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)?
صد هزار آلودگان آب‌جو ** کی بدندی گر نبودی آب جو
How should there be a hundred thousand befouled ones seeking water, if there were no water in the river?
بر زمین پهلوت را آرام نیست ** دان که در خانه لحاف و بستریست2045
(If) there is no rest for thy side upon the earth, (yet) know that there is a coverlet and mattress at home.
بی‌مقرگاهی نباشد بی‌قرار ** بی‌خمار اشکن نباشد این خمار
Without (there being) a resting-place there would not be the restless (seeker); without (there being) that which takes away the headache of intoxication, there would not be this headache.
گفت نه نه یا رسول الله مکن ** سرور لشکر مگر شیخ کهن
He (the objector) said, “Nay, nay, O Messenger of God, do not appoint any but an old Shaykh to be chief of the army.
یا رسول الله جوان ار شیرزاد ** غیر مرد پیر سر لشکر مباد
O Messenger of God, (even) if the youth is lion-born (heroic), may none but an old man be head of the army!
هم تو گفتستی و گفت تو گوا ** پیر باید پیر باید پیشوا
Thou too hast said, and thy word is (a true) witness, ‘The leader must be old, must be old.’
یا رسول‌الله درین لشکر نگر ** هست چندین پیر و از وی پیشتر2050
O Messenger of God, look on this army, (in which) there are so many elders and (persons) superior to him.”
زین درخت آن برگ زردش را مبین ** سیبهای پخته‌ی او را بچین
Do not regard the yellow leaves of this tree, (but) pick its ripe apples.
برگهای زرد او خود کی تهیست ** این نشان پختگی و کاملیست
How, in sooth, are its yellow leaves void (of worth)? This is the sign of maturity and perfection.
برگ زرد ریش و آن موی سپید ** بهر عقل پخته می‌آرد نوید
The yellow leaf of the (elder's) beard and his white hair bring tidings of joy on account of his mature intelligence.
برگهای نو رسیده‌ی سبزفام ** شد نشان آنک آن میوه‌ست خام
The newly-arrived green-coloured leaves signify that this fruit is unripe.
برگ بی‌برگی نشان عارفیست ** زردی زر سرخ رویی صارفیست2055
The provision of leaflessness (spiritual poverty) is the sign of being a gnostic; the yellowness of gold is the (cause of the) money-changer's ruddiness of face (cheerful countenance).
آنک او گل عارضست ار نو خطست ** او به مکتب گاه مخبر نوخطست
If he that (still) is rosy-cheeked has fresh down (on his face), (yet) he has just begun to learn writing in the school of knowledge.
حرفهای خط او کژمژ بود ** مزمن عقلست اگر تن می‌دود
The letters of his handwriting are very crooked (misshapen): he is a cripple in respect of intelligence, though his body moves with agility.
پای پیر از سرعت ار چه باز ماند ** یافت عقل او دو پر بر اوج راند
Although an old man's feet are deprived of rapid movement, his intelligence has gotten two wings and has sped to the zenith.
گر مثل خواهی به جعفر در نگر ** داد حق بر جای دست و پاش پر
If you wish for an example (of this), look at Ja‘far: God gave him wings instead of hands and feet.
بگذر از زر کین سخت شد محتجب ** هم‌چو سیماب این دلم شد مضطرب2060
Cease from (speaking of) gold (pallor), for this topic is recondite: this heart of mine has become agitated like quicksilver.
ز اندرونم صدخموش خوش‌نفس ** دست بر لب می‌زند یعنی که بس
From within me a hundred sweet-breathing silent ones put their hands on their lips, signifying, “It is enough.”
خامشی بحرست و گفتن هم‌چو جو ** بحر می‌جوید ترا جو را مجو
Silence is the sea, and speech is like the river. The sea is seeking thee: do not seek the river.