Rumi's Masnavi - (Every night) I escape from this four-branched cross and spring away from this (confined) halting-place into the (spacious) pasture of the spirit.

(Every night) I escape from this four-branched cross and spring away from this (confined) halting-place into the (spacious) pasture of the spirit.

می‌رهم زین چارمیخ چارشاخ ** می‌جهم در مسرح جان زین مناخ

From the nurse, Sleep, I suck the milk of those bygone days of mine, O Lord.

شیر آن ایام ماضیهای خود ** می‌چشم از دایه‌ی خواب ای صمد

All the (people in the) world are fleeing from their free-will and (self-)existence to their drunken (unconscious) side.

جمله عالم ز اختیار و هست خود ** می‌گریزد در سر سرمست خود

In order that for awhile they may be delivered from sobriety (consciousness), they lay upon themselves the opprobrium of wine and minstrelsy. 225

تا دمی از هوشیاری وا رهند ** ننگ خمر و زمر بر خود می‌نهند

All know that this existence is a snare, that volitional thought and memory are a hell.

جمله دانسته کای این هستی فخ است ** فکر و ذکر اختیاری دوزخ است

They are fleeing from selfhood into selflessness either by means of intoxication or by means of (some engrossing) occupation, O well-conducted man.

می‌گریزند از خودی در بیخودی ** یا به مستی یا به شغل ای مهتدی

Thou (O God) drawest the soul back from that state of not-being because it entered into unconsciousness without Thy command.

نفس را زان نیستی وا می‌کشی ** زانک بی‌فرمان شد اندر بیهشی

Neither for the Jinn (genies) nor for mankind is it (possible) to pierce through the prison of the regions of the temporal world.

لیس للجن و لا للانس ان ** ینفذوا من حبس اقطار الزمن

There is no piercing through the cavities of the highest heavens save by the power of Guidance. 230

لا نفوذ الا بسلطان الهدی ** من تجاویف السموات العلی

There is no guidance save by a power that preserves the spirit of the devout from the keepers of the shooting stars.

لا هدی الا بسلطان یقی ** من حراس الشهب روح المتقی