Rumi's Masnavi - And keeps searching for its head with the point of a needle, and if he does not find it, he keeps moistening it (the place) with his lip.

And keeps searching for its head with the point of a needle, and if he does not find it, he keeps moistening it (the place) with his lip.

وز سر سوزن همی‌‌جوید سرش ** ور نیابد می‌‌کند با لب ترش‌‌

A thorn in the foot is so hard to find: how (then) is it with a thorn in the heart? Answer (that)!

خار در پا شد چنین دشوار یاب ** خار در دل چون بود واده جواب‌‌

If every base fellow had seen the thorn in the heart, when would sorrows gain the upper hand over any one?

خار در دل گر بدیدی هر خسی ** دست کی بودی غمان را بر کسی‌‌

Somebody sticks a thorn under a donkey's tail: the donkey does not know how to get rid of it: he starts jumping.

کس به زیر دم خر خاری نهد ** خر نداند دفع آن بر می‌‌جهد

He jumps, and the thorn strikes more firmly (pierces deeper): it needs an intelligent person to extract a thorn. 155

بر جهد و ان خار محکمتر زند ** عاقلی باید که خاری بر کند

In order to get rid of the thorn, the donkey from irritation and pain went on kicking and dealing blows in a hundred places,

خر ز بهر دفع خار از سوز و درد ** جفته می‌‌انداخت صد جا زخم کرد

(But) that thorn-removing physician was an expert: putting his hand on one spot after another, he tested (it).

آن حکیم خارچین استاد بود ** دست می‌‌زد جا به جا می‌‌آزمود

He inquired of the girl concerning her friends, by way of narrative,

ز ان کنیزک بر طریق داستان ** باز می‌‌پرسید حال دوستان‌‌

And she disclosed to the physician (many) circumstances touching her home and (former) masters and town and dwelling.

با حکیم او قصه‌‌ها می‌‌گفت فاش ** از مقام و خاجگان و شهر تاش‌‌

He listened to her story (while) he continued to observe her pulse and its beating, 160

سوی قصه گفتنش می‌‌داشت گوش ** سوی نبض و جستنش می‌‌داشت هوش‌‌