Have you ever known a wine which has no hangover?
Have you ever picked a rose which has no thorns?
Have you ever seen a spring
in the rose garden of this muddy world
which has no autumn?
When sorrow comes your way, run. Return to God.
Have you ever met anyone
who listens to troubles better than God?
Do God’s work. Carry God’s load.
Have you ever seen anyone
who has the same work or actions?
Have you ever met a heart
which has become a dustless, dirtless mirror for manifestation
without the polish of His compassion?
Have you ever seen any image which doesn’t bore the heart
except the image of that Beauty who has no peer?
Tell me, O heart, have you ever seen any joy
which is not mixed with sorrow?
Have you ever seen a safe, secure place to fly
in a clean, pure and orderly world?
Take refuge in that safe cave, like the dog of Ashab-i Kehf.*
Since you have seen a hunter, hide in that cave.
Close your lips and heed the warnings.
Open your eyes to belief.
If the evil eye harms you,
Shams of Tebriz will hold your hand.
*Ashab-i Kehf Legend of a cave where people and dogs slept, hidden, for many years.
Divan-i Kebir, Volume 9, Ghazal 157, verses 1593-1603 pages 240-241.