من غلام آن که او در هر رباط ** خویش را واصل نداند بر سماط
I am the (devoted) slave of him who does not regard himself in every caravanseray (at every stage in his spiritual progress) as having attained to (the privilege of sitting at) the table (of union with God).
بس رباطی که بباید ترک کرد ** تا به مسکن در رسد یک روز مرد3260
Many is the caravanseray that must be quitted, in order that one day the man may reach home.
گر چه آهن سرخ شد او سرخ نیست ** پرتو عاریت آتش زنی است
Though the iron has become red, it is not red (by nature): it (the redness) is a ray borrowed from something that strikes fire.
گر شود پر نور روزن یا سرا ** تو مدان روشن مگر خورشید را
If the window or the house is full of light, do not deem aught luminous except the sun.
هر در و دیوار گوید روشنم ** پرتو غیری ندارم این منم
Every door and wall says, “I am luminous: I do not hold the rays of another, I (myself) am this (light).”
پس بگوید آفتاب ای نارشید ** چون که من غارب شوم آید پدید
Then the sun says, “O thou who art not right (in thy belief), when I set ’twill become evident (thou wilt see what the truth is).”
سبزهها گویند ما سبز از خودیم ** شاد و خندانیم و بس زیبا خدیم3265
The plants say, “We are green of ourselves, we are gay and smiling (blooming) and we have very beauteous cheeks.”
فصل تابستان بگوید ای امم ** خویش را بینید چون من بگذرم
The season of summer says (to them), “O peoples, behold yourselves when I depart!”
تن همینازد به خوبی و جمال ** روح پنهان کرده فر و پر و بال
The body is boasting of its beauty and comeliness, (while) the spirit, having concealed its glory and pinions and plumes,
گویدش ای مزبله تو کیستی ** یک دو روز از پرتو من زیستی
Says to it, “O dunghill, who art thou? Through my beams thou hast come to life for a day or two.