کی بیاید بلبل و گل بو کند ** کی چو طالب فاخته کوکو کند
How shall the nightingale come and smell the rose? How shall the dove say “coo, coo,” as one that seeks?
کی بگوید لکلک آن لک لک به جان ** لک چه باشد ملک تست ای مستعان
How shall the stork utter with (all) its soul the cry lak, lak? What is (the meaning of) lak? (It means) “Thine is the kingdom, O Thou whose help is invoked.”
کی نماید خاک اسرار ضمیر ** کی شود بیآسمان بستان منیر
How shall the earth show forth the secrets of its inmost mind? How shall the garden become radiant without the sky?
از کجا آوردهاند آن حلهها ** من کریم من رحیم کلها
Whence have they fetched those garments (fair qualities)? (They have derived) all of them from One who is Bounteous and Merciful.
آن لطافتها نشان شاهدی است ** آن نشان پای مرد عابدی است1665
Those graces are the signs of a Witness: they are the footprints of a man devoted to (God's) service.
آن شود شاد از نشان کاو دید شاه ** چون ندید او را نباشد انتباه
(None but) that person that has seen the King is gladdened by the sign; when one has not seen Him, there is no recognition.
روح آن کس کاو به هنگام أ لست ** دید رب خویش و شد بیخویش و مست
The spirit of that one who at the time of Am not I (your Lord)? saw his Lord and became beside himself and intoxicated—
او شناسد بوی می کاو می بخورد ** چون نخورد او می چه داند بوی کرد
He (that spirit) knows the scent of the wine because he drank it (before); when he has not drunk it, how can he scent it?
ز انکه حکمت همچو ناقهی ضاله است ** همچو دلاله شهان را داله است
For Wisdom is like a stray camel: like a go-between, it guides (those who find and recognise it) to (the presence of) kings.
تو ببینی خواب در یک خوش لقا ** کاو دهد وعده و نشانی مر ترا1670
You behold in dream a person of pleasing countenance, who gives you a promise and a sign