Peace 
by Gibran Khalil Gibran


The tempest calmed after bending the branches of the trees and leaning heavily upon the
grain in the field. The stars appeared as broken remnants of lightning, but now silence
prevailed over all, as if Nature's war had never been fought. 

At that hour a young woman entered her chamber and knelt by her bed sobbing bitterly. Her
heart flamed with agony but she could finally open her lips and say, "Oh Lord, bring him home
safely to me. I have exhausted my tears and can offer no more, oh Lord, full of love and
mercy. My patience is drained and calamity is seeking possession of my heart. Save him, oh
Lord, from the iron paws of War; deliver him from such unmerciful Death, for he is weak,
governed by the strong. Oh Lord, save my beloved, who is Thine own son, from the foe, who is
Thy foe. Keep him from the forced pathway to Death's door; let him see me, or come and take
me to him." Quietly a young man entered. His head was wrapped in bandage soaked with
escaping life. 

He approached he with a greeting of tears and laughter, then took her hand and placed
against it his flaming lips. And with a voice with bespoke past sorrow, and joy of union, and
uncertainty of her reaction, he said, "Fear me not, for I am the object of your plea. Be glad, for
Peace has carried me back safely to you, and humanity has restored what greed essayed to
take from us. Be not sad, but smile, my beloved. Do not express bewilderment, for Love has
power that dispels Death; charm that conquers the enemy. I am your one. Think me not a
spectre emerging from the House of 
Death to visit your Home of Beauty. 

"Do not be frightened, for I am now Truth, spared from swords and fire to reveal to the people
the triumph of Love over War. I am Word uttering introduction to the play of happiness and
peace." 

Then the young man became speechless and his tears spoke the language of the heart; and
the angels of Joy hovered about that dwelling, and the two hearts restored the singleness
which had been taken from them. At dawn the two stood in the middle of the field
contemplating the beauty of Nature injured by the tempest. After a deep and comforting
silence, the soldier said to his sweetheart, "Look at the Darkness, giving birth to the Sun."