کین حیات او را چو مرگی می‌نمود ** کار پیشش بازگونه گشته بود

For this (present) life seemed to him like a (state of) death: in his view the thing had become reversed.

موت را از غیب می‌کرد او کدی ** ان فی موتی حیاتی می‌زدی 2675

He was begging death (as a gift) from the Unseen, he was crying, “Verily, my life is in my death.”

موت را چون زندگی قابل شده ** با هلاک جان خود یک دل شده

He had embraced death as (other people embrace) life, he had become in full accord with the destruction of his life.

سیف و خنجر چون علی ریحان او ** نرگس و نسرین عدوی جان او

As (with) ‘Alí, the sword and dagger were his sweet basil, the narcissus and eglantine were his soul's enemies.

بانگ آمد رو ز صحرا سوی شهر ** بانگ طرفه از ورای سر و جهر

A Voice came (to his ear), “Go from the desert to the city”— a wondrous Voice transcending the occult and the manifest.

گفت ای دانای رازم مو به مو ** چه کنم در شهر از خدمت بگو

He cried, “O Thou that knowest my secret, hair by hair, tell me, what service am I to do in the city?”

گفت خدمت آنک بهر ذل نفس ** خویش را سازی تو چون عباس دبس 2680

It (the Voice) said, “The service is this, that for the purpose of self abasement thou shouldst make thyself (like) ‘Abbás (the seller) of date-syrup.

مدتی از اغنیا زر می‌ستان ** پس به درویشان مسکین می‌رسان

For a while take money from the rich and then deliver it to the lowly poor.

خدمتت اینست تا یک چند گاه ** گفت سمعا طاعة ای جان‌پناه

This is the service thou must do for some time.” He replied, “To hear is to obey, O Thou who art my soul's refuge.”

بس سال و بس جواب و ماجرا ** بد میان زاهد و رب الوری

Many questions and answers and much conversation passed between the ascetic and the Lord of mankind,