خاک شد صورت ولی معنی نشد ** هر که گوید شد تو گویش نه نشد 75
In appearance they have become earth, in reality they have not; if any one say that they have, say to him, “No, they have not.”
در جهان روح هر سه منتظر ** گه ز صورت هارب و گه مستقر
In the spiritual world all three are waiting (for the Divine command), sometimes fleeing from form and sometimes taking abode (in it).
امر آید در صور رو در رود ** باز هم از امرش مجرد می‌شود
(When) the (Divine) command comes—“Enter into forms”— they enter (into them); likewise at His command they become divested (of form).
پس له الخلق و له الامرش بدان ** خلق صورت امر جان راکب بر آن
Know, therefore, that (in the text) to Him belongs the creation and to Him the command “the creation” is the form and “the command” is the spirit riding upon it.
راکب و مرکوب در فرمان شاه ** جسم بر درگاه وجان در بارگاه
(Both) the rider and the ridden are under the authority of the King: the body is at the portal and the spirit in the audience-chamber.
چونک خواهد که آب آید در سبو ** شاه گوید جیش جان را که ارکبوا 80
When the King desires the water to come into the pitcher, He says to the spirit-army, “Ride!”
باز جانها را چو خواند در علو ** بانگ آید از نقیبان که انزلوا
Again, when He calls the spirit aloft, there comes from the overseers the cry, “Dismount!”
بعد ازین باریک خواهد شد سخن ** کم کن آتش هیزمش افزون مکن
The discourse, (if continued) after this (point), will become subtle: diminish the fire, do not put more faggots on it,
تا نجوشد دیگهای خرد زود ** دیگ ادراکات خردست و فرود
Lest the small pots boil (too) quickly: the pot of the perceptions is small and low.
پاک سبحانی که سیبستان کند ** در غمام حرفشان پنهان کنند
The Holy Transcendent One who makes the apple-orchard conceals them (the apples) in a mist of words.
زین غمام بانگ و حرف و گفت و گوی ** پرده‌ای کز سیب ناید غیر بوی 85
From this mist of sound and words and talk (arises such) a screen that naught of the apple comes (into perception) save the scent.
باری افزون کش تو این بو را به هوش ** تا سوی اصلت برد بگرفته گوش
At least draw (inhale) this scent in greater quantity with (the nostrils of) your intelligence, that taking you by the ear it may lead you towards your origin.
بو نگه‌دار و بپرهیز از زکام ** تن بپوش از باد و بود سرد عام
Preserve the scent and beware of the rheum: protect your body from the cold wind (breath) and being of the vulgar,
تا نینداید مشامت را ز اثر ** ای هواشان از زمستان سردتر
Lest by the effect (thereof) it stop up your nose: oh, their air is colder than winter.
چون جمادند و فسرده و تن‌شگرف ** می‌جهد انفاسشان از تل برف
They are like lifeless matter and frozen and stout of body: their breaths issue from a snow-hill.
چون زمین زین برف در پوشد کفن ** تیغ خورشید حسام‌الدین بزن 90
When the earth (of your being) is covered with a shroud of this snow, brandish the sunbeam-sword of Husámu’ddín.
هین بر آر از شرق سیف‌الله را ** گرم کن زان شرق این درگاه را
Hark, lift up the sword of Allah from the east: with (the radiance of) that east make this portal hot.
برف را خنجر زند آن آفتاب ** سیلها ریزد ز کهها بر تراب
That Sun smites the snow with a dagger: it causes the torrents to pour from the mountains upon the (frozen) earth,
زانک لا شرقیست و لا غربیست او ** با منجم روز و شب حربیست او
For it is neither of the east nor of the west: by day and by night it is at war with the astronomer,
که چرا جز من نجوم بی‌هدی ** قبله کردی از لیمی و عمی
Saying, “Why in thy baseness and blindness hast thou made a qibla other than me of stars that give no true guidance?
تا خوشت ناید مقال آن امین ** در نبی که لا احب الا فلین 95
Displeasing to thee are the words of that trusty one in the Qur’án—‘I love not them that set.’
از قزح در پیش مه بستی کمر ** زان همی رنجی ز وانشق القمر
(Prompted) by Quzah, thou hast girt thyself (for service) before the moon: hence thou art vexed by (the sign announced in the Verse) and the moon shall be split asunder.
منکری این را که شمس کورت ** شمس پیش تست اعلی‌مرتبت
Thou disbelievest that the sun shall be folded up: in thy opinion the sun is of the highest degree.
از ستاره دیده تصریف هوا ** ناخوشت آید اذا النجم هوی
Thou deemest change of weather to be caused by the stars: thou art displeased with (the text) when the star shall fall.
خود مثرتر نباشد مه ز نان ** ای بسا نان که ببرد عرق جان
Verily, the moon produces no greater effect than bread: O many a loaf of bread that severs the vein of life!