The abiding (spiritual) magistracy and kingship is not (something) taken on loan for two days and ailing (perishable).
شحنگی و پادشاهی مقیم ** نه دو روزه و مستعارست و سقیم
(Possessing that) you are delivered from strife and can act for yourself: you are king and at the same time beating your own drum.
رستی از بیگار و کار خود کنی ** هم تو شاه و هم تو طبل خود زنی
When the World squeezes our throats tightly, would that our gullets and mouths had eaten (only) earth!
چون گلو تنگ آورد بر ما جهان ** خاک خوردی کاشکی حلق و دهان
This mouth, indeed, has (always) been an eater of earth; but an earth that has been coloured.4705
این دهان خود خاک‌خواری آمدست ** لیک خاکی را که آن رنگین شدست
This roast-meat and this wine and this sugar are (merely) coloured and painted earth, O son.
این کباب و این شراب و این شکر ** خاک رنگینست و نقشین ای پسر
When you have eaten or drunk (them) and they have become flesh and skin, He gives them the colour of flesh, but they are still the earth of (His) street.
چونک خوردی و شد آن لحم و پوست ** رنگ لحمش داد و این هم خاک کوست
’Tis from a bit of earth that He stitches the (body of) clay, and then makes the whole (fabric) a bit of earth again.
هم ز خاکی بخیه بر گل می‌زند ** جمله را هم باز خاکی می‌کند
Hindús and Qifcháq (Turks) and Greeks and Abyssinians— all have quite the same colour in the grave.
هندو و قفچاق و رومی و حبش ** جمله یک رنگ‌اند اندر گور خوش
So you may know that all those colours and pictures are entirely a mask and deceit and borrowed (ephemeral).4710
تا بدانی کان همه رنگ و نگار ** جمله روپوشست و مکر و مستعار
The only lasting colour is the dye of Allah: know that all the rest are tied (stuck) on (superficially) like a bell.
رنگ باقی صبغة الله است و بس ** غیر آن بر بسته دان هم‌چون جرس