BELOVED PROPHET: The Love Letters Of Kahlil Gibran And Mary Haskell And Her Private Journal

Have you ever wondered how the profound love between a renowned poet and his muse, as captured in their intimate love letters and private journal, could shape not only their personal lives but also the course of literary history?

Have you ever pondered the untold stories and hidden emotions concealed within the pages of love letters exchanged between two artistic souls, and how these intimate exchanges could illuminate the evolution of their literary masterpieces?

What secrets and revelations lie hidden in the private journal of Mary Haskell, the woman who played a pivotal role in shaping the creative genius of Kahlil Gibran, and how do these insights reshape our understanding of their enduring love story?

Beloved Prophet: The Love Letters Of Kahlil Gibran And Mary Haskell, And Her Private Journal is one such poignant and intimate collection of correspondence and journal entries that provide a glimpse into the profound love between the renowned poet and philosopher Kahlil Gibran and his muse and confidante, Mary Haskell.

Let’s delve into the enchanting pages of ‘Beloved Prophet’, and we’ll embark on a journey through time and emotion. 

The journal, a treasure trove of emotions, held within its fragile pages the intimate revelations of Mary Haskell, a woman who had loved and been loved by the beloved prophet himself, Kahlil Gibran.

‘Beloved Prophet’ is like sneaking a peek into the secret world of the renowned poet Kahlil Gibran and his confidante, muse, and love, Mary Haskell.

Mary Haskell’s Multifaceted Influence On Kahlil Gibran

In the eyes of Gibran, she transcended the role of mere benefactress; she emerged as a kindred spirit, a woman of exceptional tenderness, and, above all, a soul unafraid to delve into the profound depths of his psyche while scaling the loftiest peaks of his aspirations to comprehend him fully. 

To him, this profound willingness to explore the intricate labyrinth of his thoughts and emotions represented the purest and most profound expression of love.

Her generosity, extending far beyond financial support, served as the lifeblood of Gibran’s artistic endeavors. It was the benevolent hand that allowed his creative spirit to flourish, ensuring that his poetic visions could take flight.

In her unwavering commitment to his artistic journey, she became not only his muse but also the steadfast foundation upon which his creative edifice stood.

Yet, beyond the realm of artistry, it was her selfless love that forged his identity as a man. Through her compassionate understanding, he discovered the nuances of his own character, navigating the complexities of his existence with her by his side. Her love was the compass that guided him through the labyrinthine passages of self-discovery, helping him unravel the mysteries of his own heart and soul.

It was the convergence of these elements — her kindness, her spiritual affinity, her unwavering support, and her profound love — that not only sustained him as an artist but also allowed him to embark on the profound journey of self-realization. 

Gibran found in her not only a patron but a muse, a confidante, and a soulmate whose impact transcended the boundaries of time and left an indelible mark on his life and work.

In one of his earliest letters to Haskell from the enchanting city of Paris, Gibran beautifully encapsulates one of love’s most profound gifts — the ability to be truly recognized and understood by another, to be seen for one’s authentic self.

“When I am unhappy, dear Mary, I read your letters. When the mist overwhelms the “I” in me, I take two or three letters out of the little box and reread them. They remind me of my true self. They make me overlook all that is not high and beautiful in life. Each and every one of us, dear Mary, must have a resting place somewhere. The resting place of my soul is a beautiful grove where my knowledge of you lives.” – Kahlil Gibran

Over the subsequent years, their connection deepened significantly, and Haskell meticulously chronicled the pivotal series of events in her personal journal:

“Kahlil spent the evening. Told me he loved me and would marry me if he could, but I said my age made it out of the question.

“Mary,” he said, “whenever I try to get nearer to you in speech, to be personal at all — you fly up into remote regions and are inaccessible.” “But I take you with me,” said I. And I said I wanted to keep our friendship enduring, and feared to spoil a good friendship for a poor love-affair. This was after Kahlil had explained what he meant.

The next afternoon Kahlil was here a while and I told him yes.”

 

Beloved Prophet: The Love Letters Of Kahlil Gibran And Mary Haskell Is A Testament Of Love Beyond Conventions

Their relationship embarked on a defining and profoundly transcendent trajectory. In a decision that defied the societal norms of their era, they chose not to proceed with marriage but instead opted to remain each other’s most cherished and intimate life partners. This remarkable choice was not made lightly but was rooted in the profound depths of their connection. 

Haskell, in her characteristic poetic style, eloquently expressed the reason behind this unconventional decision in a diary entry dated April 1911. It was an act of unparalleled magnanimity, a testament to the extraordinary love they shared, and a pledge to honor the authenticity of their bond above all else.

“It seemed to me that it was the moment of the opening of the door between Kahlil and the world that shall love him and into whose heart he shall surely feel he is pouring his work. I think his future is not far away now!

And so I made up my mind to follow what seems to me the final finger of God — I put definitely to myself the possibility of being his wife. And though every waking hour since has been drenched with inner tears, I know I am right, and that the tears mean joy, not pain, for the future. My age is simply the barrier raised between us and the blunder of our marrying. Not my age constitutes the objection — but the fact that for Kahlil there waits a different love from that he bears me — an apocalypse of love — and that shall be his marriage. His greatest work will come out of that — his greatest happiness, his new, full life. And it is not many years distant. Toward the woman of that love, I am but a step. And though my susceptible eyes weep, I think of her with joy — and I don’t want to have Kahlil, because I know she is growing somewhere for him, and that he is growing for her.”

In a moment of emotional complexity yet unwavering intellectual clarity, Haskell conveyed her decision to Gibran with a blend of yearning and resolute determination. She confessed, “My heart yearns to yield to persuasion, yet deep down, I understand that persuasion should not ultimately sway me.” She meticulously recorded his response in the pages of her diary:

“He wept and I got him a handkerchief. But he could not speak. Near the beginning in one of my many pauses he said brokenly, “Mary, you know I cannot say things, when I am this way,” and hardly another word. The only comment he made was to love me. When it was over I opened my arms to him — but he soon had me in his, and the heart is not flesh that would not have been comforted…. When it grew late I put his right palm to my lips — and then indeed the tears came — but they drew me simply nearer to him. I kissed that wonderful hand as I have often longed to do, but as I have not before, because a mere touch on it moves him so. It answered like a heart… Again at the door I cried a little — while he wiped my eyes, saying only, “Mary — Mary — Mary.” And as he went he said as well as he could, “You’ve given me a new heart tonight.”

“Upon my tears after I went to bed it was suddenly as if a great peace and light broke — and he and I were in it — so that I cried, “Thank you, God, thank you!” again and again. I was so ineffably happy. That I have given him up I realize. But it has not parted us — it has brought us even much nearer together.” – Mary Haskell

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The Unconventional Decision That Shaped Their Lives

Reflecting on their groundbreaking decision, Haskell mused, ” I’ve always known our relation was permanent”… “I wanted continuity of conscious togetherness.”  

Stemming from her boundless, unselfish love, this notion would eventually inspire Gibran to offer profound and timeless wisdom on the dynamics of wholesome relationships.

In a letter to Haskell, Gibran beautifully embodies the essence of a “continuity of conscious togetherness.”

“We must see these things together someday. I feel so lonely when I stand alone before a great work of art. Even in Heaven one must have a beloved companion in order to enjoy it fully.”- Kahlil Gibran

As the months gracefully unfold, his letters become an exquisite dance of emotions, where the fervent longing of infatuation interweaves with the unshakable unity of an unwavering partnership. In his written words, he paints a vivid canvas of their connection, where passion and steadfastness converge, creating a masterpiece of love.

“Do you not know what it is to burn and burn, and to know while burning, that you are freeing yourself from everything around you? Oh, there is no greater joy than the joy of Fire!

And now let me cry out with all the voices in me that I love you.” 

With words that flow like verses from the same enchanted spring, she weaves her sentiments into heartfelt letters that bear the mark of a love equally profound and passionate. Haskell mirrors Gibran’s poetic intensity:

“All I am ever finally impelled to say, rather than not say, to you of yourself seems resolvable into, “Kahlil, you are in my heart — you are in my heart, Kahlil.” When I look back over the years, it seems always to have been that — with changes only of depth and heat of your heart-place.”

Haskell writes to Gibran:

“God lends me His heart to love you with. I asked for it when I found my own was too small, and it really holds you, and leaves you room to grow.”

Gibran reciprocates the unwavering faith in the “continuity of conscious togetherness” that Haskell had always held in their hearts, a trust that remained steadfast even in the face of their unconventional choice not to marry:

“The most wonderful thing, Mary, is that you and I are always walking together, hand in hand, in a strangely beautiful world, unknown to other people. We both stretch one hand to receive from Life — and Life is generous indeed.”

For Gibran, in the tapestry of his convictions, Haskell emerges as the singular counterpoint, the one who defies the norms and expectations of the world. In his heartfelt letters, he paints her as the beacon of his beliefs and the embodiment of his deepest convictions, the one who stands as a testament to their unique and enduring bond: 

 “I have found both freedom of loneliness and the safety from being understood, for those who understand us enslave something in us.” 

He writes:

“You have the great gift of understanding, beloved Mary. You are a life-giver, Mary. You are like the Great Spirit, who befriends man not only to share his life, but to add to it. My knowing you is the greatest thing in my days and nights, a miracle quite outside the natural order of things.”

“I have always held, with my Madman, that those who understand us enslave something in us. It is not so with you. Your understanding of me is the most peaceful freedom I have known. And in the last two hours of your last visit you took my heart in your hand and found a black spot in it. But just as soon as you found the spot it was erased forever, and I became absolutely chainless.” – Kahlil Gibran

The collection of hundreds of letters within “Beloved Prophet” offers a profoundly transcendent reading experience when enjoyed in its entirety.

Their love story was a symphony of souls, a melody of two hearts beating in unison across oceans and continents. The love letters exchanged between Kahlil and Mary were like whispers in the night, filled with longing, passion, and a deep connection that defied the boundaries of time and place.

In his letters, Kahlil poured out his soul, sharing his dreams, his fears, and his profound wisdom. Mary responded in kind, her words a testament to the depth of her love and her unwavering belief in Kahlil’s talent and potential.

As the pages of Mary’s journal turned, one could glimpse the private moments of their love affair. Her words were a mirror to her heart, reflecting the ecstasy and the agony of loving a man who was destined to become a literary giant.

She wrote of their stolen moments together, of the stolen kisses and the stolen glances that fueled their passion. She wrote of the pain of separation, of the loneliness she felt when Kahlil traveled to find his muse, and of the joy she experienced when he returned to her side.

Beyond Love’s Embrace: Exploring the Layers of Gibran and Haskell’s Correspondence

Within the treasure trove of letters, exchanged between Kahlil Gibran and Mary Haskell, we uncover a narrative that transcends the boundaries of a typical love story. While their profound affection and mutual devotion undoubtedly form the heart of this collection, the letters offer a multifaceted tapestry of emotions, ideas, and inspirations.

Their correspondence, carefully curated by editor Virginia Hilu, becomes a window into the human condition, a reflection of the creative process, and a testament to the enduring power of intellectual and emotional connection.

Through their letters, we journey beyond the realm of romantic love to explore the rich and complex layers of their relationship, illuminating the multifaceted dimensions of their connection and its profound impact on both their lives and the world of literature.

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The letters, written with eloquence and passion, offer insights into Kahlil Gibran’s thoughts and emotions, shedding light on the inspiration behind some of his most famous works.

Mary Haskell’s private journal entries are a treasure trove of her innermost thoughts, struggles, and unwavering dedication to Kahlil. They provide a more personal perspective on their relationship, highlighting the sacrifices and difficulties they endured, including the physical separation caused by Kahlil’s frequent travels.

Their connection fueled Kahlil Gibran’s creative genius, inspiring some of his most celebrated works. It’s a reminder that the most profound emotions can be the wellspring of artistic brilliance.

As you immerse yourself in the pages of this collection, you may find yourself pondering the transformative power of love on the lives of these two remarkable individuals and how it echoes through the annals of literature.

Summing Up: The Enduring Legacy of Gibran and Mary Haskell’s Love Story

The hundreds of letters collected in Beloved Prophet may leave readers wanting to explore more of Kahlil Gibran’s perspective, as the majority of the letters are from him to Mary. While this imbalance reflects the nature of their correspondence, it might leave some readers curious about Mary’s inner world and how she navigated her own aspirations alongside her devotion to Kahlil.

In the intimate pages of, “Beloved Prophet: The Love Letters of Kahlil Gibran and Mary Haskell, and Her Private Journal,”  we have witnessed a love story that defied conventions and soared to the heights of literary and emotional brilliance. 

Kahlil Gibran and Mary Haskell’s bond, an extraordinary blend of passion, devotion, and unwavering support, reminds us that love has the power to shape lives and inspire timeless wisdom. 

Their letters, like echoes from the past, continue to resonate with readers today, offering a profound glimpse into the human heart’s capacity to love deeply and unconditionally. 

As we close this chapter of their love story, we are left with the enduring reminder that love, in all its forms, remains the most profound and transformative force in our lives—a force that transcends time, space, and societal norms, leaving an indelible mark on the tapestry of our existence.

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