نان مرده چون حریف جان شود ** زنده گردد نان و عین آن شود
When lifeless bread is companioned with life, the bread becomes living and is turned into the substance of that (life).
هیزم تیره حریف نار شد ** تیرگی رفت و همه انوار شد
Dark faggots become the companions of fire: the darkness departed, and all was turned into light.
در نمکلان چون خر مرده فتاد ** آن خری و مردگی یک سو نهاد
When the dead ass fell into the salt-mine, it put aside asininity and mortality.
صبغة الله هست خم رنگ هو ** پیسها یک رنگ گردد اندر او1345
The baptism of Allah is the dyeing-vat of Hú (the Absolute God): therein (all) piebald things become of one colour.
چون در آن خم افتد و گوییش قم ** از طرب گوید منم خم لا تلم
When he (the mystic) falls into the vat, and you say to him, “Arise,” he says in rapture, “I am the vat: do not blame (me).”
آن منم خم خود انا الحق گفتن است ** رنگ آتش دارد الا آهن است
That “I am the vat” is the (same as) saying “I am God”: he has the colour of the fire, albeit he is iron.
رنگ آهن محو رنگ آتش است ** ز آتشی میلافد و خامشوش است
The colour of the iron is naughted in the colour of the fire: it (the iron) boasts of (its) fieriness, though (actually) it is like one who keeps silence.
چون به سرخی گشت همچون زر کان ** پس انا النار است لافش بیزبان
When it has become like gold of the mine in redness, then without tongue its boast is “I am the fire.”
شد ز رنگ و طبع آتش محتشم ** گوید او من آتشم من آتشم1350
It has become glorified by the colour and nature of the fire: it says, “I am the fire, I am the fire.
آتشم من گر ترا شک است و ظن ** آزمون کن دست را بر من بزن
I am the fire; if thou have doubt and suspicion, make trial, put thy hand upon me.
آتشم من بر تو گر شد مشتبه ** روی خود بر روی من یک دم بنه
I am the fire; if it seem dubious to thee, lay thy face upon my face for one moment.”
آدمی چون نور گیرد از خدا ** هست مسجود ملایک ز اجتبا
When Man receives light from God, he is worshipped by the angels because of his being chosen (by God).
نیز مسجود کسی کاو چون ملک ** رسته باشد جانش از طغیان و شک
Also, (he is) worshipped by that one whose spirit, like the angel, has been freed from contumacy and doubt.
آتش چه آهن چه لب ببند ** ریش تشبیه مشبه را مخند1355
What fire? What iron? Close your lips: do not laugh at the beard of the assimilator's simile.
پای در دریا منه کم گوی از آن ** بر لب دریا خمش کن لب گزان
Do not set foot in the Sea, speak not of It: on the shore of the Sea keep silence, biting your lips (in amazement).
گر چه صد چون من ندارد تاب بحر ** لیک مینشکیبم از غرقاب بحر
Though (one equal to) a hundred like me would not have the strength to bear the Sea, yet I cannot refrain from the drowning waters of the Sea.
جان و عقل من فدای بحر باد ** خونبهای عقل و جان این بحر داد
May my soul and mind be a sacrifice to the Sea: this Sea has paid the blood-price of mind and soul.
تا که پایم میرود رانم در او ** چون نماند پا چو بطانم در او
I will march in It as long as my feet move; when feet remain not, I am (plunged) in It, like ducks.
بیادب حاضر ز غایب خوشتر است ** حلقه گر چه کژ بود نه بر در است1360
An unrespectful person present is better than one absent: though the ring be crooked, is it not on the door?
ای تن آلوده به گرد حوض گرد ** پاک کی گردد برون حوض مرد
O defiled in body, frequent the tank: outside of the tank, how shall a man be cleansed?
پاک کاو از حوض مهجور اوفتاد ** او ز پاکی خویش هم دور اوفتاد
The pure one who has been banished from the tank becomes far also from his purity.
پاکی این حوض بیپایان بود ** پاکی اجسام کم میزان بود
The purity of this tank is infinite; the purity of bodies is of little weight,
ز انکه دل حوض است لیکن در کمین ** سوی دریا راه پنهان دارد این
Because the heart (though it) is a tank, yet in ambush (out of sight) it has a hidden channel to the Sea.
پاکی محدود تو خواهد مدد ** ور نه اندر خرج کم گردد عدد1365
Your finite purity wants reinforcement; otherwise, number is diminished in (the course of) expenditure.
آب گفت آلوده را در من شتاب ** گفت آلوده که دارم شرم از آب
The water said to the defiled one, “Hasten (to come) into me.” The defiled one said, “I feel shame before the water.”