The form of every blessing and affliction is a Hell to this one, a Paradise to that one.
صورت هر نعمتی و محنتی ** هست این را دوزخ آن را جنتی
Therefore (though) ye see all bodies and things, and there is food and poison in them (all)—ye see (it) not.
پس همه اجسام و اشیا تبصرون ** واندرو قوتست و سم لاتبصرون
Every body resembles a bowl or a pot, wherein is both food and a (cause of) heart-burning.
هست هر جسمی چو کاسه و کوزهای ** اندرو هم قوت و هم دلسوزهای
The bowl is visible, the plenty (contained) in it is hidden: (only) he who tastes it (the contents) knows what he is eating or drinking from it.
کاسه پیدا اندرو پنهان رغد ** طاعمش داند کزان چه میخورد
The form of Joseph was like a beauteous cup: from it his father drank a hundred exhilarating wines.3300
صورت یوسف چو جامی بود خوب ** زان پدر میخورد صد بادهی طروب
Again, to his brethren (the draught they took) from it was poisoned water which was increasing in them anger and hatred.
باز اخوان را از آن زهراب بود ** کان دریشان خشم و کینه میفزود
Again, to Zalíkhá (the draught she took) from it was (sweet as) sugar: she was quaffing a different opiate from (the hand of) Love.
باز از وی مر زلیخا را سکر ** میکشید از عشق افیونی دگر
The nutriment which came from Joseph to that fair one was other than that which came to Jacob.
غیر آنچ بود مر یعقوب را ** بود از یوسف غذا آن خوب را
The sherbets are various, but the pot is one, in order that no doubt may remain in thee concerning the wine of the Unseen.
گونهگونه شربت و کوزه یکی ** تا نماند در می غیبت شکی
The wine belongs to the Unseen, the pot to this world: the pot is apparent, the wine in it is very hidden:3305
باده از غیبست و کوزه زین جهان ** کوزه پیدا باده در وی بس نهان
Very hidden from the eyes of the uninitiated, but manifest and evident to the adept.
بس نهان از دیدهی نامحرمان ** لیک بر محرم هویدا و عیان
O my God, our eyes have been intoxicated. Forgive us: our burdens have been made heavy.
یا الهی سکرت ابصارنا ** فاعف عنا اثقلت اوزارنا
O concealed One who hast filled (the world) from East to West (with Thy radiance) and art exalted above the light of the Orient and the Occident,
یا خفیا قد ملات الخافقین ** قد علوت فوق نور المشرقین
Thou art an inmost Ground of consciousness revealing our inmost thoughts, Thou art a bursting (Force) that causes our (dammed-up) rivers to burst forth.
انت سر کاشف اسرارنا ** انت فجر مفجر انهارنا
O Thou whose Essence is hidden while Thy gifts are sensible, Thou art as the water and we as the millstone.3310
یا خفی الذات محسوس العطا ** انت کالماء و نحن کالرحا
Thou art as the wind and we as the dust: the wind is hidden while the dust blown by it is plainly visible.
انت کالریح و نحن کالغبار ** تختفی الریح و غبراها جهار
Thou art the Spring, we are fair as the verdant orchard: it (the Spring) is hidden while its bounty is manifest.
تو بهاری ما چو باغ سبز خوش ** او نهان و آشکارا بخششش
Thou art as the spirit, we are like hand and foot: the closing and opening of the hand is due to the spirit.
تو چو جانی ما مثال دست و پا ** قبض و بسط دست از جان شد روا
Thou art as the reason, we are like this tongue: this tongue hath its (power of) expression from the reason.
تو چو عقلی ما مثال این زبان ** این زبان از عقل دارد این بیان
Thou art like the joy, and we are the laughter, for we are the result of (Thy) blessed joy.3315
تو مثال شادی و ما خندهایم ** که نتیجهی شادی فرخندهایم
(All) our movement (action) is really a continual profession of faith which bears witness to the Eternal Almighty One.
جنبش ما هر دمی خود اشهدست ** که گواه ذوالجلال سرمدست
The turning of the millstone in agitation is a profession of faith in the existence of the waterbrook.
گردش سنگ آسیا در اضطراب ** اشهد آمد بر وجود جوی آب
O Thou who art beyond my conception and utterance, dust be on the head of me and my similes!
ای برون از وهم و قال و قیل من ** خاک بر فرق من و تمثیل من
Thy servant cannot refrain from depicting Thy beauty: every moment he says to Thee, “May my soul be Thy carpet!”
بنده نشکیبد ز تصویر خوشت ** هر دمت گوید که جانم مفرشت
(He is) like the shepherd who used to say, “O God, come to Thy shepherd and lover,3320
همچو آن چوپان که میگفت ای خدا ** پیش چوپان و محب خود بیا