The limb of him who is free (detached from the world) is (like) a moist fresh bough: (if) you pull it in any direction, it is (easily) pulled.
عضو حر شاخ تر و تازه بود ** می‌کشی هر سو کشیده می‌شود
If you want a basket, you can make it (a basket); you can also make its neck a hoop;
گر سبد خواهی توانی کردنش ** هم توانی کرد چنبر گردنش
(But) when it has been sucked dry by the draining of (the sap from) its root, it does not come (readily) in the direction to which (your) command is pulling it.
چون شد آن ناشف ز نشف بیخ خود ** ناید آن سویی که امرش می‌کشد
Recite, then, from the Qur’án (the words) they stand up languidly, when the bough gets no medicinal (curative) treatment from its root.
پس بخوان قاموا کسالی از نبی ** چون نیابد شاخ از بیخش طبی
This symbol (allegory) is fiery, (but) I will cut it short and resume (the story of) the fakir and the treasure and the circumstances connected with it.2235
آتشین است این نشان کوته کنم ** بر فقیر و گنج و احوالش زنم
You have seen the fire that burns every (dry) sapling; (now) see the fire of the Spirit by which phantasy is burnt.
آتشی دیدی که سوزد هر نهال ** آتش جان بین کزو سوزد خیال
Neither for phantasy nor for reality is there any protection against a fire like this which flamed forth from the Spirit.
نه خیال و نه حقیقت را امان ** زین چنین آتش که شعله زد ز جان
He is the adversary of every lion and every fox: everything is perishing except His Face.
خصم هر شیر آمد و هر روبه او ** کل شیء هالک الا وجهه
Go into His aspects (attributes) and Face (Essence), become spent (emptied of self): go in, become enveloped (suppressed), like the alif in bism.
در وجوه وجه او رو خرج شو ** چون الف در بسم در رو درج شو
In bism the alif has stayed hidden: it is in bism and also it is not in bism.2240
آن الف در بسم پنهان کرد ایست ** هست او در بسم و هم در بسم نیست