The Asylum

Posted by Maverick ~ on April 2, 2019
Posted in: Art, Photography, Poetry. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .



I was strolling in the gardens of an insane asylum when I met a young man who was reading a philosophy book. His behavior and his evident good health made him stand out from the other inmates.

I sat down beside him and asked:

What are you doing here?

He looked at me, surprised. But seeing that I was not one of the doctors, he replied:

It’s very simple. My father, a brilliant lawyer, wanted me to be like him.
My uncle, who owns a large emporium, hoped I would follow his example.
My mother wanted me to be the image of her beloved father.
My sister always set her husband before me as an example of the successful man.
My brother tried to train me up to be a fine athlete like himself.
And the same thing happened at school, with the piano teacher and the English teacher — they were all convinced and determined that they were the best possible example to follow.
None of them looked at me as one should look at a man, but as if they were looking in a mirror.

So I decided to enter this asylum. At least here I can be myself.

– Khalil Gibran

29 comments on “The Asylum”

  3. How wonderful and wise is the writing of Khalil Gibran. His books are on my favourite bookshelf.
    This piece from The Asylum teaches us a lot of what not to do to the young. Guide but not dictate.

    The art above is stunning.

    Miriam

    Liked by 1 person

  8. To being ourselves ~ a lot harder than it looks. Great story, I’d never heard Kahlil’s story before – and well matched with the art work. Enjoy your spring, Maverick!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Wow! This post kind of exploded into my unenlightened world of unknown literary experiences. I feel like I’m the cat in the presence of the master wizard. He’s a bit extreme, but the idea is on point.

    Liked by 1 person

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