The Two Cities

Life took me up on her wings and bore me to the top of Mount Youth . Then she beckoned and pointed behind her. I looked back and saw a strange city, from which rose dark smoke of many hues moving slowly like phantoms. A thin cloud almost hid the city from my gaze. After a moment of silence, I exclaimed: ..What is this I see, Life?..

And Life answered: ..This is the city of the Past. Look upon it and ponder... And I gazed upon this wonderful scene and I saw many objects and sights: halls built for action, standing giant like beneath wings of Slumber; temples of talk around which hovered spirits as once crying in despair, and singing songs of hope. I saw churches built by Faith and destroyed by Doubt. I spied minarets of Thought, lifting their spires like upraised arms of beggars; I saw avenues of Desire stretching like rivers through valleys; storehouses of secrets guarded by sentinels of Concealment and pillaged by thieves of Disclosure; towers of strength raised by Valor and Demolished by Fear; shrines of Dreams, embellished by Slumber and destroyed by Weakfulness; slight huts inhabited by weakness; mosques of Solitude and Self-Denial; institutions of learning lighted by intelligence and darkened by ignorance; taverns of Love, where lovers became drunk and Emptiness mocked at them; theaters upon whose boards Life acted out its play, and Death rounded out Life..s tragedies.

Such is the city of the Past-in appearance far away, though in reality nearby-visible, though, barley, through the dark clouds.

Then life beckoned to me and said, ..Follow me, we have tarried here too long... And I replied, ..Whither are we going, Life?..


And Life said, ..We are going to the City of The Future ... And I said, ..Have pity on me, Life. I am weary, and my feet are bruised and the strength is gone out of me...

But Life replied, ..March on my friend. Tarrying is cowardice. To remain forever gazing upon the City of the Past is Folly. Behold the city of the Future

- Kahil Gibran





The Two Cities


Life she took me by the hand

And led me over treacherous land

And the words she sang to me

Is more than freedom will ever be



And upon the mountain top

I stood divided by these two cities

And as I gazed down through the smoke

I felt my soul escape me



And the words that life prophesized

Gave me strange hope for humankind

I pondered thoughts unto the stars

And watched them burn in the night sky




And when the sun beckons on

Just when cant tread on

In all your darkest thoughts

Just when you thought she wasn't there



And in your darkest thoughts, just when you can't live

Just remember that I have cried

You know that you must move on



Life she took me by the hand

And led me over treacherous land

And the words she sang to me

Is more than freedom will ever be



And upon the mountain top

I stood divided by these two cities

And as I gazed down through the smoke

I felt my soul escape me



And the words that life prophesized

Gave me strange hope for humankind

I pondered thoughts unto the stars

And watched them burn in the night sky



And when the sun beckons on

Just when you thought you can't tread on

In all your darkest thoughts

Just when you thought she wasn't there


And in your darkest thoughts, just when you can't live on

Just remember that i have cried

To remain gazing in the past is wrong
Behold these cities

You know that you must move on
Part II


And when the sun beckons on

Just when you thought you can't tread on

In all your darkest thoughts
Just when you thought she was'.t there


And in your darkest thoughts, just when you can't live
Just remember that i have cried




Life she took me by the hand

And led me over treacherous land

And the words she sang to me

Is more than freedom will ever be