من بگویم وصف تو تا ره برند ** پیش از آن کز فوت آن حسرت خورند

I will tell thy description in order that they (my hearers) may take their way (towards thee) ere they grieve at the loss of that (opportunity).

نور حقی و به حق جذاب جان ** خلق در ظلمات وهم‌اند و گمان

Thou art the Light of God and a mighty drawer of the soul to God. His creatures are in the darkness of vain imagination and opinion.

شرط تعظیمست تا این نور خوش ** گردد این بی‌دیدگان را سرمه‌کش

Reverence is the necessary condition for this goodly Light to bestow a salve on these sightless ones.

نور یابد مستعد تیزگوش ** کو نباشد عاشق ظلمت چو موش 25

The ready sharp-eared man gains the Light—he who is not in love with darkness like a mouse.

سست‌چشمانی که شب جولان کنند ** کی طواف مشعله‌ی ایمان کنند

The weak-eyed (bat-like) ones that go about at night, how shall they make a circuit round the Cresset of the Faith?

نکته‌های مشکل باریک شد ** بند طبعی که ز دین تاریک شد

Difficult subtle points of disputation are the chains of (hold in bondage) the nature that has become dark (blind) to the (true) Religion.

تا بر آراید هنر را تار و پود ** چشم در خورشید نتواند گشود

So long as he (such an one) decks out the warp and woof of (his own) cleverness, he cannot open his eyes to the Sun.

هم‌چو نخلی برنیارد شاخها ** کرده موشانه زمین سوراخها

He does not lift up branches (to the sky) like a date-palm: he has bored holes in the earth after the fashion of mice.

چار وصفست این بشر را دل‌فشار ** چارمیخ عقل گشته این چهار 30

This humankind have four heart-oppressing qualities: these four have become the gibbet of Reason.

تفسیر خذ اربعة من الطیر فصرهن الیک

Commenting on “Take four birds and turn them towards thee.”

تو خلیل وقتی ای خورشیدهش ** این چهار اطیار ره‌زن را بکش

O thou whose intelligence is (resplendent) as the Sun, thou art the Khalíl (Abraham) of the time: kill these four birds that infest the Way,