1. How we have lowered our wings for the ignorant
And excused them, yet they did not excuse us

2. Tell them, O wise ones
We are the community of poets

3. The secret of prophecy manifests within us
Remind them, for great goodness

4. Was done by the guides through reminding
Humans are but of dust and light

5. Thus the people of light worship the light
And the people of clay worship the clay

6. It was said our mansions are of illusion
Vanishing in the morning and evening glow

7. Or lines in water upon the water
Had you resided in our mansions but an hour

8. You'd forget your months and years
Had you entered the sanctuaries of inspiration

9. And roamed the world of dreams
And grasped the noble secret of imagination

10. And known God as we have known God
You would have fallen before us, prostrate

11. Life has given us a bitter cup to drink
Of pleasant taste and flavor

12. And we have given our companions to drink
We have found them confused and drunk

13. Wishing they did not comprehend us
Your concern is with cups and goblets

14. Oh, if only your concern were with the drink
You'd shed the shackles of dust from yourselves

15. And feel the pleasure or torment
This wine, if only you would drink it

16. You say he is mad
You say he is possessed

17. You say he is a wretched poet
How many kings, leaders and ministers

18. Would have wished to be that wretched poet
Who lived forgotten so let him not be mentioned

19. And Homer like an old blind man
And ibn Burd indeed died poor

20. Have you seen what the blind have seen
Are you not by their light guided