I am the (devoted) slave of him who does not regard himself in every caravanseray (at every stage in his spiritual progress) as having attained to (the privilege of sitting at) the table (of union with God).
من غلام آن که او در هر رباط ** خویش را واصل نداند بر سماط
Many is the caravanseray that must be quitted, in order that one day the man may reach home.3260
بس رباطی که بباید ترک کرد ** تا به مسکن در رسد یک روز مرد
Though the iron has become red, it is not red (by nature): it (the redness) is a ray borrowed from something that strikes fire.
گر چه آهن سرخ شد او سرخ نیست ** پرتو عاریت آتش زنی است
If the window or the house is full of light, do not deem aught luminous except the sun.
گر شود پر نور روزن یا سرا ** تو مدان روشن مگر خورشید را
Every door and wall says, “I am luminous: I do not hold the rays of another, I (myself) am this (light).”
هر در و دیوار گوید روشنم ** پرتو غیری ندارم این منم
Then the sun says, “O thou who art not right (in thy belief), when I set ’twill become evident (thou wilt see what the truth is).”
پس بگوید آفتاب ای نارشید ** چون که من غارب شوم آید پدید
The plants say, “We are green of ourselves, we are gay and smiling (blooming) and we have very beauteous cheeks.”3265
سبزهها گویند ما سبز از خودیم ** شاد و خندانیم و بس زیبا خدیم
The season of summer says (to them), “O peoples, behold yourselves when I depart!”
فصل تابستان بگوید ای امم ** خویش را بینید چون من بگذرم
The body is boasting of its beauty and comeliness, (while) the spirit, having concealed its glory and pinions and plumes,
تن همینازد به خوبی و جمال ** روح پنهان کرده فر و پر و بال
Says to it, “O dunghill, who art thou? Through my beams thou hast come to life for a day or two.
گویدش ای مزبله تو کیستی ** یک دو روز از پرتو من زیستی