I have spent my life, breath by breath: I have breathed it all away in treble and bass.
خرج کردم عمر خود را دم‌‌به‌‌دم ** در دمیدم جمله را در زیر و بم
Ah me, that in minding the (musical) mode and rhythm of ‘Iráq the bitter moment of parting (from this world) went out of my mind (was forgotten).
آه کز یاد ره و پرده‌‌ی عراق ** رفت از یادم دم تلخ فراق
Alas that from the liquid freshness of the minor zírafgand the seed sown in my heart dried up, and my heart died.
وای کز تری زیر افکند خرد ** خشک شد کشت دل من دل بمرد
Alas that from (my preoccupation with) the sound of these four-and-twenty (melodies) the caravan passed and the day grew late.”
وای کز آواز این بیست و چهار ** کاروان بگذشت و بی‌‌گه شد نهار
O God, help (me) against this (self of mine) that is seeking help (from Thee): I seek justice (redress) from no one (else, but only) from this justice-seeking (self).2195
ای خدا فریاد زین فریادخواه ** داد خواهم نه ز کس زین داد خواه
I shall not get justice for myself from any one except, surely, from Him who is nearer to me than I;
داد خود از کس نیابم جز مگر ** ز آن که او از من به من نزدیکتر
For this “I-hood” comes to me from Him moment by moment: therefore when this has failed me, I see (only) Him,
کاین منی از وی رسد دم دم مرا ** پس و را بینم چو این شد کم مرا
As (when you are with) one who is counting out gold to you, you keep your gaze (directed) towards him, not towards yourself.
همچو آن کاو با تو باشد زر شمر ** سوی او داری نه سوی خود نظر
How ‘Umar, may God be well-pleased with him, bade him (the harper) turn his gaze from the stage of weeping, which is (self-) existence, to the stage of absorption (in God).
گردانیدن عمر نظر او را از مقام گریه که هستی است به مقام استغراق که نیستی است
Then ‘Umar said to him, “This wailing of thine is also (one of) the marks of thy sobriety (self-consciousness).
پس عمر گفتش که این زاری تو ** هست هم آثار هشیاری تو
The way of him that has passed away (from self-consciousness) is another way, because sobriety is another sin.2200
راه فانی گشته راهی دیگر است ** ز آن که هشیاری گناهی دیگر است