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Life and History of Khalil Gibran

After his return to Boston, Gibran left to New York City in 1911 and stayed with the Rihanis. While in New York, Gibran was introduced to art and life of the city as he drew distinguishable personalities for income. He then completed his first book of illustrations and a cover picture for Rihani's Book of Khalid. Gibran is also said to have rented a small studio in New York at 51 West 10th Street for $20, which is said to have been the first exclusive building for painters and sculptors.

The year of his fathers death in Lebanon, 1912, Gibran published a novelette titled al-Ajniha al-Mutakassira (Broken Wings) which he dedicated to Mary Haskell. One year following, he moved to a larger studio, although in the same building, Room 40. The building held more windows and more light.

In 1914, in New York, Gibran's Dam a wa Ibtisaima (a Tear and a Smile), a poetic prose piece, was published. The same year he held an exhibition at th eMontross Galleries on December 14th.

Two years later, Gibran met for the first time his lifelong friend and biographer Mikhail Naimy in the offices of al-Funun. The two were quickly drawn to each other and quickly joined the young Arabic literary movement in New York.

In 1918, Gibran's first work, The Madman; a collection of parables, written in English was published. The following years, many of his works began getting published. Twenty Drawings; a collection of drawings, al-Mawakib (The Processions); long Arabic poem in the form of dialogue between two voices, one spiritually liberated and the other man in bondage, al-'Auasij (The Tempests); collection of poems and essays (1920), al-Bada'i' waal-Tara'if (The New and the Marvelous); narratives and essays, Sand and Foam; collection of parables and aphorisms (1926).

Gibran and others Syrian Co-writers and poets formed The Pen Society in 1920. Gibran was the president.

In the coming years Gibran published many more works. Khalil Gibran died on April 10, 1931 at St. Vincent Hospital, New York. Gibran's autopsy showed "Cirrhosis of the liver with incipient tuberculosis in one of the lungs."

After spending sometime in Boston, his body was returned to Lebanon and laid to rest in the chapel of Mar Sarkis.

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Poetry by Khalil Gibran

Let These be Your Desires
Love One Another