I know that God will give thee yonder an everlasting sovereignty in compensation.
دانم آنجا در مکافات ایزدت ** سروری جاودانه بخشدت
In hope of thy (open) hand as (bountiful as) the ocean and (in reliance) upon thy giving (me) a stipend and discharging (my obligations) in full,
بر امید کف چون دریای تو ** بر وظیفه دادن و ایفای تو
I recklessly incurred debts (amounting to) nine thousand pieces of gold: where art thou, that these dregs may become clear?
وام کردم نه هزار از زر گزاف ** تو کجایی تا شود این درد صاف
Where art thou, that laughing like the (verdant) garden thou mayst say, ‘Receive that (sum) and ten times as much from me’?3300
تو کجایی تا که خندان چون چمن ** گویی بستان آن و ده چندان ز من
Where art thou, that thou mayst make me laughing (flourishing) and show favour and beneficence as lords (are wont to do)?
تو کجایی تا مرا خندان کنی ** لطف و احسان چون خداوندان کنی
Where art thou, that thou mayst take me into thy treasury and make me secure from debt and poverty?—
تو کجایی تا بری در مخزنم ** تا کنی از وام و فاقه آمنم
(Whilst) I am saying continually, ‘Enough!’ and thou, my bounteous friend, replying, ‘Accept this too for my heart's sake.’
من همی‌گویم بس و تو مفضلم ** گفته کین هم گیر از بهر دلم
How can a world (microcosm) be contained under the clay (of the body)? How should a Heaven be contained in the earth?
چون همی‌گنجد جهانی زیر طین ** چون بگنجد آسمانی در زمین
God forfend! Thou art beyond this world both in thy lifetime and at the present hour.3305
حاش لله تو برونی زین جهان ** هم به وقت زندگی هم این زمان
A bird is flying in the atmosphere of the Unseen: its shadow falls on a piece of earth.
در هوای غیب مرغی می‌پرد ** سایه‌ی او بر زمینی می‌زند
The body is the shadow of the shadow of the shadow of the heart: how is the body worthy of the (lofty) rank of the heart?
جسم سایه‌ی سایه‌ی سایه‌ی دلست ** جسم کی اندر خور پایه‌ی دلست
A man lies asleep: his spirit is shining in Heaven, like the sun, while his body is in bed.
مرد خفته روح او چون آفتاب ** در فلک تابان و تن در جامه خواب
His spirit is hidden in the Void, like the fringe (sewn inside a garment): his body is turning to and fro beneath the coverlet.
جان نهان اندر خلا هم‌چون سجاف ** تن تقلب می‌کند زیر لحاف
Since the spirit, being from the command of my Lord, is invisible, every similitude that I may utter (concerning it) is denying (the truth of the description).3310
روح چون من امر ربی مختفیست ** هر مثالی که بگویم منتفیست
Oh, where, I wonder, is thy sugar-shedding ruby (lip) and those sweet replies and mysteries of thine?
ای عجب کو لعل شکربار تو ** وان جوابات خوش و اسرار تو
Oh, where, I wonder, is that candy-chewing cornelian (lip), the key to the lock of our perplexities?
ای عجب کو آن عقیق قندخا ** آن کلید قفل مشکل‌های ما
Oh, where, I wonder, is that breath (keen) as Dhu ’l-faqár, that used to make our understandings distraught?
ای عجب کو آن دم چون ذوالفقار ** آنک کردی عقل‌ها را بی‌قرار
How long, like a ringdove seeking her nest, (shall I cry) ‘where (kú) and where and where and where and where and where?’
چند هم‌چون فاخته کاشانه‌جو ** کو و کو و کو و کو و کو و کو