(Sunk in earth) like ducks that have plunged their heads in water, they have become (gay as) peacocks, though (in winter) they were (dark and bare) as crows.
همچو بطان سر فرو برده به آب ** گشته طاوسان و بوده چون غراب
If during the winter He imprisoned them (in ice and snow), God made those “crows” “peacocks” (in spring).
در زمستانشان اگر محبوس کرد ** آن غرابان را خدا طاوس کرد
Although He put them to death in winter, He revived them by means of spring and gave (them) leaves.
در زمستانشان اگر چه داد مرگ ** زندهشان کرد از بهار و داد برگ
The sceptics say, “This (creation), surely, is eternal: why should we fix it on a beneficent Lord?”2020
منکران گویند خود هست این قدیم ** این چرا بندیم بر رب کریم
God, in despite of them, caused (spiritual) gardens and plots of sweet flowers to grow in the hearts of His friends.
کوری ایشان درون دوستان ** حق برویانید باغ و بوستان
Every rose that is sweet-scented within, that rose is telling of the secrets of the rose.
هر گلی کاندر درون بویا بود ** آن گل از اسرار کل گویا بود
Their scent, to the confusion of the sceptics, is going round the world, rending the veil (of doubt and disbelief).
بوی ایشان رغم انف منکران ** گرد عالم میرود پرده دران
The sceptics, (shrinking) from the scent of the rose like a beetle, or like a delicate (sensitive) brain at the noise of the drum,
منکران همچون جعل ز آن بوی گل ** یا چو نازک مغز در بانگ دهل
Feign themselves to be occupied and absorbed, and withdraw their eyes from the flash of the lightning.2025