در هوای غیب مرغی می‌پرد ** سایه‌ی او بر زمینی می‌زند
A bird is flying in the atmosphere of the Unseen: its shadow falls on a piece of earth.
جسم سایه‌ی سایه‌ی سایه‌ی دلست ** جسم کی اندر خور پایه‌ی دلست
The body is the shadow of the shadow of the shadow of the heart: how is the body worthy of the (lofty) rank of the heart?
مرد خفته روح او چون آفتاب ** در فلک تابان و تن در جامه خواب
A man lies asleep: his spirit is shining in Heaven, like the sun, while his body is in bed.
جان نهان اندر خلا هم‌چون سجاف ** تن تقلب می‌کند زیر لحاف
His spirit is hidden in the Void, like the fringe (sewn inside a garment): his body is turning to and fro beneath the coverlet.
روح چون من امر ربی مختفیست ** هر مثالی که بگویم منتفیست 3310
Since the spirit, being from the command of my Lord, is invisible, every similitude that I may utter (concerning it) is denying (the truth of the description).
ای عجب کو لعل شکربار تو ** وان جوابات خوش و اسرار تو
Oh, where, I wonder, is thy sugar-shedding ruby (lip) and those sweet replies and mysteries of thine?
ای عجب کو آن عقیق قندخا ** آن کلید قفل مشکل‌های ما
Oh, where, I wonder, is that candy-chewing cornelian (lip), the key to the lock of our perplexities?
ای عجب کو آن دم چون ذوالفقار ** آنک کردی عقل‌ها را بی‌قرار
Oh, where, I wonder, is that breath (keen) as Dhu ’l-faqár, that used to make our understandings distraught?
چند هم‌چون فاخته کاشانه‌جو ** کو و کو و کو و کو و کو و کو
How long, like a ringdove seeking her nest, (shall I cry) ‘where (kú) and where and where and where and where and where?’
کو همان‌جا که صفات رحمتست ** قدرتست و نزهتست و فطنتست 3315
Where (is he now)? In the place where are the Attributes of (Divine) Mercy, and (the Divine) Power and Transcendence, and (celestial) Intelligence.