How long wilt thou speak new words to (those) two old things and breathe the ancient secret into a substance devoid of life?
چند گویی با دو کهنه نو سخن ** در جمادی می‌دمی سر کهن
Like (the poets among) the Arabs, O Ayáz, thou art drawing out long and lovingly thy converse with the (deserted) abodes and the traces of former habitation.3255
چون عرب با ربع و اطلال ای ایاز ** می‌کشی از عشق گفت خود دراز
Of what Ásaf are thy shoon the abode? One would say that thy sheepskin jacket is the shirt of Joseph.”
چارقت ربع کدامین آصفست ** پوستین گویی که کرته‌ی یوسفست
(This is) like (the case of) the Christian who recounts to his priest a year’s sins––fornication and malice and hypocrisy––
هم‌چو ترسا که شمارد با کشش ** جرم یکساله زنا و غل و غش
In order that the priest may pardon his sins, for he regards his (the priest’s) forgiveness as forgiveness from God.
تا بیامرزد کشش زو آن گناه ** عفو او را عفو داند از اله
The priest has no (real) knowledge of sin and pardon; but love and firm belief are mightily bewitching.
نیست آگه آن کشش از جرم و داد ** لیک بس جادوست عشق و اعتقاد
Love and imagination weave (create) a hundred (forms beautiful as) Joseph: in sooth they are greater sorcerers than Hárút and Márút.3260
دوستی و وهم صد یوسف تند ** اسحر از هاروت و ماروتست خود
They cause a form (of phantasy) to appear in memory of him (your Beloved): the attraction of the form leads you into (conversation with it).
صورتی پیدا کند بر یاد او ** جذب صورت آردت در گفت و گو
You tell a hundred thousand secrets in the form’s presence, just as a friend speaks (intimately) in the presence of a friend.
رازگویی پیش صورت صد هزار ** آن چنان که یار گوید پیش یار
No (material) form or shape is there; (yet) from it proceed a hundred (utterances of the words) “Am not I (thy Beloved)?” and (from you) a hundred “Yeas.”
نه بدانجا صورتی نه هیکلی ** زاده از وی صد الست و صد بلی
(‘Tis) as when a mother, distraught (with grief) beside the grave of a child newly dead,
آن چنان که مادری دل‌برده‌ای ** پیش گور بچه‌ی نومرده‌ای
Utters heart-felt words earnestly and intensely: the inanimate (corpse) seems to her to be alive.3265
رازها گوید به جد و اجتهاد ** می‌نماید زنده او را آن جماد
She regards that dust as living and erect, she regards that rubbish as (having) an eye and an ear.
حی و قایم داند او آن خاک را ** چشم و گوشی داند او خاشاک را
To her, at the moment when she is crazed (with grief), every atom of the earth in the grave seems to have hearing and intelligence.
پیش او هر ذره‌ی آن خاک گور ** گوش دارد هوش دارد وقت شور
She believes with all her might that the earth is hearkening (to her): look well at this Love that works magic!
مستمع داند به جد آن خاک را ** خوش نگر این عشق ساحرناک را
Fondly and with tears she lays her face, time after time, on the fresh earth of the grave in such wise
آنچنان بر خاک گور تازه او ** دم‌بدم خوش می‌نهد با اشک رو
As during his life she never laid her face on the son who was so dear to her;3270
که بوقت زندگی هرگز چنان ** روی ننهادست بر پور چو جان
(But) when some days pass in mourning, the fire of her love sinks to rest.
از عزا چون چند روزی بگذرد ** آتش آن عشق او ساکن شود
Love for the dead is not lasting: keep your love (fixed) on the Living One who increases spiritual life.
عشق بر مرده نباشد پایدار ** عشق را بر حی جان‌افزای دار
Afterwards, indeed, from that grave (nothing) comes to her (but) slumber (indifference and oblivion): from an insensible object is born in her the same insensibility,
بعد از آن زان گور خود خواب آیدش ** از جمادی هم جمادی زایدش
Because Love has carried off his enchantment and gone away: as soon as the fire is sped, (only) ashes remain.
زانک عشق افسون خود بربود و رفت ** ماند خاکستر چو آتش رفت تفت
The (wise) Elder (Pír) beholds in the (iron) brick all that the (ignorant) young man beholds in the mirror.3275
آنچ بیند آن جوان در آینه ** پیر اندر خشت می‌بیند همه
The Elder is thy love, not (the owner of) a white beard. ‘Tis he (Love) that gives a helping hand to thousands who are in despair.
پیر عشق تست نه ریش سپید ** دستگیر صد هزاران ناامید
In (the hour of) separation Love fashions forms (of phantasy); in the hour of union the Formless One puts forth his head,
عشق صورتها بسازد در فراق ** نامصور سر کند وقت تلاق
Saying, “I am the ultimate origin of sobriety and intoxication: the beauty in (all) forms is reflected from Me.
که منم آن اصل اصل هوش و مست ** بر صور آن حسن عکس ما بدست