To him that hath chosen solitude, of the spectacle is what need? When the street of the Beloved is, of the desert is what need?
O Soul! By the need of God that is thine, At last, a moment, ask, saying: “Ours is what need?”
O Sovereign of beauty! For God’s sake, I consumed. At last ask, saying: The beggar’s, is what need?
We are the Lords of need, and is no tongue to question: In the presence of the Merciful One, petitioning is what need?
If intention be Thine against our life, there is no need of pretence: When the chattels are Thine, of plunder, is what need?
The cup, world-displaying is the luminous mind of the Friend: Then, of the revealing of my own necessity is what need?
Past is that time when I used to bear the burden of favor of the Sailor: When the jewel appeared, of the Ocean is what need?
O beggar-lover! when the soul-giving lip of the Beloved Knoweth thee, petitioning for an allowance is what need?
O pretender! go: I have naught with thee: Dear friends are present. Of enemies is what need?
Hafez! End thy verse: for skill itself becometh clear: Disputation and contention with the pretender is what need?
