "On Children." I always loved this poem and find that it's especially relevant for those of us who grew up with parents suffering from PD.

   

On Children

     Kahlil Gibran

    Your children are not your children.

    They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.

    They come through you but not from you,

    And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

    You may give them your love but not your thoughts,

    For they have their own thoughts.

    You may house their bodies but not their souls,

    For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,

    which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

    You may strive to be like them,

    but seek not to make them like you.

    For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

    You are the bows from which your children

    as living arrows are sent forth.

    The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,

    and He bends you with His might

    that His arrows may go swift and far.

    Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;

    For even as He loves the arrow that flies,

    so He loves also the bow that is stable.


Celia

Modify message

[WhippingGirl]

I have ALWAYS love The Prophet. Thank you for sharing this, it means a lot more to me considering the current context.

[Kwamina]

Hi CeliaBea

Thanks for sharing this wonderful poem!

Very fitting indeed considering how hard many BPD parents find it to see their children as truly separate entities from themselves and not just as appendages of themselves.

[Tiredbride313]

Hi Celia,

Thank you so much for sharing this poem! It's so fitting and gives additional perspective to my situation.