این الف وین میم ام بود ماست ** میم ام تنگست الف زو نر گداست 2330
This alif and this mím are the mother (umm) of our existence: the mím of umm is narrow (distressful), and the alif is (begging for deliverance) from it (like) a sturdy beggar.
آن الف چیزی ندارد غافلیست ** میم دلتنگ آن زمان عاقلیست
(The state denoted by) ‘alif possesses nothing’ is forgetfulness (unconsciousness); the distressful mím is (denotes) the time of rationality (consciousness).
در زمان بیهشی خود هیچ من ** در زمان هوش اندر پیچ من
During the time of unconsciousness I am nothing at all; during the time of consciousness I am in torment.
هیچ دیگر بر چنین هیچی منه ** نام دولت بر چنین پیچی منه
Do not lay another nothing upon a nothing like this; do not put the name of ‘(worldly) fortune’ upon a torment like this.
خود ندارم هیچ به سازد مرا ** که ز وهم دارم است این صد عنا
Truly (the state of) ‘I possess nothing’ suits me better, since these hundred troubles arise from imagining that I possess (something).
در ندارم هم تو داراییم کن ** رنج دیدم راحت‌افزاییم کن 2335
Just in (the state where) I possess nothing do Thou act in sovereign fashion towards me. I have suffered pain: do Thou increase my pleasure.
هم در آب دیده عریان بیستم ** بر در تو چونک دیده نیستم
I will just stand naked in (a flood of) tears at Thy gate, since I have no sight.
آب دیده‌ی بنده‌ی بی‌دیده را ** سبزه‌ای بخش و نباتی زین چرا
Do Thou bestow on the tears of Thy sightless slave a verdure and vegetation from this (bountiful) pasture;
ور نمانم آب آبم ده ز عین ** هم‌چو عینین نبی هطالتین
And if I leave no tears (in my eyes), do Thou give me tears (flowing abundantly) from an eye like the two streaming eyes of the Prophet.
او چو آب دیده جست از جود حق ** با چنان اقبال و اجلال و سبق
Since he, with all that high fortune and majesty and pre-eminence, sought tears from the bounty of God,
چون نباشم ز اشک خون باریک‌ریس ** من تهی‌دست قصور کاسه‌لیس 2340
How should not I, an empty-handed destitute lick-platter, spin fine webs of blood-stained tears?
چون چنان چشم اشک را مفتون بود ** اشک من باید که صد جیحون بود
Inasmuch as an eye like that (of the Prophet) is enamoured of tears, it behoves my tears to be (like) a hundred great rivers.”
قطره‌ای زان زین دو صد جیحون به است ** که بدان یک قطره انس و جن برست
A single drop of those (tears) is better than these two hundred great rivers, for by that single drop mankind and the Jinn were saved.
چونک باران جست آن روضه‌ی بهشت ** چون نجوید آب شوره‌خاک زشت
Since that Garden of Paradise sought rain, how should not the foul briny soil seek water?
ای اخی دست از دعا کردن مدار ** با اجابت یا رد اویت چه کار
O comrade, do not refrain from invoking (God): what business do you have with His acceptance or rejection (of your prayer)?
نان که سد و مانع این آب بود ** دست از آن نان می‌بباید شست زود 2345
Since bread (worldliness) was the barrier and obstacle to this water (tears), you must quickly wash your hands of that bread.
خویش را موزون و چست و سخته کن ** ز آب دیده نان خود را پخته کن
Make yourself harmonious and congruous and balanced: let your bread be baked well with (burning) tears.
آواز دادن هاتف مر طالب گنج را و اعلام کردن از حقیقت اسرار آن
How the Voice from heaven called to the seeker of the treasure and acquainted him with the truth of the mysteries thereof.
اندرین بود او که الهام آمدش ** کشف شد این مشکلات از ایزدش
He was (engaged) in this (prayer) when inspiration came to him and these difficulties were solved for him by God,
کو بگفتت در کمان تیری بنه ** کی بگفتندت که اندر کش تو زه
Saying, “It (the Divine intimation) told you to put an arrow to the bow, (but) when were you told to pull the bowstring (hard)?
او نگفتت که کمان را سخت‌کش ** در کمان نه گفت او نه پر کنش
It did not tell you to draw the bow hard: it bade you put (the arrow) to the bow, not ‘shoot with your full strength.’
از فضولی تو کمان افراشتی ** صنعت قواسیی بر داشتی 2350
You, from (motives of) vanity, raised the bow aloft and brought to a high pitch the art of archery.
ترک این سخته کمانی رو بگو ** در کمان نه تیر و پریدن مجو
Go, renounce this skill in drawing the strongbow: put the arrow to the bow and do not seek to draw to the full extent (of your power).
چون بیفتد بر کن آنجا می‌طلب ** زور بگذار و بزاری جو ذهب
When it (the arrow) falls, dig up the spot and search: abandon (trust in) strength and seek the gold by means of piteous supplication.”
آنچ حقست اقرب از حبل الورید ** تو فکنده تیر فکرت را بعید
That which is real is nearer than the neck-artery; you have shot the arrow of thought far afield.
ای کمان و تیرها بر ساخته ** صید نزدیک و تو دور انداخته
O you who have provided yourself with bow and arrows, the prey is near and you have shot far.