When We Turned from a Door

ما چون ز دری پای کشیدیم کشیدیم

When we have drawn our foot back from a door, we have drawn it back;

امید ز هر کس که بریدیم، بریدیم

when we have cut off hope of anyone, we have cut it off.

دل نیست کبوتر که چو برخاست نشیند

The heart is not a pigeon that, once it rises, settles again

از گوشهٔ بامی که پریدیم، پریدیم

on the corner of a roof from which we have flown: we have flown.

رم دادن صید خود از آغاز غلط بود

To startle your own prey was a mistake from the start;

حالا که رماندی و رمیدیم، رمیدیم

now that you have startled it and we have fled, we have fled.

کوی تو که باغ ارم روضهٔ خلد است

Your street, which is the garden of Iram and the meadow of paradise:

انگار که دیدیم ندیدیم، ندیدیم

imagine that we saw it and did not see it; we did not see it.

سد باغ بهار است و صلای گل و گلشن

There are a hundred gardens of spring, and the call of roses and flowerbeds:

گر میوهٔ یک باغ نچیدیم، نچیدیم

if we did not pick the fruit of one garden, we did not pick it.

سرتا به قدم تیغ دعاییم و تو غافل

From head to foot we are a sword of prayer, and you are heedless;

هان واقف دم باش رسیدیم، رسیدیم

beware, be mindful of the moment: we have come, we have come.

وحشی سبب دوری و این قسم سخنها

Vahshi, the reason for this distance, and words of this kind:

آن نیست که ما هم نشنیدیم، شنیدیم

it is not that we have not heard them too; we have heard.