How shall a plane-tree open its hands (spread its leaves) in prayer? How shall any tree toss its head in the air (of love-desire)?
کی چناری کف گشاید در دعا ** کی درختی سر فشاند در هوا
How shall the blossoms begin to shake out their sleeves full of largesse in the days of Spring?
کی شکوفه آستین پر نثار ** بر فشاندن گیرد ایام بهار
How shall the cheeks of the anemone flame like blood? How shall the rose bring gold out of its purse?1660
کی فروزد لاله را رخ همچو خون ** کی گل از کیسه بر آرد زر برون
How shall the nightingale come and smell the rose? How shall the dove say “coo, coo,” as one that seeks?
کی بیاید بلبل و گل بو کند ** کی چو طالب فاخته کوکو کند
How shall the stork utter with (all) its soul the cry lak, lak? What is (the meaning of) lak? (It means) “Thine is the kingdom, O Thou whose help is invoked.”
کی بگوید لکلک آن لک لک به جان ** لک چه باشد ملک تست ای مستعان
How shall the earth show forth the secrets of its inmost mind? How shall the garden become radiant without the sky?
کی نماید خاک اسرار ضمیر ** کی شود بیآسمان بستان منیر
Whence have they fetched those garments (fair qualities)? (They have derived) all of them from One who is Bounteous and Merciful.
از کجا آوردهاند آن حلهها ** من کریم من رحیم کلها
Those graces are the signs of a Witness: they are the footprints of a man devoted to (God's) service.1665
آن لطافتها نشان شاهدی است ** آن نشان پای مرد عابدی است
(None but) that person that has seen the King is gladdened by the sign; when one has not seen Him, there is no recognition.
آن شود شاد از نشان کاو دید شاه ** چون ندید او را نباشد انتباه
The spirit of that one who at the time of Am not I (your Lord)? saw his Lord and became beside himself and intoxicated—
روح آن کس کاو به هنگام أ لست ** دید رب خویش و شد بیخویش و مست