The year has turned late; it is not sowing-time, (and you have produced) nothing except black shame and foul deeds.
سال بیگه گشت وقت کشت نی ** جز سیه رویی و فعل زشت نی
The worm has entered the root of the body's tree: it must be dug up and put in the fire.
کرم در بیخ درخت تن فتاد ** بایدش بر کند و در آتش نهاد
Hark and hark (again), O wayfarer! ’Tis late, life's sun is gone towards the pit (is about to set).1265
هین و هین ای راه رو بیگاه شد ** آفتاب عمر سوی چاه شد
(During) these (one or) two brief days when you have (some) strength, (be) quick, devote the old man (your old age) generously (to serving God).
این دو روزک را که زورت هست زود ** پیر افشانی بکن از راه جود
Devote this (small) amount of seed that you have remaining, in order that long life may grow from these (one or) two moments.
این قدر تخمی که مانده ستت بباز ** تا بروید زین دو دم عمر دراز
Whilst this jewelled lamp is not (yet) extinguished, see you trim its wick and (supply it with) oil immediately.
تا نمرده ست این چراغ با گهر ** هین فتیلهاش ساز و روغن زودتر
Beware! Do not say “To-morrow”—for (many) to-morrows have passed. Let not the days of sowing pass away altogether.
هین مگو فردا که فرداها گذشت ** تا به کلی نگذرد ایام کشت
Listen to my admonition that the body is a strong bond: put off the old, if you have desire for newness.1270
پند من بشنو که تن بند قوی است ** کهنه بیرون کن گرت میل نوی است
Shut the lips and open the palm filled with gold: leave off being a miser with the body, exhibit munificence.
لب ببند و کف پر زر بر گشا ** بخل تن بگذار و پیش آور سخا
Munificence is the abandonment of lusts and pleasures; no one who is sunken in lust rises up (again).
ترک شهوتها و لذتها سخاست ** هر که در شهوت فرو شد بر نخاست
This munificence is a branch of the cypress of Paradise: woe to him that lets such a branch go from his hand!
این سخا شاخی است از سرو بهشت ** وای او کز کف چنین شاخی بهشت
This abandonment of sensuality is the firmest handle: this branch draws the spirit up to Heaven.
عروة الوثقی است این ترک هوا ** بر کشد این شاخ جان را بر سما
(So act) that the branch of munificence, O righteous man, drawing you aloft may bear you to its origin.1275
تا برد شاخ سخا ای خوب کیش ** مر ترا بالا کشان تا اصل خویش
You are Joseph (full) of beauty, and this world is as the well, and this rope (to draw you forth) is patience with (submission to) the command of God.
یوسف حسنی و این عالم چو چاه ** وین رسن صبر است بر امر اله
O Joseph, the rope is come: put your two hands upon it. Do not neglect the rope, (for) it has grown late.
یوسفا آمد رسن در زن دو دست ** از رسن غافل مشو بیگه شده ست
Praise be to God, that this rope has been dangled, (and that) grace and mercy have been blended together,
حمد لله کین رسن آویختند ** فضل و رحمت را بهم آمیختند
So that you may behold the world of the new spirit, a world very manifest, (though) invisible.
تا ببینی عالم جان جدید ** عالم بس آشکار ناپدید
This (phenomenal) world of non-existence has become like (real) existence, while that world of (real) existence has become very hidden.1280
این جهان نیست چون هستان شده ** و آن جهان هست بس پنهان شده
The dust is on the wind: it is playing, it is making a false show and forming a veil.
خاک بر باد است و بازی میکند ** کژنمایی پرده سازی میکند
This, which is busy (in appearance), is (really) idle and (superficial, like) a husk; and that which is hidden is its core and origin.
اینکه بر کار است بیکار است و پوست ** و انکه پنهان است مغز و اصل اوست
The dust is as a tool in the hand of the wind: deem the wind high and of high descent.
خاک همچون آلتی در دست باد ** باد را دان عالی و عالی نژاد
The gaze of the eye of dust falls on the dust; an eye that sees the wind is of another sort.
چشم خاکی را به خاک افتد نظر ** باد بین چشمی بود نوعی دگر
A horse knows a horse, because it (one horse) is associated (homogeneous with other horses); likewise (only) a rider knows the things appertaining to a rider.1285
اسب داند اسب را کاو هست یار ** هم سواری داند احوال سوار
The sensuous eye is the horse, and the Light of God is the rider: without the rider the horse itself is useless.
چشم حس اسب است و نور حق سوار ** بیسواره اسب خود ناید به کار
Therefore train the horse (so as to cure it) of bad habits; else the horse will be rejected before the King.
پس ادب کن اسب را از خوی بد ** ور نه پیش شاه باشد اسب رد
The horse's eye finds the way from the King's eye: without the King's eye its eye is in desperate plight.
چشم اسب از چشم شه رهبر بود ** چشم او بیچشم شه مضطر بود
The eye of horses, whithersoever you call it except to grass and pasture, says, “Nay, why (should we go)?”
چشم اسبان جز گیاه و جز چرا ** هر کجا خوانی بگوید نه چرا
The Light of God mounts (as a rider) on the sensuous eye, and then the soul yearns after God.1290
نور حق بر نور حس راکب شود ** آن گهی جان سوی حق راغب شود
How should the riderless horse know the marks of the road? The King is needed (to ride it) in order that it may know the King's road.
اسب بیراکب چه داند رسم راه ** شاه باید تا بداند شاه راه
Go towards a sense on which the Light is riding: that Light is a good companion for the sense.
سوی حسی رو که نورش راکب است ** حس را آن نور نیکو صاحب است
The Light of God is an ornament to the light of sense: this is the meaning of light upon light.
نور حس را نور حق تزیین بود ** معنی نور علی نور این بود
The light of sense draws (a man) towards earth; the Light of God bears him aloft,
نور حسی میکشد سوی ثری ** نور حقش میبرد سوی علی
Because sensible things are a lower world: the Light of God is (as) the sea, and the sense as a dew-drop.1295
ز انکه محسوسات دونتر عالمی است ** نور حق دریا و حس چون شبنمی است
But that which rides on it (on the sense) is not manifested save by good effects and words.
لیک پیدا نیست آن راکب بر او ** جز به آثار و به گفتار نکو
The sensuous light, which is gross and heavy, is hidden in the black of the eyes.
نور حسی کاو غلیظ است و گران ** هست پنهان در سواد دیدهگان
Inasmuch as you are not seeing the light of sense with (your) eye, how should you see the light of that religious one (the saint) with (your) eye?
چون که نور حس نمیبینی ز چشم ** چون ببینی نور آن دینی ز چشم
The light of sense is hidden notwithstanding this grossness: how (then) should not that radiance be hidden which is pure (and subtle)?
نور حس با این غلیظی مختفی است ** چون خفی نبود ضیایی کان صفی است
This world, like straws in the hand (control) of the wind (which is) the (world) unseen, is a helpless object before the power and sway of the Unseen1300
این جهان چون خس به دست باد غیب ** عاجزی پیش گرفت و داد غیب
It (this control) makes it now lofty, now low; makes it now sound (and whole), now broken;
See (how) the Hand (is) hidden, while the pen is writing; the horse careering, while the Rider is invisible.
دست پنهان و قلم بین خط گزار ** اسب در جولان و ناپیدا سوار
See the arrow flying, and the Bow not in sight; the (individual) souls manifest, and the Soul of souls hidden.
تیر پران بین و ناپیدا کمان ** جانها پیدا و پنهان جان جان
Do not break the arrow, for it is the arrow of a King; it is not shot at long range (at random), it is from the thumb-stall of One who knows (how to hit the target).1305
تیر را مشکن که این تیر شهی است ** تیر پرتابی ز شصت آگهی است
God said, “Thou didst not throw when thou threwest”: the action of God has precedence over (our) actions.
ما رمیت إذ رمیت گفت حق ** کار حق بر کارها دارد سبق
Break your own anger, do not break the arrow: the eye of your anger reckons milk (to be) blood.
خشم خود بشکن تو مشکن تیر را ** چشم خشمت خون شمارد شیر را
Give the arrow a kiss and bring it to the King—the blood-stained arrow, wet with your blood.
بوسه ده بر تیر و پیش شاه بر ** تیر خون آلود از خون تو تر
That which is seen is helpless and confined and feeble; and that which is unseen is so fierce and uncontrollable.
آن چه پیدا عاجز و بسته و زبون ** و آن چه ناپیدا چنان تند و حرون
We are the (hunted) prey: to whom belongs such a (fearful) snare? We are the ball (for the blows) of the polo-bat—and where is the Batsman?1310
ما شکاریم این چنین دامی کراست ** گوی چوگانیم چوگانی کجاست
He tears, He sews: where is this Tailor? He blows, He burns: where is this Fire-kindler?
میدرد میدوزد این خیاط کو ** میدمد میسوزد این نفاط کو
At one hour He makes the true saint an unbeliever; at another hour He makes the (impious) deist an (orthodox) ascetic;