How the thirsty man threw bricks

How the thirsty man threw bricks from the top of the wall into the stream of water. کلوخ انداختن تشنه از سر دیوار در جوی آب

بر لب جو بود دیواری بلند
بر سر دیوار تشنه‏ی دردمند
On the bank of the stream there was a high wall, and on the top of the wall a sorrowful thirsty man.
مانعش از آب آن دیوار بود
از پی آب او چو ماهی زار بود
The wall hindered him from (reaching) the water; he was in distress for the water, like a fish.
ناگهان انداخت او خشتی در آب
بانگ آب آمد به گوشش چون خطاب‏
Suddenly he threw a brick into the water: the noise of the water came to his ear like spoken words,
چون خطاب یار شیرین لذیذ
مست کرد آن بانگ آبش چون نبیذ
Like words spoken by a sweet and delicious friend: the noise of the water made him drunken as (though it were) wine.
از صفای بانگ آب آن ممتحن
گشت خشت انداز ز آن جا خشت‏کن‏
From the pleasure of (hearing) the noise of the water, that sorely tried man began to hurl and tear off bricks from that place.
آب می‏زد بانگ یعنی هی ترا
فایده چه زین زدن خشتی مرا
The water was making a noise, that is to say, (it was crying), “Hey, what is the advantage to you of this hurling a brick at me?”
تشنه گفت آیا مرا دو فایده است
من از این صنعت ندارم هیچ دست‏
The thirsty man said, “O water, I have two advantages: I will nowise refrain from this work.
فایده‏ی اول سماع بانگ آب
کاو بود مر تشنگان را چون رباب‏
The first advantage is (my) hearing the noise of the water, which to thirsty men is (melodious) as a rebeck.
بانگ او چون بانگ اسرافیل شد
مرده را زین زندگی تحویل شد
The noise thereof has become (to me) like the noise of (the trumpet of) Isráfíl: by this (noise) life has been transferred (restored) to one (that was) dead;
یا چو بانگ رعد ایام بهار
باغ می‏یابد از او چندین نگار
Or (it is) like the noise of thunder in days of spring from it (the thunder) the garden obtains so many (lovely) ornaments;
یا چو بر درویش ایام زکات
یا چو بر محبوس پیغام نجات‏
Or like the days of alms to a poor man, or like the message of deliverance to a prisoner.
چون دم رحمان بود کان از یمن
می‏رسد سوی محمد بی‏دهن‏
’Tis like the breath of the Merciful (God) which, without mouth, comes to Mohammed from Yemen;
یا چو بوی احمد مرسل بود
کان به عاصی در شفاعت می‏رسد
Or ’tis like the scent of Ahmad (Mohammed), the Apostle (of God), which in intercession comes to the sinner;
یا چو بوی یوسف خوب لطیف
می‏زند بر جان یعقوب نحیف‏
Or like the scent of beauteous, graceful Joseph, (which) strikes upon the soul of lean Jacob.
فایده‏ی دیگر که هر خشتی کز این
بر کنم آیم سوی ماء معین‏
The other advantage is that, (with) every brick I tear off this (wall), I come (nearer) to running water,
کز کمی خشت دیوار بلند
پست‏تر گردد به هر دفعه که کند
Since by diminution of the bricks the high wall becomes lower every time that one is removed.
پستی دیوار قربی می‏شود
فصل او درمان وصلی می‏بود
The lowness (destruction) of the wall becomes a means of access (to the water); separation from it is the remedy bringing about a union (with the water).”
سجده آمد کندن خشت لزب
موجب قربی که و اسجد و اقترب‏
The tearing away of the adhesive (firmly joined) bricks is (analogous to) prostration (in prayer): (it is) the cause of nearness (to God), for (God has said), ‘And prostrate thyself and draw near (to Me).’
تا که این دیوار عالی گردن است
مانع این سر فرود آوردن است‏
So long as this wall is high-necked (lofty and proud), it is an obstacle to this bowing of the head (in prayer).
سجده نتوان کرد بر آب حیات
تا نیابم زین تن خاکی نجات‏
’Tis impossible to perform the prostration on the Water of Life, until I gain deliverance from this earthly body.
بر سر دیوار هر کاو تشنه‏تر
زودتر بر می‏کند خشت و مدر
The more thirsty any one on the top of the wall is, the more quickly does he tear off the bricks and turfs.
هر که عاشق تر بود بر بانگ آب
او کلوخ زفت تر کند از حجاب‏
The more any one is in love with the noise of the water, the bigger clods does he tear away from the barrier.
او ز بانگ آب پر می تا عنق
نشنود بیگانه جز بانگ بلق‏
He, at the noise of the water, is filled with wine (ecstasy) up to the neck, (while) the stranger (to love) hears nothing but the sound of the splash.
ای خنک آن را که او ایام پیش
مغتنم دارد گزارد وام خویش‏
Oh, blest is he that deems his early days an opportunity to be seized, and pays his debt.
اندر آن ایام کش قدرت بود
صحت و زور دل و قوت بود
In the days when he has the power, (when) he has health and strength of heart and vigour,
و آن جوانی همچو باغ سبز و تر
می‏رساند بی‏دریغی بار و بر
And (when) that season of youth, like a garden green and fresh, is bringing (to ripeness) produce and fruit without any stint;
چشمه‏های قوت و شهوت روان
سبز می‏گردد زمین تن بدان‏
(When) the fountains of strength and lust (are) flowing, (so that) thereby the soil of the body is made verdant;
خانه‏ی معمور و سقفش بس بلند
معتدل ارکان و بی‏تخلیط و بند
(When he is still like) a well-kept house, with its roof very lofty, its sides (walls) symmetrical, without buttressing and clamps.
پیش از آن که ایام پیری در رسد
گردنت بندد به حبل من مسد
Ere the days of eld arrive and bind your neck with a halter of palm-fibres;
خاک شوره گردد و ریزان و سست
هرگز از شوره نبات خوش نرست‏
(Ere) the soil becomes nitrous (barren), crumbling, and poor never did good herbage grow from nitrous soil;
آب زور و آب شهوت منقطع
او ز خویش و دیگران نامنتفع‏
(When) the water of strength and the water of lust (is) cut off, and he has no profit from himself or others:
ابروان چون پالدم زیر آمده
چشم را نم آمده تاری شده‏
The eyebrows fallen down like a crupper-strap; the eyes grown moist and dim;
از تشنج رو چو پشت سوسمار
رفته نطق و طعم و دندانها ز کار
The face, from wrinkling, like the back of a lizard; speech and taste and teeth gone out of use;
روز بی‏گه لاشه لنگ و ره دراز
کارگه ویران عمل رفته ز ساز
The day late, the ass lame, and the way long; the shop ruined and the business in disorder;
بیخهای خوی بد محکم شده
قوت بر کندن آن کم شده‏
The roots of bad habit firmly set, and the power to tear them up decreased.


 

PreviousNext

 

Special Offers

What people say about "How the thirsty man threw bricks"?

No one replied yet.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *