1Cademy - (۷) حکایت شیخ ابوسعید با معشوق خویش / (7) The Tale of Sheikh Abu Said with His Beloved

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Elahi Nameh

Poem

(۷) حکایت شیخ ابوسعید با معشوق خویش / (7) The Tale of Sheikh Abu Sa'id with His Beloved

Original content

فرستادست شیخ مهنه سه چیز
خلالی و کلاهی و شکر نیز

بر معشوق، چون معشوق آن دید
بنپذیرفت کز مخلوق آن دید

بخادم گفت با شیخت چنین گوی
که ما را باز شد کلی ازین خوی

خلال آن را بکار آید که پیوست
بجز خون خوردنش چیزی دهد دست

چو من خون خوارهٔ پیوسته باشم
تو دانی کز خلالت رسته باشم

شکر آن را بکار آید که از قهر
نباید خوردنش یک شربتی زهر

چو این تلخی نخواهد شد ز کامم
تو دانی کین شکر باشد حرامم

کلاه آن را بود لایق که سر داشت
و یا از سر سرموئی خبر داشت

کسی کو چون گریبان بی سر آید
کجا هرگز کلاهش در خور آید

سه چیز تو ترا ای زندگانی
مرا یک چیز بس دیگر تو دانی

کسی کو نقد خورشید الهی
بدست آرد دگر داند ملاهی

اگر تو برگ سر عشق داری
به بی برگی تو دایم سردرآری

که گر این سر همی خوانی جهانی
نمی باید سر خویشت زمانی

که چون از شمع سر یابد جدائی
سواد جمع یابد روشنائی

قلم را سر بریدن سخت زیباست
وگرنه زو نه بیند کس خطی راست

چو برخیزی ز باطل حق دهندت
مقید بفگنی مطلق دهندت

ز پیش خویشتن بر بایدت خاست
که تا این کار بنشیند ترا راست

که تا با خویش می آئی تو پیوست
هم آنگاهی شود معشوق از دست

English translation

The Sheikh of Mehneh sent three things: A toothpick, a hat, and also sugar, To his beloved. When the beloved saw them, They did not accept them, seeing them as coming from a mortal creature. They said to the servant, 'Tell your Sheikh thus: That we have been completely freed from such habits. A toothpick is of use to someone who constantly Eats something other than their own blood. Since I am constantly drinking blood (suffering in love), You know that I am exempt from your toothpick. Sugar is of use to someone who, from wrath, Does not have to drink a draft of poison. Since this bitterness will not depart from my palate, You know that this sugar is forbidden to me. A hat is fitting for someone who possesses a head, Or has even a hair's breadth of awareness of their head. Someone who, like a collar, comes headless, How could a hat ever be suitable for them? Keep your three things to yourself, O life! One thing is enough for me, you know the rest. Someone who obtains the coin of the divine sun, Considers everything else as mere playthings. If you desire the provision of the mystery of love, You will constantly end up in utter destitution. For if you proclaim this mystery to be a whole world, You must not desire your own head (self) for a moment. For when the candle is separated from its head, The dark gathering finds illumination. Cutting off the head of the pen is truly beautiful, Otherwise, no one will see a straight line drawn from it. When you rise from falsehood, they grant you the Truth, When you cast away the bound, they grant you the Absolute. You must rise up from before your own self, So that this endeavor may sit right with you. For as long as you continually return to yourself, At that very moment, the beloved slips from your grasp.'

Updated 2026-07-03

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