| Savoir sourire À une inconnue qui passe N’en garder aucune trace Sinon celle du plaisir Savoir aimer Sans rien attendre en retour Ni égard, ni grand amour Pas même l’espoir d’être aimé. Mais savoir donner, Donner sans reprendre, Ne rien faire qu’apprendre Apprendre à aimer, Aimer sans attendre, Aimer à tout prendre, Apprendre à sourire, Rien que pour le geste Sans vouloir le reste Et apprendre à vivre Et s’en aller. Sans attendre Goûter à ce plein bonheur Qu’on vous donne comme par erreur, Tant qu’on ne l’attendait plus, |
| Se voir y croire Pour tromper la peut du vide Ancrée comme autant de rides Qui ternissent les miroirs. Savoir souffrir En silence, sans murmure Ni défense ni armure Et se relever, Comme on renaît de ses cendres, Avec tant d’amour à revendre Qu’on tire un trait sur le passé Apprendre à rêver À rêver pour deux Rien qu’en fermant les yeux, Et savoir donner Donner sans rature, Ni demi-mesure Apprendre à rester, Vouloir jusqu’au bout Rester malgré tout, Apprendre à aimer, Et s’en aller… Et s’en aller… |
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| Florent Pagny is a french artist born in 1961. This song is probably his biggest succes. Written by Pascal Obispo, this song describe well how to love. The first time I've heard that song, I kept asking myself how can someone describe it so well. I read it again and again because we will always learn about love. I will include the english version soon. |
| F r e n c h V e r s i o n |
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| S a v o i r A i m e r |
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| Khalil Gibran's "The Prophet" |
| Then said Almitra, "Speak to us of Love." And he raised his head and looked upon the people, and there fell a stillness upon them. And with a great voice he said: When love beckons to you follow him, Though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you yield to him, Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you. And when he speaks to you believe in him, Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden. For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning. Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth. Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself. He threshes you to make you naked. He sifts you to free you from your husks. He grinds you to whiteness. He kneads you until you are pliant; And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast. All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart. But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure, Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor, Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears. Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself. Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; For love is sufficient unto love. When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, I am in the heart of God." And think not you can direct the course of love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself. But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires: To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To know the pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own understanding of love; And to bleed willingly and joyfully. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy; To return home at eventide with gratitude; And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips. |
Khalil Gibran was a poet, philosopher, and artist. He was born in the Lebanese countryside. His fame and influence spread far beyond his native Lebanon. He is mostly known as the author of the Prophet, and widely regarded as a man of the East who brought a much needed element of spirituality to the West. The millions of Arabic-speaking people familiar with his writings in that language consider him the genius of his age. His poetry has been translated into more than twenty languages. His drawings and paintings have been exhibited in the great capitals of the world. The Prophet and his other books of poetry, illustrated with his mystical drawings, are known and loved by innumerable people who find in them an expression of the deepest impulses of man's heart and mind. |
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