The Fox

by Kahlil Gibran
From The Madman (1918)

A fox looked at his shadow at sunrise and said, "I will have a camel for lunch today." And all morning he went about looking for camels. But at noon he saw his shadow again—and he said, "A mouse will do."

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This poem is in the public domain. Source text: Project Gutenberg.

More poems by Kahlil Gibran

GodIn the ancient days, when the first quiver of speech came to my lips, I ascended the holy mountain and spoke unto God, saying, "Master, I am thy slave. Thy hidden will is my law and I shall obey thee for ever more."
The ScarecrowOnce I said to a scarecrow, "You must be tired of standing in this lonely field."
The Wise DogOne day there passed by a company of cats a wise dog.
On Giving and TakingOnce there lived a man who had a valley-full of needles. And one day the mother of Jesus came to him and said: "Friend, my son's garment is torn and I must needs mend it before he goeth to the temple. Wouldst thou not give me a needle?"
The New PleasureLast night I invented a new pleasure, and as I was giving it the first trial an angel and a devil came rushing toward my house. They met at my door and fought with each other over my newly created pleasure; the one crying, "It is a sin!"—the other, "It is a virtue!"
The Two CagesIn my father's garden there are two cages. In one is a lion, which my father's slaves brought from the desert of Ninavah; in the other is a songless sparrow.
The Three AntsThree ants met on the nose of a man who was asleep in the sun. And after they had saluted one another, each according to the custom of his tribe, they stood there conversing.
The Grave-DiggerOnce, as I was burying one of my dead selves, the grave-digger came by and said to me, "Of all those who come here to bury, you alone I like."
On the Steps of the TempleYestereve, on the marble steps of the Temple, I saw a woman sitting between two men. One side of her face was pale, the other was blushing.
FacesI have seen a face with a thousand countenances, and a face that was but a single countenance as if held in a mould.
The AstronomerIn the shadow of the temple my friend and I saw a blind man sitting alone. And my friend said, "Behold the wisest man of our land."
Said a Blade of GrassSaid a blade of grass to an autumn leaf, "You make such a noise falling! You scatter all my winter dreams."
The EyeSaid the Eye one day, "I see beyond these valleys a mountain veiled with blue mist. Is it not beautiful?"
When My Sorrow Was BornWhen my Sorrow was born I nursed it with care, and watched over it with loving tenderness.

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The Fox

More poems by Kahlil Gibran

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