Rumi's Masnavi - We are dashing against each other, like boats: our eyes are darkened, though we are in the clear water.

We are dashing against each other, like boats: our eyes are darkened, though we are in the clear water.

ما چو کشتیها بهم بر می‌زنیم ** تیره‌چشمیم و در آب روشنیم

O thou that hast gone to sleep in the body's boat, thou hast seen the water, (but) look on the Water of the water.

ای تو در کشتی تن رفته به خواب ** آب را دیدی نگر در آب آب

The water hath a Water that is driving it; the spirit hath a Spirit that is calling it.

آب را آبیست کو می‌راندش ** روح را روحیست کو می‌خواندش

Where were Moses and Jesus when the (Divine) Sun was giving water to the sown field of existent things? 1275

موسی و عیسی کجا بد کفتاب ** کشت موجودات را می‌داد آب

Where were Adam and Eve at the time when God fitted this string to the bow?

آدم و حوا کجا بد آن زمان ** که خدا افکند این زه در کمان

This (manner of) speech, too, is imperfect and maimed; the speech that is not imperfect is Yonder.

این سخن هم ناقص است و ابترست ** آن سخن که نیست ناقص آن سرست

If he (the saint) speak from that (source), thy foot will stumble; and if he speak naught of that, oh, alas for thee!

گر بگوید زان بلغزد پای تو ** ور نگوید هیچ از آن ای وای تو

And if he speak in the likeness of a (material) form, thou wilt stick to that form, O youth.

ور بگوید در مثال صورتی ** بر همان صورت بچفسی ای فتی

Thou art foot-bound on the earth, like grass: thou noddest thy head at a (breath of) wind, (though thou art) without certainty. 1280

بسته‌پایی چون گیا اندر زمین ** سر بجنبانی ببادی بی‌یقین

But thou hast no (spiritual) foot that thou shouldest make a departure or perchance drag thy foot out of this mud.

لیک پایت نیست تا نقلی کنی ** یا مگر پا را ازین گل بر کنی