كان لي قلبٌ فلما ارتحل

بقي الجسمُ محلّ العِلل

I had a heart; when it departed,

the body remained, an abode of maladies.

كان بدراً طالعاً إذ أتى

مغرب التوحيد ثم أفل

It was a full moon rising when it came

to the sunset-place of Oneness, and then it set.

زاده شوقاً إلى ربّه

صاحبُ الصعقة يومَ الجبل

Its longing for its Lord was increased

by the man of the thunderstroke on the day of the Mountain.

لم يزل يشكو الجوى والنوى

ليلةَ الإثنين حتى اتصل

It never ceased lamenting passion’s fire and separation

on Monday night, until it was joined.

فدنا من حضرةٍ لم تزل

تهبُ الأرواحَ سرّ الأزلْ

Then it drew near a Presence that has never ceased

bestowing on spirits the secret of pre-eternity.

قرعَ الأبوابَ لمّا دنا

قيل من أنت فقال الحجل

It knocked at the doors when it drew near.

It was asked, “Who are you?” It answered, “The partridge.”

قيل أهلاً سعة مرحباً

فُتح البابُ فلما دخل

It was told, “Welcome—ample room, and welcome!”

The door was opened, and when it entered,

خرَّ في حضرته ساجداً

وانمحى رسم البقا وانسجل

it fell prostrate in His Presence.

The trace of remaining was effaced and flowed away.

وشكا العهد فجاء النِدا

يا عبيدي زال وقتُ العمل

It complained of the covenant, and the call came:

“O My little servant, gone is the time for deeds.

رأسك ارفع هذه حضرتي

وأنا الحقُّ فلا تنتعل

Raise your head: this is My Presence,

and I am the Real, so do not put on sandals.

رأسك ارفع ما الذي تبتغي

قلت مولاي حلولُ الأجل

Raise your head. What is it you seek?”

I said, “My Lord, the arrival of the appointed end.”

قال سجني قال مت واعلمن

أنّ في السجنِ بلوغَ الأمل

He said, “My prison.” Then He said, “Die, and know for certain

that within the prison lies the fulfillment of hope.”

يا فؤادي قد وصلت له

قل له قولَ حبيبٍ مُدِل

O my heart, you have reached Him;

speak to Him as a beloved bold in love’s favor:

لولا ذاتي لم يصح استوى

وبنوري صح ضربُ المثَل

“Were it not for my essence, His establishment would not hold true,

and by my light the likeness was rightly set forth.”