دم مزن تا دم زند بهر تو روح ** آشنا بگذار در کشتی نوح

Do not speak, so that the Spirit may speak for thee: in the ark of Noah leave off swimming!

همچو کنعان کشنا می‌کرد او ** که نخواهم کشتی نوح عدو

(Be not) like Canaan, who was swimming and saying, “I do not want the ark of Noah, (who is) my enemy.”

هی بیا در کشتی بابا نشین ** تا نگردی غرق طوفان ای مهین

(Noah said), “Hey, come and sit in thy father's ark, that thou mayst not be drowned in the Flood, O despicable one!”

گفت نه من آشنا آموختم ** من بجز شمع تو شمع افروختم 1310

He answered, “Nay, I have learned to swim: I have lighted a candle other than thy candle.”

هین مکن کین موج طوفان بلاست ** دست و پا و آشنا امروز لاست

(Noah said), “Beware! Do it not, for these waves are the Flood of tribulation; to-day hand and foot and swimming are naught.

باد قهرست و بلای شمع کش ** جز که شمع حق نمی‌پاید خمش

’Tis the wind of vengeance and the woe that extinguishes the candle (of contrivance). No candle but God's is enduring. Be silent!”

گفت نه رفتم برآن کوه بلند ** عاصمست آن که مرا از هر گزند

He said, “Nay, I will go up that high mountain: that mountain will protect me from every hurt.”

هین مکن که کوه کاهست این زمان ** جز حبیب خویش را ندهد امان

(Noah said), “Beware! Do it not, for at this time the mountain is (but) a straw. He giveth safety to none except His beloved.”

گفت من کی پند تو بشنوده‌ام ** که طمع کردی که من زین دوده‌ام 1315

He answered, “When have I listened to thy advice, that thou shouldst hope (as thou didst) that I am of this family?

خوش نیامد گفت تو هرگز مرا ** من بری‌ام از تو در هر دو سرا

Thy words were never pleasing to me: I am quit of thee in both worlds.”

هین مکن بابا که روز ناز نیست ** مر خدا را خویش وانباز نیست

(Noah said), “Beware, bábá, do it not, for (this) is not the day for disdain. God hath no kinship or partner.

تا کنون کردی واین دم نازکیست ** اندرین درگاه گیرا ناز کیست

Until now thou hast shown (disdain), and at this moment there is disdain (on the part of God): whose disdain is of any effect in this Court?

لم یلد لم یولدست او از قدم ** نه پدر دارد نه فرزند و نه عم

From eternity He is (the One that) begetteth not, nor is He begotten: He hath neither father nor son nor uncle.

ناز فرزندان کجا خواهد کشید ** ناز بابایان کجا خواهد شنید 1320

How will He suffer the disdain of sons? How will He hearken to the disdain of fathers?

نیستم مولود پیراکم بناز ** نیستم والد جوانا کم گراز

(God saith), ‘I am not begotten: O old man, do not be proud. I am not a begetter: O youth, do not strut.

نیستم شوهر نیم من شهوتی ** ناز را بگذار اینجا ای ستی

I am not a husband, I am not connected with lust: here, O lady, leave off being disdainful.’

جز خضوع و بندگی و اضطرار ** اندرین حضرت ندارد اعتبار

Excepting humility and slavishness and utter helplessness, naught hath consideration in this Presence.”

گفت بابا سالها این گفته‌ای ** باز می‌گویی بجهل آشفته‌ای

He (Canaan) said, “Father, for years thou hast said this; (now) thou art saying (it) again: thou art deranged with folly.

چند ازینها گفته‌ای با هرکسی ** تا جواب سرد بشنودی بسی 1325

How many of these things hast thou said to every one, so that oftentimes thou hast heard a cold (rough) answer!

این دم سرد تو در گوشم نرفت ** خاصه اکنون که شدم دانا و زفت

This cold breath (tiresome discourse) of thine did not enter my ear, (nor will it), especially now when I have become wise and strong.”

گفت بابا چه زیان دارد اگر ** بشنوی یکبار تو پند پدر

He (Noah) said, “Bábá, what harm will it do if thou listen once to the advice of thy father?”

همچنین می‌گفت او پند لطیف ** همچنان می‌گفت او دفع عنیف

On this wise was he (Noah) speaking kindly counsel, and on that wise was he (Canaan) uttering harsh refusal.

نه پدر از نصح کنعان سیر شد ** نه دمی در گوش آن ادبیر شد

Neither did the father become weary of admonishing Canaan, nor did a single breath (word) enter the ear of that graceless man.

اندرین گفتن بدند و موج تیز ** بر سر کنعان زد وشد ریز ریز 1330

They were (engaged) in this talk when a fierce billow dashed upon Canaan's head, and he was shivered to fragments.

نوح گفت ای پادشاه بردبار ** مر مرا خر مرد و سیلت برد بار

Noah said, “O long-suffering King, my ass is dead, and Thy Flood hath carried away the load.

وعده کردی مر مرا تو بارها ** که بیابد اهلت از طوفان رها

Many times Thou didst promise me, saying, ‘Thy family shall be saved from the Deluge.’

دل نهادم بر امیدت من سلیم ** پس چرا بربود سیل از من گلیم

I (in) simple (faith) fixed my heart on hope of Thee: why, then, has the Flood swept my garment away from me?”

گفت او از اهل و خویشانت نبود ** خود ندیدی تو سپیدی او کبود

He (God) said, “He was not of thy family and kinsfolk: didst not thou thyself see (that) thou art white, he blue?”

چونک دندان تو کرمش در فتاد ** نیست دندان بر کنش ای اوستاد 1335

When the worm (of decay) has fallen upon thy tooth, it is not a tooth (any more): tear it out, O master.

تا که باقی تن نگردد زار ازو ** گرچه بود آن تو شو بیزار ازو

In order that the rest of thy body may not be made miserable by it, become quit of it, although it was (once) thine.

گفت بیزارم ز غیر ذات تو ** غیر نبود آنک او شد مات تو

He (Noah) said, “I am quit of aught other than Thy Essence; he that has died in Thee is not other (than Thou).

تو همی دانی که چونم با تو من ** بیست چندانم که با باران چمن

Thou knowest how I am to Thee: I am (to Thee) as the orchard to the rain, and twenty times as much—

زنده از تو شاد از تو عایلی ** مغتذی بی واسطه و بی حایلی

Living by Thee, rejoicing because of Thee, a pauper receiving sustenance without any medium or intervention;

متصل نه منفصل نه ای کمال ** بلک بی چون و چگونه و اعتلال 1340

Not united, not separated, O Perfection; nay, devoid of quality or description or causation.

ماهیانیم و تو دریای حیات ** زنده‌ایم از لطفت ای نیکو صفات

We are the fishes, and Thou the Sea of Life: we live by Thy favour, O Thou whose attributes are excellent.

تو نگنجی در کنار فکرتی ** نی به معلولی قرین چون علتی

Thou art not contained in the bosom of any thought, nor art Thou joined with the effect, as a cause.

پیش ازین طوفان و بعد این مرا ** تو مخاطب بوده‌ای در ماجرا

Before this Flood and after it, Thou hast been the object of my address in (every) colloquy.

با تو می‌گفتم نه با ایشان سخن ** ای سخن‌بخش نو و آن کهن

I was speaking with Thee, not with them, O Thou that art the Giver of speech (both) newly and of old.

نه که عاشق روز و شب گوید سخن ** گاه با اطلال و گاهی با دمن 1345

Is it not the case that the lover, day and night, converses now with the ruins (of the beloved's abode), now with the traces (of her habitation)?

روی با اطلال کرده ظاهرا ** او کرا می‌گوید آن مدحت کرا

To outward seeming, he has turned his face towards the ruins, (but) to whom is he (really) saying that song of praise, to whom?

شکر طوفان را کنون بگماشتی ** واسطه‌ی اطلال را بر داشتی

Thanks (be to Thee)! Now Thou hast let loose the Flood and removed the ruins which stood between (me and Thee).

زانک اطلال لیم و بد بدند ** نه ندایی نه صدایی می‌زدند

(I thank Thee) because they were vile and evil ruins, uttering neither a cry nor an echo.

من چنان اطلال خواهم در خطاب ** کز صدا چون کوه واگوید جواب

I desire such ruins to speak with as answer back, like the mountain, by an echo,

تا مثنا بشنوم من نام تو ** عاشقم برنام جان آرام تو 1350

So that I may hear Thy name redoubled, (for) I am in love with Thy soul-soothing name.

هرنبی زان دوست دارد کوه را ** تا مثنا بشنود نام ترا

That is why every prophet holds the mountains dear: (’tis) that he may hear Thy name redoubled.

آن که پست مثال سنگ لاخ ** موش را شاید نه ما را در مناخ

That low mountain, resembling stony ground, is suitable for a mouse, not for us, as a resting-place.

من بگویم او نگردد یار من ** بی صدا ماند دم گفتار من

(When) I speak, it does not join with me: the breath of my speech remains without (any) echo.

با زمین آن به که هموارش کنی ** نیست همدم با قدم یارش کنی

’Tis better that thou level it with the earth; it is not in accord with thy breath (voice): thou shouldst join it with thy foot.”

گفت ای نوح ار تو خواهی جمله را ** حشر گردانم بر آرم از ثری 1355

He (God) said, “O Noah, if thou desire, I will assemble them all and raise them from (their graves in) the earth.

بهر کنعانی دل تو نشکنم ** لیکت از احوال آگه می‌کنم

I will not break thy heart for the sake of a Canaan, but I am acquainting (thee) with (their real) states.”