Dr Arun Prakash
(Inspired by Khalil Gibran’s timeless poem “On Children,” this reimagined piece aims to resonate with today’s parents and educators. While Gibran’s work beautifully captures the essence of parental love and the independent journeys of children, this version translates his profound insights into simple, contemporary language.
Written with the assistance of AI inputs, the poem emphasizes that children are not mere extensions of their parents but individuals on their own unique paths. It illustrates the delicate balance of nurturing and letting go, underscoring the importance of allowing children to explore, learn, and grow independently. Through the metaphor of the bow and arrow, it conveys the idea that while parents can guide and support their children, ultimately, each child must forge their own destiny.
This modern reinterpretation serves as a reminder to parents that fostering independence, resilience, and creativity in their children is crucial for their development. It invites readers to reflect on their roles as caregivers and guides, advocating for trust in the process of letting children discover their own identities and futures.
By addressing the challenges and joys of parenting in a rapidly changing world, “On Children, Reimagined” speaks to the hopes and aspirations of families today, encouraging them to embrace the unknown with love and faith.)
On Children, Reimagined
And a mother, cradling her child, said, “Speak to us of Children.”
And he answered:
Your children are not your own, but Life’s longing for itself,
They come through you, but are destined for their own paths,
And though you walk with them now, their journey is one
That leads beyond your steps.
You may give them your love, but not your thoughts,
For they have their own minds, filled with dreams yet unspoken,
And desires you cannot shape.
You may house their bodies, but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the realm of tomorrow,
In a place your eyes cannot reach.
You are the bow from which your children, as living arrows, are sent forth.
Steady your hand, and aim with purpose,
But remember that the arrow’s path is its own,
Guided by winds you cannot foresee,
And a destiny you are not meant to control.
In your nurturing, there is both strength and surrender,
For it is not in holding them close that they grow,
But in allowing them the space to explore,
To stumble and rise, to question and create.
Teach them not only to follow rules,
But to challenge them with wisdom.
Let them embrace failure as a part of learning,
For it is through resilience that they will carve their way.
Give them roots in the values of kindness and curiosity,
But let their wings stretch beyond what you have known,
For their future is a landscape you cannot visit, not even in dreams.
You may guide them, but do not bind them.
You may offer them the tools to build their lives,
But know that the architect is within them,
And their vision is uniquely their own.
Let them dream in colors you have never seen,
Let them reach for stars that are beyond your sky.
For the world they will shape is not your world,
But one that will evolve through their hands,
Through their hearts, and through their minds.
And when the time comes to let them go,
Do so not with fear, but with faith—
Faith in their ability to navigate the unknown,
To find their way through the labyrinth of life,
For the beauty lies not in controlling their flight,
But in trusting the wings they have grown.
In this letting go, you fulfil your greatest role,
For you are not their keeper, but their guide,
Not their sculptor, but their bow—
Strong in your bend, precise in your aim,
Yet wise enough to know that the arrow,
Once released, must find its own course,
And the future it is meant to claim.
Picture Courtesy: L’Englise de leurs peres by French artist Jean-Louis Forain, created around 1914–1919. National Gallery of Art, Washington
Original Poem: On Children
