این عجب که جان به زندان اندرست ** وانگهی مفتاح زندانش به دست
’Tis wonderful that the spirit is in prison, and then (all that time) the key of the prison is in its hand!
پای تا سر غرق سرگین آن جوان ** می‌زند بر دامنش جوی روان2035
That youth (the spirit) is plunged in dung from head to foot, (whilst) the flowing river is (almost) touching his skirt!
دایما پهلو به پهلو بی‌قرار ** پهلوی آرامگاه و پشت‌دار
(He is) always moving restlessly from side to side beside the place of repose and the couch where he might recline!
نور پنهانست و جست و جو گواه ** کز گزافه دل نمی‌جوید پناه
The (Divine) light is hidden, and search is the evidence (of its existence), for the heart (spirit) does not seek shelter in vain.
گر نبودی حبس دنیا را مناص ** نه بدی وحشت نه دل جستی خلاص
If this world's prison had no refuge, neither would there be any feeling of aversion nor would the heart seek release.
وحشتت هم‌چون موکل می‌کشد ** که بجو ای ضال منهاج رشد
Thy aversion is dragging thee along, like a custodian, saying, “O man astray, seek the path of righteousness.”
هست منهاج و نهان در مکمنست ** یافتش رهن گزافه جستنست2040
The path is there, but it is hidden in a secret place: its discovery is in pawn to (involves) seeking in vain (before it can be found).
تفرقه‌جویان جمع اندر کمین ** تو درین طالب رخ مطلوب بین
Separation is secretly in quest of union: in this seeker do thou discern the face of the sought.
مردگان باغ برجسته ز بن ** کان دهنده‌ی زندگی را فهم کن
The dead (trees and plants) of the orchard spring up from the root, saying, “Perceive the Giver of life!”
چشم این زندانیان هر دم به در ** کی بدی گر نیستی کس مژده‌ور
How should the eyes of these prisoners (of the world) be always (fixed) on (what lies) beyond, if there were no bringer of the good news (of deliverance)?