Rumi’s ghazal translated by Fatima Haidari with David Keplinger

آن شنیدی که خضر تخته کشتی بشکست
تا که کشتی ز کف ظالم جبار برست

خضر وقت تو عشق است که صوفی ز شکست
صافیست و مثل درد به پستی بنشست

لذت فقر چو باده‌ست که پستی جوید
که همه عاشق سجده‌ست و تواضع سرمست

تا بدانی که تکبر همه از بی‌مزگیست
پس سزای متکبر سر بی‌ذوق بس است

You have heard how Khidr broke the ship
to rescue it from the oppressor.

Love is your time’s Khidr, and by the way it breaks the Sufi,
he is purified and lies low like the sediments. 

The pleasure of poverty is like the wine’s; it seeks the low ground. 
Because it loves prostrating and getting drunk on humility.

By now, you should realize arrogance comes from lack of fun.
And for the arrogant, being a bore is enough of a punishment.