ASSIGNMENT #1

LIT 11
Name: ALOB, JESTER H.
Program & Year Level: AB PSYCHOLOGY II
Date & Time: Mon-Wed 11:30-1:30PM

Directions: Analyze the poem carefully and answer the following questions written below.

“On Work”
Kahlil Gibran

Then a ploughman said, Speak to us of Work.

(1)And (the Prophet) answered, saying:
You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth.
For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons, and to step out of life's procession, that
marches in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite.
When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music.
Which of you would be a reed, dumb and silent, when all else sings together in unison?
Always you have been told that work is a curse and labour a misfortune.
But I say to you that when you work you fulfil a part of earth's furthest dream . . .
And all work is empty save when there is love;
And what is it to work with love?
It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart, even as if your beloved were to wear
that cloth.
It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.
It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy, even as if your beloved were to
eat the fruit.
It is to charge all things you fashion with a breath of your own spirit,
Work is love made visible.
And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your
work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.
For if you bake bread with indifference, you bake a bitter bread that feeds but half man's hunger.
And if you grudge the crushing of the grapes, your grudge distils a poison in the wine.
And if you sing though as angels, and love not the singing, you muffle man's ears to the voices of
the day and the voices of the night.

Questions:
1. What does the speaker mean by the line "But I say to you that when you work you fulfill a part
of earth's furthest dream assigned to you when the dream was born"?
If you were born to be successful, you'll probably achieve it in the long run. But if you
don't put in the effort, you're likely to fail anyway. It takes a lot of effort to be successful.
2. In line 8, what word does the author substitute to "work"?
The author substituted labor from work. Labor means hard physical work.
3. According to the author, "And when you work with love you bind yourself to yourself, and to
one another, and to your employer", true or false?
True. The ripple effect of working with love affects not just you, but others as well.
Those that have a love for their work will create an environment that nurtures personal
growth.
4. From lines 17-22, which definition of "What is to Work with love?" do you personally find the
sincerest? Why?
To work with love is to reap what you sow. Love your job, and you will reap the rewards
of your labors. It is the true expression of karma. For if you plant goodness in everyone,
you’ll harvest kindness.
5. Would you rather have a high-paying occupation/work but you're not so happy or a low-
paying occupation work but you're very happy? Explain substantially.
I'd rather have a career that allows me to expand my interest to a greater degree than one
that does not. Your progress as a person is a result of the fire that fuels your passion.
You're more likely to get quality outcomes when someone is passionate about the work
they are doing.