The Palace and the Hut 
by Gibran Khalil Gibran


Part One 

As night fell and the light glittered in the great house, the 
servants stood at the massive door awaiting the coming of the guests; 
and upon their velvet garments shown golden buttons. 

The magnificent carriages drew into the palace park and the nobles 
entered, dressed in gorgeous raiment and decorated with jewels. The 
instruments filled the air with pleasant melodies while the dignitaries 
danced to the soothing music. 

At midnight the finest and most palatable foods were served on a 
beautiful table embellised with all kinds of the rarest flowers. 
The feasters dined and drank abundantly, until the sequence of the 
wine began to play its part. At dawn the throng dispersed boisterously, 
after spending a long night of intoxication and gluttony which hurried 
their worn bodies into their deep beds with unnatural sleep. 



Part Two 

At eventide, a man attired in the dress of heavy work stood 
before the door of his small house and knocked at the door. 
As it opened, he entered and greeted the occupants in a cheerful 
manner, and then sat between his children who were playing at 
the fireplace. In a short time, his wife had the meal prepared 
and they sat at a wooden table consuming their food. After eating 
they gathered around the oil lamp and talked of the day's events. 
When the early night had lapsed, all stood silently and surrendered 
themselves to the King of Slumber with a song of praise and a 
prayer of gratitude on their lips.