راهب الماضين أفلاط الحكيم
من فريق الضأن في الدهر القديم
The hermit philosopher of past ages
Of the ancient flock astray in eras gone
طرفه في ظلمة المعقول ضل
في حزون الكون قد أعيا وكل
His mind lost in the darkness of abstract thought
Exhausted in the universe's sadness and fatigue
فكره في غير محسوس فتن
صد عن كف وعين وأذن
His thoughts seduced by the imperceptible
Turned away from palm, eye, and ear
قال في الموت بدا سر الحياه
في خمود الشمع يزداد سناه
He said that in death appears life’s secret
In the candle's extinguished flame grows its radiance
حكمه في فكرنا جد عظيم
يمحق الدنيا له جام منيم
His wisdom in our minds most sublime
Obliterating the world, he drinks a chalice of sleep
هو شاة في لباس الآدمي
وهو في الصوفي ذو بأس قوي
He's a sheep in human clothing
And in Sufi garb, his power is strong
عالم الأشياء سماه الهراء
وعلت أفكاره فوق السماء
The world of things he called delusion
And his thoughts ascended above the sky
فعله تحليل أجزاء الحياه
وجفاف النبع من ماء الحياه
His act is analyzing life’s parts
And drying up the spring of the water of life
زعم الخسران ربحا فكره
ودعا الكون فناء سحره
He claimed loss as profit in his thinking
And called the universe the magic of extinction
فكره يغفى ورؤيا يخلق
عينه تبصر آلا يبرق
His thoughts slumber and visions he creates
His eyes see though they do not flash
حرم المسكين حب العمل
فقفا معدومه لا يأتلى
He denied the poor the love of work
So his feet remain unmoving and idle
منكرا في الكون مالا يفقد
خالقا في الكون ما لا يشهد
Denying in the universe what cannot be lost
Creating in the universe what cannot be witnessed
عالم الإمكان للحي وطن
عالم الأعيان للميت حسن
The world of potency a home for the living
The world of entities goodness for the dead
ظبيه من خفة لا يجفل
غير خطار لديه الحجل
A gazelle of such lightness he does not startle
Without forethought or consideration near him
لم يلألئ عنده قطر الندى
طيره ما فيه صوت قد شدا
No drops of dew gather around him
His bird has no voice that chants
حبة في أرضه تأبى النماء
وفراش عنده يقلي الضياء
No seed in his ground will grow
No moth around him kindles light
في وغى العالم نكس محجم
مشفق راهبنا لا يقدم
In the tumult of the world, our hermit shrinks
His heart aroused by a dormant fire
قلبه يعشو لنار خامده
صورت عيناه دنيا هاجده
His eyes envision a bowing world
He flew from the nest to the highest summit
طار من عش إلى الأوج العلي
ثم لم يرجع إلى العش الخلي
Then did not return to the empty nest
Some people were ruined by this intoxication
هلك أقوام بهذا الثمل
حرموا بالنوم ذوق العمل
Deprived by sleep of the taste of work
