Rumi's Masnavi - If thou seest not the revolutionary action of the (Divine) decree, look at the surging and whirling (that appears) in the (four) elements;

If thou seest not the revolutionary action of the (Divine) decree, look at the surging and whirling (that appears) in the (four) elements;

گر نمی‌بینی تو تدویر قدر ** در عناصر جوشش و گردش نگر

For the whirling of the sticks and straws and foam are caused by the boiling of the noble Sea (of Love).

زانک گردشهای آن خاشاک و کف ** باشد از غلیان بحر با شرف

See the giddy wind howling; see the billows surging at His command.

باد سرگردان ببین اندر خروش ** پیش امرش موج دریا بین بجوش

The sun and moon are two mill-oxen, going round and round and keeping watch (over the world).

آفتاب و ماه دو گاو خراس ** گرد می‌گردند و می‌دارند پاس

The stars likewise run from house to house (in the sky) and convey every good and evil fortune. 920

اختران هم خانه خانه می‌دوند ** مرکب هر سعد و نحسی می‌شوند

Hark, though the stars of heaven are far away and thy senses are (too) dull and slack (to apprehend their motions),

اختران چرخ گر دورند هی ** وین حواست کاهل‌اند و سست‌پی

(Yet ask thyself) where are our stars—eye, ear, and mind—at night, and where (are they) when we are awake?

اختران چشم و گوش و هوش ما ** شب کجااند و به بیداری کجا

Now (they are) in good luck and union and happiness; now in ill-luck and separation and insensibility.

گاه در سعد و وصال و دلخوشی ** گاه در نحس فراق و بیهشی

Since the moon of heaven is (engaged) in making this circuit, she is sometimes dark and sometimes bright.

ماه گردون چون درین گردیدنست ** گاه تاریک و زمانی روشنست

Sometimes ’tis spring and summer, (delicious) as honey and milk; sometimes (the world is) a place of punishment by snow and piercing cold. 925

گه بهار و صیف هم‌چون شهد و شیر ** گه سیاستگاه برف و زمهریر