Translation – Divan Shams

Why think this ethereal thing is the soul And a nugget of gold a treasured goal? In search of gold, digging deep, why? Thinking the…

That barbed wire on your path is the mind Cut the wire and your path clearly find. Heart trickster, soul veil and mind bind To…

My beloved I once saw Around the room pace & dance Plucking the strings in awe Singing in a state of trance Fingers fiery flame…

Hawk told the statue over land I glide Statue said, “I’m fine, enjoy your ride.” When I am glad, I can go to sleep But…

Why think thus O men of piety I have returned to sobriety I am neither a Moslem nor a Hindu I am not Christian, Zoroastrian,…

Separation from companions is unwise Treading the path without light is unwise If the throne and scepter have been your prize Descent from prince to…

My beloved came to my side Revived the place where I reside I said tonight you are my fellow My temptress, my joy implied. Said,…

I am enslaved to fate, of all else say no more With a sweet tongue speak, else I plea say no more Speak not of…

When we enter the excitement of the night We’ll amass gifts from the ocean of the night The night veils the unseen witness from sight…

Spring is nigh, spring is nigh Beautiful spring has come by The whole world is green and fresh Tulips raise their heads up high. Listen…

Multi-layered existence I know not, I know not The magical artist of time I know not, I know not Hardship, struggle, confusion, I am taught,…

I am enslaved to fate Other than fate say not a thing Honey is sweet, tastes great Other than great say not a thing Of…

You closed your eyes, meaning it’s time to sleep It is not sleep, that upon your enemies heap. You know that a close watch we…

Tell me, is sugar sweeter Or He who makes sugar cane? Beauty of the moon is better Or He who makes it wax and wane?…

Lovers alas, lovers alas Whoever sees that faceless face Confusion in him amass Desperation will embrace. For beloved cross every pass Worldly affairs slow their…

Go to sleep Leave me alone At nights I leap Up, on my own. With waves of desire Day and night, all alone Compassion inspire…

You who seek God apart, apart, The thing you seek, thou art, thou art; Why then search for what you have not lost? Searching for…

Open the door to yet another initiate Offer some wine, his drunkenness accelerate You had closed the doors to the upper rooms Came the command…

Like a connoisseur I shall seek the bouquet of that wine Both worlds and their dignitaries I shall put out of line. I’ll climb the…

For the love of God, no other love seek In the abode of Soul, no other task seek Other than the Beloved, never seek another…

With all my soul I search and seek My environ my eyes do trick Where is it gone? Why is it missed? Nowhere to be…

Once more I seek audience with my very own King Once again joyously I have spread my soul’s wing. Once more fate and fortune will…

Look at the caravan, O guide, all the camels are lined up drunk King drunk, teacher drunk, friend drunk, all else drunk O Gardener, the…

Go and die, go and die, For this love go and die, When in this love you die You will let spirits fly. Go and…

To the call of the tavern arise, arise Fear not separation, be wise, be wise A kingly feast is your prize, your prize Intoxicated souls…

Take heed, take heed, take heed, Two or three crooks are on the loose Thoughtfully in deception they succeed Even the moon they will abuse….

Like a candle I shine, reflecting the light Turn my fortune so I can shed myself candle-like The promise of the morning breeze, of joining…

Each breath is a song of love From left and right, pass us by We’ll return to the world above Such fate no-one can defy….

Two or three crooks in the streets are on the beat They will cheat even the moon, with their deceit. Charlatans, aware in mind, joyous…

O Pilgrims O Pilgrims, thou art where, thou art where? The Beloved is neigh, come hither, come hither. Thy beloved is thy neighbor, behind the…

Let go of deceptions O heart Madness embrace, madness embrace Moth-like, go to the heart of the hearth Fire face, fire face Make yourself a…

Everyday I meditate upon this, and every night I groan Why is my own existence to myself the least known? Whence have I come, why…

To this world you have brought the fragrance Yet perfume you have hidden from appearance A million excitements this aroma belies That you have thrown…

O Love, you brought forth a jug Filled with the ache that my heart clog I won’t drink this wine, this drug! Drink but for…

In my work, all my time, idly spend I am in love, to the depths of love descend. The lion of thy longing hunted me…

Come along, come along, the fields are a-flower Come along, come along, it’s the lover’s hour. Come along, all at once, every soul and all…

Upon which path did I tread So I return, all else I dread; From Beloved being apart In the creed of Love is being misled….

O heart, when the secrets themselves unveiled No more exerted yourself, nor travailed In your imagination and madness remain Why senses regain, why your mind…

I went on a journey without me There I found joy without me The moon that hid, could not see Cheek to cheek with me,…

Away bitterness, keep my taste sweet My mouthful of wine, never deplete Unveil and disrobe my morning gown Naked come forth, and the dawn greet….

Thou art my King, Thou art my King To my heart and soul faith Thou shalt bring With Thy loving breath infuse me with life…

O heart let go of your soul Until you see the soul maker Leave behind this deceptive faker So you reach your real goal. Unless…

I was dead, became alive Was tearful, laughingly thrive With love survive, my only drive I have become eternal. My eyes no longer seek Am…

Alas that beautiful beloved Alas that beautiful beloved where hence? Alas that graceful Goddess where hence? In our midst like a candle brightly shone Where…

We today from strangers cannot divide So drunk that we don’t know where we reside. In this love, we departed our very mind Madness and…

O God, give the players sweetness and weal And for the tabbla, give them hands of steel. For their love, they sacrifice every limb Of…

I need a lover and a friend All friendships you transcend And impotent I remain You are Noah and the Ark You are the light…

Beloved reached desired glow And so we say, may it be so All doubts towards faith did grow And so we say, may it be…

Those to Mecca on pilgrimage When reached their destined stage Saw a home made out of stone Amidst the desert carnage. In that house they…

Once again my beloved sought me and found Joyously in the marketplace sought me and found. I hid myself, at my feet that drunken rose,…