Ian Ron V. Bello          BSEd 2N                   Afro-Asian Literature           January 20, 2014

Khalil Gibran's "A Tear and a Smile": Life's Purification

            Khalil Gibran in his poem "A Tear and a Smile" offered me a whole new perspective on how to live life. He also inspired me to continuously search for the indispensable meaning of life' that which makes it what it is. Gibran in his poem uses a lot of paradoxical statements that make sense, not just because they mean something but because it is true and real. He unfolds the reality of life and give palpable examples that can be easily recognize and formulate the ideas that he's trying to connect with his readers.

            A tear and a smile is a very vital element not just in the poem but also in life.

           

            " A tear... purify my heart and give me understanding

              Of life's secrets and hidden things

              A smile... draw me nigh to the sons of my kind and,

              ... a symbol of my glorification of the gods."

           

            To let fall of the tears that adds burden to our heart is a great way to understand life's mysteries. In shedding tears away we also cease the pain, let go

of the grudges and cleanse our heart against harmful things that can damage our relationships and form a gap to our "kapwa". Through tears we purify our heart and welcome understanding, symphaty and the very essence of life------to love.

            Because we have let go of the resentments and ill wills that we have inside our heart it is radiated to our smiles. All that's left inside are good thoughts that will be shared to our "kapwa" and because of this a greater relationship will be bridge to them. Sharing a smile with one another is a symbol of love that glorifies God.

            This poem also challenge us to always seek for love and beauty of the soul.

             

            " I want the hunger for love and beauty to be in the depths of my spirit,

              for I have seen those who are satisfied the most wretched of people."

             

            Yearning for love is a way of doing great things because it is transcendental, we tend to do good things for others to satisfy our longing for love.

            " I have heard the sigh of those in yearning and longing,

              and it is sweeter than the sweetest melody. "

            When we are yearning and longing we invest our hope and faith; just like how the flower in the poem folds its petals and embrace its longing at night and in the morning it unfolds its petals and rise for another sun's kiss------hope.

            " The life of a flower is longing and fulfillment.

               A tear and a smile. "

             Life is a process that gives us lessons before we return to our final destination.

" The waters of the sea become vapor and rise and come together and area cloud.

               And the cloud floats above the hills and valleys

               Until it meets the gentle breeze,

               then falls weeping

               To the fields and joins with brooks and rivers

               to return to the sea,

               its home. "

           

             We are the waters of the Sea and we need to go through this cycle of purification. We need to be vapor, we need to be clouds over the mountain (sorrow) to meet the gentle breeze (death) and return to where we came...

            " To the ocean of Love

               and Beauty-------to God."

           

" I would that my life remain a tear and a smile. "