For years this death has been beating the drum, (but only when it is) too late is your ear moved (to listen).
سالها این مرگ طبلک می‌زند ** گوش تو بیگاه جنبش می‌کند
In his agony he (the heedless man) cries from his (inmost) soul, “Alas, I am dying!” Has Death made you aware of himself (only) now?
گوید اندر نزع از جان آه مرگ ** این زمان کردت ز خود آگاه مرگ
Death's throat is exhausted with shouting: his drum is split with the astounding blows (with which it has been beaten).775
این گلوی مرگ از نعره گرفت ** طبل او بشکافت از ضرب شگفت
(But) you enmeshed yourself in trivialities: (only) now have you apprehended the mystery of dying.
در دقایق خویش را در بافتی ** رمز مردن این زمان در یافتی
Comparison of (the behaviour of) the heedless man who wastes his life and (only) begins to repent and ask pardon (of God) when he lies in extreme distress on his death-bed to the yearly mourning of the Shí‘ites of Aleppo at the Antioch Gate (of the city) during the ‘Áshúrá; and how a poet, who was a stranger, arrived (there) on his journey and asked what was the cause of these shrieks of mourning.
تشبیه مغفلی کی عمر ضایع کند و وقت مرگ در آن تنگاتنگ توبه و استغفار کردن گیرد به تعزیت داشتن شیعه‌ی اهل حلب هر سالی در ایام عاشورا به دروازه‌ی انطاکیه و رسیدن غریب شاعر از سفر و پرسیدن کی این غریو چه تعزیه است
On the Day of ‘Áshúrá all the people of Aleppo gather at the Antioch Gate till nightfall,
روز عاشورا همه اهل حلب ** باب انطاکیه اندر تا به شب
Men and women, a great multitude, and keep up a constant lamentation for the (Holy) Family.
گرد آید مرد و زن جمعی عظیم ** ماتم آن خاندان دارد مقیم
During the ‘Áshúrá the Shí‘ites wail and lament with tears and sobs on account of Karbalá.
ناله و نوحه کنند اندر بکا ** شیعه عاشورا برای کربلا
They recount the oppressions and tribulations which the (Holy) Family suffered at the hands of Yazíd and Shimr.780
بشمرند آن ظلمها و امتحان ** کز یزید و شمر دید آن خاندان
They utter shrieks mingled with cries of woe and grief: the whole plain and desert is filled (with their cries).
نعره‌هاشان می‌رود در ویل و وشت ** پر همی‌گردد همه صحرا و دشت
A stranger, (who was) a poet, arrived from the road on the Day of ‘Áshúrá and heard that lamentation.
یک غریبی شاعری از راه رسید ** روز عاشورا و آن افغان شنید