Such-like is the tale of the parrot which is the soul: where is that one who is the confidant of (the spiritual) birds?1575
قصه‌‌ی طوطی جان زین سان بود ** کو کسی کو محرم مرغان بود
Where is a bird, weak and innocent, and within him Solomon with (all) his host?
کو یکی مرغی ضعیفی بی‌‌گناه ** و اندرون او سلیمان با سپاه
When he moans bitterly, without thanksgiving or complaint, a noise of tumult falls on (arises in) the Seven Spheres (of Heaven).
چون بنالد زار بی‌‌شکر و گله ** افتد اندر هفت گردون غلغله
At every moment (there come) to him from God a hundred missives, a hundred couriers: from him one (cry of) “O my Lord!” and from God a hundred (cries of) “Labbayka” (“Here am I”).
هر دمش صد نامه صد پیک از خدا ** یا ربی زو شصت لبیک از خدا
In the sight of God his backsliding is better than obedience; beside his infidelity all faiths are tattered (worthless).
زلت او به ز طاعت نزد حق ** پیش کفرش جمله ایمانها خلق
Every moment he hath an ascension (to God) peculiar to himself: He (God) lays upon his crown a hundred peculiar crowns.1580
هر دمی او را یکی معراج خاص ** بر سر تاجش نهد صد تاج خاص
His form is on earth and his spirit in “no-place,” a “no-place” beyond the imagination of travellers (on the mystic Way):
صورتش بر خاک و جان بر لامکان ** لامکانی فوق وهم سالکان
Not such a “no-place” that it should come into thy understanding (or that) a fancy about it should be born in thee every moment;
لامکانی نه که در فهم آیدت ** هر دمی در وی خیالی زایدت
Nay, place and “no-place” are in his control, just as the four (Paradisal) rivers are in the control of one who dwells in Paradise.
بل مکان و لامکان در حکم او ** همچو در حکم بهشتی چارجو
Cut short the explanation of this and avert thy face from it: do not breathe a word (more)—and God knows best what is right.
شرح این کوته کن و رخ زین بتاب ** دم مزن و الله اعلم بالصواب