Form resembles the mineral and the stone: an inorganic thing has no knowledge of congeniality.
صورت آمد چون جماد و چون حجر ** نیست جامد را ز جنسیت خبر
The spirit is like an ant, and the body like a grain of wheat which it (the ant) carries to and fro continually.2955
جان چو مور و تن چو دانه‌ی گندمی ** می‌کشاند سو به سویش هر دمی
The ant knows that the grains of which it has taken charge will be changed and become homogeneous with it.
مور داند کان حبوب مرتهن ** مستحیل و جنس من خواهد شدن
One ant picks up (a grain of) barley on the road, another ant picks up a grain of wheat and runs away.
آن یکی موری گرفت از راه جو ** مور دیگر گندمی بگرفت و دو
The barley does not hurry to the wheat, but the ant comes to the ant; yes (it does).
جو سوی گندم نمی‌تازد ولی ** مور سوی مور می‌آید بلی
The going of the barley to the wheat is (merely) consequential: (’tis) the ant, mark you, (that) returns to its congener.
رفتن جو سوی گندم تابعست ** مور را بین که به جنسش راجعست
Do not say, “Why did the wheat go to the barley?” Fix your eye on the holder, not on that which he holds in pawn.2960
تو مگو گندم چرا شد سوی جو ** چشم را بر خصم نه نی بر گرو
(As when) a black ant (moves along) on a black felt cloth: the ant is hidden (from view), (only) the grain is visible on its way,
مور اسود بر سر لبد سیاه ** مور پنهان دانه پیدا پیش راه
(But) Reason says, “Look well to your eye: when does a grain ever go along without a grain-bearer?”
عقل گوید چشم را نیکو نگر ** دانه هرگز کی رود بی دانه‌بر
(’Twas) on this account (that) the dog came to the Companions (of the Cave): the (outward) forms are (like) the grains, while the heart (spirit) is (like) the ant.
زین سبب آمد سوی اصحاب کلب ** هست صورتها حبوب و مور قلب