پیش یوسف نازش و خوبی مکن ** جز نیاز و آه یعقوبی مکن
In the presence of Joseph do not give thyself airs and behave like a beauty: offer nothing but the supplication and sighs of Jacob.
معنی مردن ز طوطی بد نیاز ** در نیاز و فقر خود را مرده ساز
The meaning of dying (as conveyed) by the parrot was supplication (self-abasement): make thyself dead in supplication and poverty (of spirit),
تا دم عیسی ترا زنده کند ** همچو خویشت خوب و فرخنده کند1910
That the breath of Jesus may revive thee and make thee fair and blessed as itself.
از بهاران کی شود سر سبز سنگ ** خاک شو تا گل برویی رنگ رنگ
How should a rock be covered with verdure by the Spring? Become earth, that thou mayst display flowers of many a hue.
سالها تو سنگ بودی دل خراش ** آزمون را یک زمانی خاک باش
Years hast thou been a heart-jagging rock: once, for the sake of experiment, be earth!
داستان پیر چنگی که در عهد عمر از بهر خدا روز بی‌‌نوایی چنگ زد میان گورستان
The story of the old harper who in the time of ‘Umar, may God be well-pleased with him, on a day when he was starving played the harp for God's sake in the graveyard.
آن شنیده ستی که در عهد عمر ** بود چنگی مطربی با کر و فر
Hast thou heard that in the time of ‘Umar there was a harper, a fine and glorious minstrel?
بلبل از آواز او بی‌‌خود شدی ** یک طرب ز آواز خوبش صد شدی
The nightingale would be made beside herself by his voice: by his beautiful voice one rapture would be turned into a hundred.
مجلس و مجمع دمش آراستی ** وز نوای او قیامت خاستی1915
His breath was an ornament to assembly and congregation, and at his song the dead would arise.
همچو اسرافیل کاوازش به فن ** مردگان را جان در آرد در بدن
(He was) like Isráfíl (Seraphiel), whose voice will cunningly bring the souls of the dead into their bodies,
یا رسیلی بود اسرافیل را ** کز سماعش پر برستی فیل را
Or he was (like) an accompanist to Isráfíl, for his music would make the elephant grow wings.