XXI: Fruitlessly in the world thy lifetime thou hast…

Fruitlessly in the world thy lifetime thou hast passed,
Whether it extended unto sixty, or unto eighty years!

The fortunate have carried away advantage from it;
But thou, save evil, hast no other result acquired!

The friends of thy acquaintance have all gone from thee;
And still thou perceivest it not, O man, with open eyes asleep!

When grief and sorrow man afflict, he sleepeth not:
Art thou a beast, or a man of human parents born?

Thy fathers and grandfathers all hath death cut off;
And thou, above all others, wilt not alone escape!

Alive in the world not one will remain behind:
No one can have taken on himself thy obligations to fulfil!

Thy beard from age is white, and thy back is bent:
How much longer then canst thou expect erect to remain?

Thy sixty years have passed, and thou art old become;
Yet thou accountest thyself of the age of fourteen still!

If thou art wise, turn devotee, and the world forsake;
For they who this life choose, are in both worlds free!

The veil of scepticism from thy face draw aside;
And unto the Master's will let thy assent be given!

Become thou the servant at the wine-sellers' door,
That wine from the cup of love be given unto thee!

Thou One and Only God! unto righteousness direct me,
That, the straight path upon, I may come unto Thee!

If I have evil committed, a rude slave consider me;
And pardon me, according to Thine own peculiar way!

When man giveth aught to another, again he taketh it;
But Thou art God, and takest not back thy gifts again!

O Thou all-possessing Deity! the sinner Khwajah Muhammad free!
For the rich always grant liberty their aged slaves unto!

Thou art the hider of thy servant's sins, O Lord!
In mercy, of Khwajah Muhammad's rend not Thou the veil!