Tentang Anak (On Children)
Oleh: Kahlil Gibran
| Sumber: The Prophet (Sang Nabi)
Anak-anakmu bukanlah anak-anakmu.
Mereka adalah putra-putri kerinduan Hidup akan dirinya sendiri.
Mereka lahir melaluimu, tetapi bukan darimu.
Mereka tinggal bersamamu, tetapi bukan milikmu.
Kau boleh beri mereka cintamu, tapi jangan kau paksakan pikiranmu,
sebab mereka punya pikiran sendiri.
Kau boleh rumahkah raga mereka, tapi tidak jiwa mereka,
sebab jiwa mereka tinggal di rumah esok, yang tak dapat kau kunjungi, bahkan dalam mimpi.
Versi Asli
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.