Rumi's Masnavi - Oh, blest is he that deems his early days an opportunity to be seized, and pays his debt

Oh, blest is he that deems his early days an opportunity to be seized, and pays his debt— 1215

ای خنک آن را که او ایام پیش ** مغتنم دارد گزارد وام خویش‏

In the days when he has the power, (when) he has health and strength of heart and vigour,

اندر آن ایام کش قدرت بود ** صحت و زور دل و قوت بود

And (when) that season of youth, like a garden green and fresh, is bringing (to ripeness) produce and fruit without any stint;

و آن جوانی همچو باغ سبز و تر ** می‏رساند بی‏دریغی بار و بر

(When) the fountains of strength and lust (are) flowing, (so that) thereby the soil of the body is made verdant;

چشمه‏های قوت و شهوت روان ** سبز می‏گردد زمین تن بدان‏

(When he is still like) a well-kept house, with its roof very lofty, its sides (walls) symmetrical, without buttressing and clamps—

خانه‏ی معمور و سقفش بس بلند ** معتدل ارکان و بی‏تخلیط و بند

Ere the days of eld arrive and bind your neck with a halter of palm-fibres; 1220

پیش از آن که ایام پیری در رسد ** گردنت بندد به حبل من مسد

(Ere) the soil becomes nitrous (barren), crumbling, and poor —never did good herbage grow from nitrous soil;

خاک شوره گردد و ریزان و سست ** هرگز از شوره نبات خوش نرست‏

(When) the water of strength and the water of lust (is) cut off, and he has no profit from himself or others:

آب زور و آب شهوت منقطع ** او ز خویش و دیگران نامنتفع‏

The eyebrows fallen down like a crupper-strap; the eyes grown moist and dim;

ابروان چون پالدم زیر آمده ** چشم را نم آمده تاری شده‏

The face, from wrinkling, like the back of a lizard; speech and taste and teeth gone out of use;

از تشنج رو چو پشت سوسمار ** رفته نطق و طعم و دندانها ز کار