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
Where (is he now)? In the place where are the Attributes of (Divine) Mercy, and (the Divine) Power and Transcendence, and (celestial) Intelligence.3315
کو همان‌جا که صفات رحمتست ** قدرتست و نزهتست و فطنتست
Where (is he now)? In the same place where his heart and thought always dwelt, like the lion in his jungle.
کو همان‌جا که دل و اندیشه‌اش ** دایم آن‌جا بد چو شیر و بیشه‌اش
Where (is he now)? In that place whither the hope of (every) man and woman turns in the hour of anguish and sorrow.
کو همان‌جا که امید مرد و زن ** می‌رود در وقت اندوه و حزن
Where (is he now)? In the place to which in time of illness the eye takes wing in hope of (regaining) health—
کو همان‌جا که به وقت علتی ** چشم پرد بر امید صحتی
In that quarter where, in order to avert a calamity, you seek wind for (winnowing) the corn or (speeding) a ship (on its way);
آن طرف که بهر دفع زشتیی ** باد جویی بهر کشت و کشتیی
In that quarter which is signified by the heart when the tongue utters the expression ‘Yá Hú.’3320
آن طرف که دل اشارت می‌کند ** چون زبان یا هو عبارت می‌کند
He is always with God (and) beyond ‘where? where?’ (kú, kú). Would that like weavers I might have said má kú!
او مع‌الله است بی کو کو همی ** کاش جولاهانه ماکو گفتمی
Where is our reason, that it should (be able to) perceive the spiritual West and East (the universal Divine epiphany) flashing forth a hundred kinds of splendour?
عقل ما کو تا ببیند غرب و شرق ** روح‌ها را می‌زند صد گونه برق
His (the Khwája's) ebb and flow was caused by a (great) foaming Sea: (now) the ebb has ceased and (only) the flow remains.
جزر و مدش بد به بحری در زبد ** منتهی شد جزر و باقی ماند مد
I am nine thousand (dinars) in debt and have no resources: there are (only) a hundred dinars, (resulting) from this subscription.
نه هزارم وام و من بی دست‌رس ** هست صد دینار ازین توزیع و بس
God hath withdrawn thee (from this world) and I am left in agony: I am going (hence) in despair, O thou whose dust is sweet!3325
حق کشیدت ماندم در کش‌مکش ** می‌روم نومید ای خاک تو خوش
Keep in thy mind a prayer for thy grief-stricken (mourner), O thou whose face and hands and prayers are auspicious.
همتی می‌دار در پر حسرتت ** ای همایون روی و دست و همتت
I come to the spring and the source of (all) fountains: I find in it instead of water blood.
آمدم بر چشمه و اصل عیون ** یافتم در وی به جای آب خون
The sky is the same sky, (but) ’tis not the same moonlight: the river is the same river, (but) the water is not the same water.
چرخ آن چرخست آن مهتاب نیست ** جوی آن جویست آب آن آب نیست