غزل شمارهٔ 863

The fire the day before yesterday whispered secretly to the smoke, “The aloes-wood cannot rest without me, and with me it is happy.

It knows well my worth, and expresses thanks to me, for the aloes-wood has perceived that in its passing away there is profit.

The aloes-wood was knotted and tied from head to foot; in the release of nonexistence these knots were resolved.

Hail and welcome to you, my flame-eating friend, my passeraway and martyr and pride of all witnesses.”

See how heaven and earth are pawns of existence; flee into nonexistence from the blindness of the one and the blueness of the other.

Every soul which flees away from poverty and nonexistence is misfortune fleeing away from prosperity and good fortune.

Without expunging, no one profits from the tablet of nonexistence; make peace between me and expunging, O loving One!

Until yonder dark earth passed away from itself, it did not begin to augment or escape from inertia.

So long as sperm was sperm and did not become obliterated from seminal fluid, it attained not the cypress’ stature nor the cheeks’ beauty.

When bread and broth ferment in the intestines, they then become reason and soul, the despair of the envious.

So long as black rock did not pass away from itself, it did not become gold and silver, neither found its way into coins.

First comes lowliness and bondage, then afterwards there is kingship; in the ritual prayer men first stand, and then sit.

For a lifetime you have made trial of your own being; once it is also necessary to experience not-being.

The pomp and pride of poverty and passing-away is no empty boast; whenever smoke appears, it is not without a fire.

If our minds and desires belong not to love, how did love wantonly rob us of heart and turban?

Love entered, and draws us along by the ear every morning to the school of those who fulfil their covenants.

Love sets flowing the water of penitence from the eye of the believer, to wash his breast clean of anger and stubborn denial.

You are fallen asleep and the water of Khid.ar splashes beside you; leap up from slumber and seize the goblet of immortality.

Let love tell you the rest of it secretly from me; be one with the Companions of the Cave, alike sleeping and waking.