Rumi's Masnavi - On the earth we were sowing the seed of service (worship): we were marveling at that connexion,

On the earth we were sowing the seed of service (worship): we were marveling at that connexion, 2660

تخم خدمت بر زمین می‌‌کاشتیم ** ز آن تعلق ما عجب می‌‌داشتیم‌‌

Marvelling what connexion we had with this dust, inasmuch as our nature is of heaven.

کاین تعلق چیست با این خاکمان ** چون سرشت ما بده ست از آسمان‌‌

(We said), Why (this) friendship in us, who are light, with darkness? How can light live with darkness?

الف ما انوار با ظلمات چیست ** چون تواند نور با ظلمات زیست‌‌

O Adam, that friendship was owing to the scent of thee, because earth was the woof and warp of thy body.

آدما آن الف از بوی تو بود ** ز آن که جسمت را زمین بد تار و پود

From this place (the earth) thy earthly body was woven, in this place thy pure light was found.

جسم خاکت را از اینجا بافتند ** نور پاکت را در اینجا یافتند

This (light) that our souls have obtained from thy spirit shone erstwhile from the dust. 2665

این که جان ما ز روحت یافته ست ** پیش پیش از خاک آن می‌‌تافته ست‌‌

We were in the earth, and heedless of the earth, heedless of the treasure that lay buried there.

در زمین بودیم و غافل از زمین ** غافل از گنجی که در وی بد دفین‌‌

When He (God) bade us journey from that place of abode our palates were soured (we were bitterly grieved) by the change,

چون سفر فرمود ما را ز آن مقام ** تلخ شد ما را از آن تحویل کام‌‌

So that we were arguing (and saying), ‘O God, who will come in our stead?

تا که حجتها همی‌‌گفتیم ما ** که بجای ما کی آید ای خدا

Wilt Thou sell the splendour of the praise with which we glorify and magnify Thee for babble and palaver?’

نور این تسبیح و این تهلیل را ** می‌‌فروشی بهر قال و قیل را