Pondering the Poem "On Children"

in honor of my daughter's twenty-first birthday

Today my daughter turned twenty-one, a milestone for her and for me as well. I came across Kahlil Gibran’s poem “On Children” today and it seemed a good day to re-read and ponder these words and to share with you.

On Children
by Kahlil Gibran

And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, Speak to us of Children.
     And he said:
     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.

From The Prophet

I first heard this poem sung by Sweet Honey In The Rock and it still gives me chills when I listen to it.

For me, the line “They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself” is one that resonates through my whole being. Like my very cells are saying “Yes!”.

Also, “You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.” How many times does it backfire when we try to do this? Especially when they are young adults? I am learning from my children all the time and I love it that they are teaching me new ways of seeing, new ways of being in the world.

And I find such comfort in the words, “For even as He (the archer) loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.”

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So how about you? Have you read this poem or heard the song? What part stands out to you?