هست دریا خیمهای در وی حیات ** بط را لیکن کلاغان را ممات
The great river (too) is (like) a tent, wherein is life for the duck, but death for crows.
زهر باشد مار را هم قوت و برگ ** غیر او را زهر او دردست و مرگ 3295
Venom also is the snake's food and provision, (but) its venom is anguish and death to others.
صورت هر نعمتی و محنتی ** هست این را دوزخ آن را جنتی
The form of every blessing and affliction is a Hell to this one, a Paradise to that one.
پس همه اجسام و اشیا تبصرون ** واندرو قوتست و سم لاتبصرون
Therefore (though) ye see all bodies and things, and there is food and poison in them (all)—ye see (it) not.
هست هر جسمی چو کاسه و کوزهای ** اندرو هم قوت و هم دلسوزهای
Every body resembles a bowl or a pot, wherein is both food and a (cause of) heart-burning.
کاسه پیدا اندرو پنهان رغد ** طاعمش داند کزان چه میخورد
The bowl is visible, the plenty (contained) in it is hidden: (only) he who tastes it (the contents) knows what he is eating or drinking from it.
صورت یوسف چو جامی بود خوب ** زان پدر میخورد صد بادهی طروب 3300
The form of Joseph was like a beauteous cup: from it his father drank a hundred exhilarating wines.
باز اخوان را از آن زهراب بود ** کان دریشان خشم و کینه میفزود
Again, to his brethren (the draught they took) from it was poisoned water which was increasing in them anger and hatred.
باز از وی مر زلیخا را سکر ** میکشید از عشق افیونی دگر
Again, to Zalíkhá (the draught she took) from it was (sweet as) sugar: she was quaffing a different opiate from (the hand of) Love.
غیر آنچ بود مر یعقوب را ** بود از یوسف غذا آن خوب را
The nutriment which came from Joseph to that fair one was other than that which came to Jacob.
گونهگونه شربت و کوزه یکی ** تا نماند در می غیبت شکی
The sherbets are various, but the pot is one, in order that no doubt may remain in thee concerning the wine of the Unseen.
باده از غیبست و کوزه زین جهان ** کوزه پیدا باده در وی بس نهان 3305
The wine belongs to the Unseen, the pot to this world: the pot is apparent, the wine in it is very hidden:
بس نهان از دیدهی نامحرمان ** لیک بر محرم هویدا و عیان
Very hidden from the eyes of the uninitiated, but manifest and evident to the adept.
یا الهی سکرت ابصارنا ** فاعف عنا اثقلت اوزارنا
O my God, our eyes have been intoxicated. Forgive us: our burdens have been made heavy.
یا خفیا قد ملات الخافقین ** قد علوت فوق نور المشرقین
O concealed One who hast filled (the world) from East to West (with Thy radiance) and art exalted above the light of the Orient and the Occident,
انت سر کاشف اسرارنا ** انت فجر مفجر انهارنا
Thou art an inmost Ground of consciousness revealing our inmost thoughts, Thou art a bursting (Force) that causes our (dammed-up) rivers to burst forth.
یا خفی الذات محسوس العطا ** انت کالماء و نحن کالرحا 3310
O Thou whose Essence is hidden while Thy gifts are sensible, Thou art as the water and we as the millstone.
انت کالریح و نحن کالغبار ** تختفی الریح و غبراها جهار
Thou art as the wind and we as the dust: the wind is hidden while the dust blown by it is plainly visible.
تو بهاری ما چو باغ سبز خوش ** او نهان و آشکارا بخششش
Thou art the Spring, we are fair as the verdant orchard: it (the Spring) is hidden while its bounty is manifest.
تو چو جانی ما مثال دست و پا ** قبض و بسط دست از جان شد روا
Thou art as the spirit, we are like hand and foot: the closing and opening of the hand is due to the spirit.
تو چو عقلی ما مثال این زبان ** این زبان از عقل دارد این بیان
Thou art as the reason, we are like this tongue: this tongue hath its (power of) expression from the reason.
تو مثال شادی و ما خندهایم ** که نتیجهی شادی فرخندهایم 3315
Thou art like the joy, and we are the laughter, for we are the result of (Thy) blessed joy.
جنبش ما هر دمی خود اشهدست ** که گواه ذوالجلال سرمدست
(All) our movement (action) is really a continual profession of faith which bears witness to the Eternal Almighty One.
گردش سنگ آسیا در اضطراب ** اشهد آمد بر وجود جوی آب
The turning of the millstone in agitation is a profession of faith in the existence of the waterbrook.
ای برون از وهم و قال و قیل من ** خاک بر فرق من و تمثیل من
O Thou who art beyond my conception and utterance, dust be on the head of me and my similes!