The cloud's shadow falls on the earth: the shadow never consorts with the moon.
ابر را سایه بیفتد در زمین ** ماه را سایه نباشد همنشین
Selflessness is cloudlessness, O well-disposed one: in (the state of) selflessness thou wilt be like the orb of the moon.
بیخودی بیابریست ای نیکخواه ** باشی اندر بیخودی چون قرص ماه
Again, when a cloud comes, driven along, the light goes: of the moon there remains (only) a phantom.685
باز چون ابری بیاید رانده ** رفت نور از مه خیالی مانده
Its light is made feeble by the cloud-veil: that noble full-moon becomes less than the new moon.
از حجاب ابر نورش شد ضعیف ** کم ز ماه نو شد آن بدر شریف
The moon is made to appear a phantom by clouds and dust: the cloud, (which is) the body, has caused us to conceive phantasies.
مه خیالی مینماید ز ابر و گرد ** ابر تن ما را خیالاندیش کرد
Behold the kindness of the (Divine) Moon; for this too is His kindness, that He hath said, ‘The clouds are enemies to Us.’
لطف مه بنگر که این هم لطف اوست ** که بگفت او ابرها ما را عدوست
The Moon is independent of clouds and dust: the Moon hath His orbit aloft in the (spiritual) sky.
مه فراغت دارد از ابر و غبار ** بر فراز چرخ دارد مه مدار
The cloud is our mortal enemy and adversary because it hides the Moon from our eyes.690
ابر ما را شد عدو و خصم جان ** که کند مه را ز چشم ما نهان
This veil makes the houri (to appear as) a hag: it makes the full-moon less than a new moon.
حور را این پرده زالی میکند ** بدر را کم از هلالی میکند
The Moon hath seated us in the lap of glory: He hath called our foe His enemy.
ماه ما را در کنار عز نشاند ** دشمن ما را عدوی خویش خواند
The splendour and beauty of the cloud is (derived) from the Moon, (but) whoever calls the cloud the Moon is much astray.
تاب ابر و آب او خود زین مهست ** هر که مه خواند ابر را بس گمرهست
Since the light of the Moon has been poured down upon the cloud, its (the cloud's) dark face has been transfigured by the Moon.
نور مه بر ابر چون منزل شدست ** روی تاریکش ز مه مبدل شدست
Although it is of the same colour as the Moon and is associated with (the Moon's) empire, (yet) in the cloud the light of the Moon is (only) borrowed (impermanent).695
گرچه همرنگ مهست و دولتیست ** اندر ابر آن نور مه عاریتیست
At the Resurrection the sun and moon are discharged (from their office): the eye is occupied in (contemplating) the Source of (their) radiance,
در قیامت شمس و مه معزول شد ** چشم در اصل ضیا مشغول شد
In order that it may know (distinguish) the (permanent) possession from the (temporary) loan, and this perishable caravanseray from the everlasting abode.
تا بداند ملک را از مستعار ** وین رباط فانی از دارالقرار
The nurse is borrowed for three or four days: do thou, O Mother, take us into thy bosom!
دایه عاریه بود روزی سه چار ** مادرا ما را تو گیر اندر کنار
My feathers are (like) the cloud and are a veil and gross: (only) by the reflexion of God's loveliness are they made lovely.
پر من ابرست و پردهست و کثیف ** ز انعکاس لطف حق شد او لطیف
I will pluck my feathers and their beauty from the Way (to God), that I may behold the Moon's beauty (by immediate illumination) from the Moon.700
بر کنم پر را و حسنش را ز راه ** تا ببینم حسن مه را هم ز ماه
I do not want the nurse; (my) Mother is fairer. I am (like) Moses: (my) Mother (herself) is my nurse.
من نخواهم دایه مادر خوشترست ** موسیام من دایهی من مادرست
I do not want (to enjoy) the loveliness of the Moon through an intermediary, for this link is perdition to the people;
من نخواهم لطف مه از واسطه ** که هلاک قوم شد این رابطه
Unless (the intermediary be) a cloud (that) becomes naughted in the Way (to God) in order that it may not be a veil to the face of the Moon.
یا مگر ابری شود فانی راه ** تا نگردد او حجاب روی ماه
In the aspect of lá (self-negation) it (such a cloud) displays His (the Moon's) form, like the bodies of the prophets and saints.
صورتش بنماید او در وصف لا ** همچو جسم انبیا و اولیا
Such a cloud is not veil-tying; it is in reality veil-tearing (and) salutary.705
آنچنان ابری نباشد پردهبند ** پردهدر باشد به معنی سودمند
’Tis as when, on a bright morning, drops of rain were falling though there was no cloud above (in the sky).
آنچنان که اندر صباح روشنی ** قطره میبارید و بالا ابر نی
That water-skin was a miracle of the Prophet: from self-effacement the cloud (which replenished it) had become of the same colour as the sky.
معجزهی پیغامبری بود آن سقا ** گشته ابر از محو همرنگ سما