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.”