Rumi's Masnavi - The water was making a noise, that is to say, (it was crying), “Hey, what is the advantage to you of this hurling a brick at me?”

The water was making a noise, that is to say, (it was crying), “Hey, what is the advantage to you of this hurling a brick at me?”

آب می‏زد بانگ یعنی هی ترا ** فایده چه زین زدن خشتی مرا

The thirsty man said, “O water, I have two advantages: I will nowise refrain from this work.

تشنه گفت آیا مرا دو فایده است ** من از این صنعت ندارم هیچ دست‏

The first advantage is (my) hearing the noise of the water, which to thirsty men is (melodious) as a rebeck.

فایده‏ی اول سماع بانگ آب ** کاو بود مر تشنگان را چون رباب‏

The noise thereof has become (to me) like the noise of (the trumpet of) Isráfíl: by this (noise) life has been transferred (restored) to one (that was) dead; 1200

بانگ او چون بانگ اسرافیل شد ** مرده را زین زندگی تحویل شد

Or (it is) like the noise of thunder in days of spring—from it (the thunder) the garden obtains so many (lovely) ornaments;

یا چو بانگ رعد ایام بهار ** باغ می‏یابد از او چندین نگار

Or like the days of alms to a poor man, or like the message of deliverance to a prisoner.

یا چو بر درویش ایام زکات ** یا چو بر محبوس پیغام نجات‏

’Tis like the breath of the Merciful (God) which, without mouth, comes to Mohammed from Yemen;

چون دم رحمان بود کان از یمن ** می‏رسد سوی محمد بی‏دهن‏

Or ’tis like the scent of Ahmad (Mohammed), the Apostle (of God), which in intercession comes to the sinner;

یا چو بوی احمد مرسل بود ** کان به عاصی در شفاعت می‏رسد

Or like the scent of beauteous, graceful Joseph, (which) strikes upon the soul of lean Jacob. 1205

یا چو بوی یوسف خوب لطیف ** می‏زند بر جان یعقوب نحیف‏

The other advantage is that, (with) every brick I tear off this (wall), I come (nearer) to running water,

فایده‏ی دیگر که هر خشتی کز این ** بر کنم آیم سوی ماء معین‏