Rumi's Masnavi - Thou art higher even than the sky and the stars, though for a good reason thou art (temporarily) in the Stable.

Thou art higher even than the sky and the stars, though for a good reason thou art (temporarily) in the Stable.

تو ز چرخ و اختران هم برتری ** گرچه بهر مصلحت در آخری

The Master of the Stable is one thing and the ass another: not every one who has entered the Stable is an ass. 2550

میر آخر دیگر و خر دیگرست ** نه هر آنک اندر آخر شد خرست

Why have we fallen in behind the ass? Tell of the Rose-garden and the fresh roses,

چه در افتادیم در دنبال خر ** از گلستان گوی و از گلهای تر

And of the pomegranate and the citron and the apple-bough, and of the wine and the fair youths innumerable,

از انار و از ترنج و شاخ سیب ** وز شراب و شاهدان بی‌حساب

Or of the Sea whose waves are pearls and whose pearls are speaking and seeing,

یا از آن دریا که موجش گوهرست ** گوهرش گوینده و بیناورست

Or of the Birds which pick roses and lay eggs of silver and gold,

یا از آن مرغان که گل‌چین می‌کنند ** بیضه‌ها زرین و سیمین می‌کنند

Or of the Falcons which foster the partridges and fly both with their bellies turned downward and also on their backs. 2555

یا از آن بازان که کبکان پرورند ** هم نگون اشکم هم استان می‌پرند

In the world there are invisible ladders, (leading) step by step up to the summit of heaven.

نردبانهاییست پنهان در جهان ** پایه پایه تا عنان آسمان

There is a different ladder for every class, there is a different heaven for every (traveller's) way.

هر گره را نردبانی دیگرست ** هر روش را آسمانی دیگرست

Every one is ignorant of another's condition (in) the kingdom (which is) wide and without end or beginning.

هر یکی از حال دیگر بی‌خبر ** ملک با پهنا و بی‌پایان و سر