حاکم اندیشهام محکوم نی ** ز انکه بنا حاکم آمد بر بنا
I am the ruler of thought, not ruled (by it), because the builder is ruler over the building.
جمله خلقان سخرهی اندیشهاند ** ز آن سبب خسته دل و غم پیشهاند
All creatures are subjugated to thought; for that reason they are sore in heart and practised in sorrow.
قاصدا خود را به اندیشه دهم ** چون بخواهم از میانشان بر جهم3560
I yield myself to thought purposely, (but) when I will I spring up from the midst of them (that are under its sway).
من چو مرغ اوجم اندیشه مگس ** کی بود بر من مگس را دسترس
I am as a bird of the zenith, thought is a gnat: how should a gnat have power over me?
قاصدا زیر آیم از اوج بلند ** تا شکسته پایگان بر من تنند
Purposely I come down from the lofty zenith, that those of base degree may attain to me.
چون ملالم گیرد از سفلی صفات ** بر پرم همچون طیور الصافات
When disgust at the qualities of the low (world) seizes me, I soar up like the birds which spread their pinions.
پر من رسته ست هم از ذات خویش ** بر نچسبانم دو پر من با سریش
My wings have grown out of my very essence: I do not stick two wings on with glue.
جعفر طیار را پر جاریه ست ** جعفر عیار را پر عاریه ست3565
The wings of Ja‘far-i Tayyár are permanent; the wings of Ja‘far-i Tarrár are borrowed (unreal and transitory).
نزد آن که لم یذق دعوی است این ** نزد سکان افق معنی است این
In the view of him that has not experienced (it), this is (mere) pretension; in the view of the inhabitants of the (spiritual) horizon, this is the reality.
لاف و دعوی باشد این پیش غراب ** دیگ تی و پر یکی پیش ذباب
This is brag and pretension in the eyes of the crow: an empty or full pot is all one to the fly.