11. The Prophet - Kahlil Gibran

The Prophet is a simply beautiful book of poetry, written as a story about a mysterious "prophet" who is leaving a place and wishes to offer the people gifts; but instead offers them his knowledge on many different topics, including love, marriage, children, pain, and freedom. There are so many lessons to be learned from this poetry, although much of it seems very simple. When a friend is going through a hard time, this is one of those books that you can pick up and find something beautiful and supportive to share with him or her. From "On Pain":

"Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.
Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain.
And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy;
And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields.
And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief.
Much of your pain is self-chosen.
It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self.
Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquillity:
For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen,
And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips, has been fashioned of the clay which the Potter has moistened with His own sacred tears."

One thing I do not understand is the selection entitled "On Marriage" ...

"You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow."

It sounds beautiful. But I was troubled when I saw the author's drawing that went with this piece.

Maybe I'm interpreting it wrong ... but why is there a naked woman in the foreground of the painting? Is she supposed to represent the "winds of the heaven"? If so - why do they have to be in the form of a naked woman? And why isn't she coming from the skies, or from heaven - why is she coming from the ground? To me, it looks like the woman is interrupting the marriage; like Gibran is saying to maintain your individuality and not be so wrapped into each other, and so it's okay if you cheat on your wife. How else could I interpret that drawing?