A Tear and a Smile
Kahlil Gibran
1883 to 1931
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I would not exchange the sorrows of my heart
______ the joys of the multitude.
And I would not ______ the tears that sadness makes
To flow from my ______ part turn into laughter.
I would that my life ______ a tear and a smile.
A tear to purify ______ heart and give me understanding
Of life's secrets and ______ things.
A smile to draw me nigh to the ______ of my kind and
To be a symbol of ______ glorification of the gods.
A tear to unite me ______ those of broken heart;
A smile to be a ______ of my joy in existence.
I would rather that ______ died in yearning and longing than that I live ______ and despairing.
I want the hunger for love and ______ to be in the
Depths of my spirit, for ______ have seen those who are
Satisfied the most wretched ______ people.
I have heard the sigh of those in ______ and longing, and it is sweeter than the sweetest melody.
With evening's coming the flower folds her petals
And sleeps, embracing her longing.
At morning's approach she opens her ______ to meet
The sun's kiss.
The life of a ______ is longing and fulfilment.
A tear and a smile.
______ waters of the sea become vapor and rise and ______
Together and are a cloud.
And the cloud floats ______ the hills and valleys
Until it meets the gentle breeze, then falls weeping
To the fields and joins with ______ and rivers to return to the sea, its home.
______ life of clouds is a parting and a meeting.
______ tear and a smile.
And so does the spirit ______ separated from
The greater spirit to move in the ______ of matter
And pass as a cloud over the ______ of sorrow
And the plains of joy to meet ______ breeze of death
And return whence it came.
To ______ ocean of Love and Beauty----to God.