As the evening of life drew near and the dark shadow of age descended upon the mortal frame, a tragic lament arose from the depth of the poet's soul, calling out to the revolving heavens: 'O soaring firmament, why hast thou cast me down into bitter wretchedness in my old age? When I was young, thou didst hold me close in thy embrace; why now abandon me to cold humiliation? The triumphant rose of youth turns pale, and the soft silk of vitality is shredded into thorns of affliction. The proud cypress of the garden now bows low, and the precious lamp of life grows dim. White snow has fallen upon the dark mountains of hair, and no loyalty or wisdom is found in thy dark turnings. Would that thou hadst never raised me, rather than nurturing me only to torment my soul! When I pass beyond this cosmic darkness, I shall recount thy tyranny before the Almighty Sovereign Judge.'
Yet the high sphere responded through the celestial calm: 'O eloquent seeker of truth, free of malice! Why attribute the ebbs and flows of destiny unto me? How does such lamentation suit a soul imbued with wisdom? Thou art superior to me in every measure, for thou hast nourished thy spirit with knowledge. Neither I, nor the sun, nor the moon hold the secrets of fate. Thy sleeping, thy eating, thy intellect, and thy paths to good or evil are beyond my reach. Seek thy way from Him who created the path itself—He who fashioned night and day, sun and moon; the One whose existence has no beginning and no end, who speaks the Word and all things come to be. I am but a bound servant of His divine justice, rotating only by His supreme command. Turn then thy heart to Yazdan, take refuge in the Almighty, acknowledge Him alone as the Illuminator of Venus, Moon, and Sun, and send eternal blessings upon the soul of Muhammad and his companions!'
#1
الا ای برآورده چرخ بلند
✦
چه داری به پیری مرا مستمند
“O exalted revolving sphere, why do you keep me so wretched in my old age?”
#2
چو بودم جوان در برم داشتی
✦
به پیری چرا خوار بگذاشتی
“When I was young, you embraced me closely; why have you left me so despisable in my old age?”
#3
همی زرد گردد گل کامگار
✦
همی پرنیان گردد از رنج خار
“The triumphant rose turns yellow, and the fine silk transforms into thorns of affliction.”
#4
دو تا گشت آن سرو نازان به باغ
✦
همان تیره گشت آن گرامی چراغ
“That graceful cypress in the garden has bowed, and that cherished lamp has turned dim.”
#5
پر از برف شد کوهسار سیاه
✦
همی لشکر از شاه بیند گناه
“The dark mountain peak is now covered with snow; the army sees only fault in its king.”
#6
به کردار مادر بدی تاکنون
✦
همی ریخت باید ز رنج تو خون
“Until now you were like a mother to me; yet now from your distress, my blood must spill.”
#7
وفا و خرد نیست نزدیک تو
✦
پر از رنجم از رای تاریک تو
“Neither loyalty nor wisdom resides near you; I am filled with suffering from your dark counsel.”
#8
مرا کاچ هرگز نپروردییی
✦
چو پرورده بودی نیازردییی
“Would that you had never nurtured me at all; or having raised me, had not tormented me so!”
#9
هرانگه که زین تیرگی بگذرم
✦
بگویم جفای تو با داورم
“Whenever I pass beyond this darkness, I shall recount your tyranny to my Sovereign Judge.”
#10
بنالم ز تو پیش یزدان پاک
✦
خروشان به‌سربر پراگنده خاک
“I shall cry out against you before pure God, lamenting aloud with dust scattered upon my head.”
#11
چنین داد پاسخ سپهر بلند
✦
که ای مرد گویندهٔ بی‌گزند
“Thus responded the high sphere: 'O eloquent man, free of harm!'”
#12
چرا بینی از من همی نیک و بد
✦
چنین ناله از دانشی کی سزد
“'Why do you perceive both good and evil as coming from me? How does such lamentation suit a man of wisdom?'”
#13
تو از من به هر باره‌ای برتری
✦
روان را به دانش همی‌پروری
“'You are superior to me in every respect, for you nourish your spirit with wisdom.'”
#14
بدین هرچ گفتی مرا راه نیست
✦
خور و ماه زین دانش آگاه نیست
“'I have no path to all that you have spoken; neither the Sun nor the Moon is aware of this secret.'”
#15
خور و خواب و رای و نشست ترا
✦
به نیک و به بد راه و دست ترا
“'Your eating, sleeping, wisdom, and demeanor—the path and power over your good and bad—are not in my hands.'”
#16
ازان خواه راهت که راه آفرید
✦
شب و روز و خورشید و ماه آفرید
“'Seek your path from Him who created the path, who fashioned night and day, the sun and the moon!'”
#17
یکی آنک هستیش را راز نیست
✦
به کاریش فرجام و آغاز نیست
“'The One whose existence holds no secret, and whose works have neither end nor beginning.'”
#18
چو گوید بباش آنچ خواهد بُدست
✦
کسی کو جزین داند آن بیهده‌ست
“'When He says 'Be!', whatever He wills comes to pass; whoever believes otherwise speaks in vain.'”
#19
من از داد چون تو یکی بنده‌ام
✦
پرستندهٔ آفریننده‌ام
“'I am merely a bound servant of His justice like you, a worshipper of the Almighty Creator.'”
#20
نگردم همی جز به فرمان اوی
✦
نیارم گذشتن ز پیمان اوی
“'I rotate only by His command, and I dare not transcend His eternal covenant.'”
#21
به یزدان گرای و به یزدان پناه
✦
براندازه زو هرچ باید بخواه
“'Turn to God and seek shelter in God; ask of Him whatever you require, according to your measure.'”
#22
جز او را مخوان کردگار سپهر
✦
فروزندهٔ ماه و ناهید و مهر
“'Call none other the Creator of the heavens—the Illuminator of the Moon, Venus, and the Sun.'”
#23
وزو بر روان محمد درود
✦
به یارانش بر هر یکی برفزود
“'And from Him let blessings rest upon the soul of Muhammad, and abound upon each of his companions.'”