By Erzurumlu İbrahim Hakkı

From Life’s grasp I arrived, of some transient what do I care?
Posession’s pull I abandoned, of this universe what do I care?

To the World I came to leave, To suffice with gnosis gentle,
To witness it all through love, of this and that what do I care?

With Time’s marching I am sated, creation and annihilation discarded,
I have heard that abode of peace, of this life-prison what do I care?

Utterly cast away deliberation, affixed to Love’s affliction,
I have sold this self to The Friend, of these enemies what do I care?

Love’s wine I have gulped, left for the soul’s rose-garden,
I have transcended my own Being, of this name and mark what do I care?

Love I made into my physician, found a remedy in its ill,
I have learnt the essence of wisdom, of the Greeks what do I care?

Of Love’s breaths I am acquainted, abandoned all material’s possessing,
Of the hidden treasure I am an owner, of fleeing funds what do I care?

The throne of Reliance I found, obtained the goods of Conviction,
I have secretly become a sultan, of folk’s ranks what do I care?

What-ever happens holds beauty, for it is that Friend’s favor, For all of this is His effort, of bad assumptions what do I care?

With Him I happened residing, Dived into the very essence of Life
Knew myself and reached the goal, of illusion and fantasy what do I care?

Although by Time’s marching, old has become this body’s occasion,
Yet my soul is young with Life, of elderly and youth what do I care?

From indulging this skin I strayed, built the soul’s palace instead,
My sun I forever worship, of the paltry stars what do I care?

The Beloved I find enough, cast off all others from this tongue,
Standing alone with His Intimacy, of man and life what do I care?

What can this tongue even say, as thousands translate heart to heart,
The Soul’s Life is language for all, of speech and exposition what do I care?

Hakkı is by God not dependent at all, on this creation’s entire whole
When the All Knowing Creator exists, of this created moment what do I care?

Original:

Can ellerinden gelmişem, fâni mekânı neylerem,
Ol mülke meylim salmışam, ben bu cihanı neylerem

Dünyaya geldim gitmeye, ilm ile hilme yetmeye,
Aşk ile ân seyretmeye, ben în ü ânı neylerem

Devr-i zamandan doymuşam, kevn ü fesâdı koymuşam,
Darü’l-emânı duymuşam, bu sicn-i cânı neylerem

Hep itibarı atmışam, âşıklığa el katmışam,
Ben nefsi dosta satmışam, bu düşmanânı neylerem

Aşkın şarabın içmişem, dil gülşenine göçmüşem,
Ben varlığımdan geçmişem, nam ü nişânı neylerem

Aşkı tabîbim kılmışam, derdinde derman bulmuşam,
Ben lübb-i hikmet bilmişem, Yunaniyânı neylerem

Enfâs-ı aşkı dârikem, mâl ü menâli târikem,
Genc-i nihâne mâlikem, nakd-i revânı neylerem

Taht-ı tevekkül bulmuşam, mülk-i kanaat almışam,
Mahfîce sultan olmuşam, câh-ı âyânı neylerem

Her ne gelirse yahşidir, zira o dostun bahşıdır,
Çün cümle ânın işidir, ben bed-gümânı neylerem

Olmuş ânınla kalmışam, ayn-ı hayata dalmışam,
Kendim bilip kâm almışam, vehm ü hayâli neylerem

Gerçi zamân-ı devrân ile, pîr etti cismim şan ile,
Gönlüm civandır cân ile, pîr ü civânı neylerem

Ten beslemekten sapmışam, gönlüm sarayın yapmışam,
Hurşidem, anda tapmışam, ben ahterânı neylerem

Yâri bana bes görmüşem, ağyârı dilden sürmüşem,
Ünsiyle tenha durmuşam, ben ins ü cânı neylerem

Dilden dile bin terceman, varken ne söyler bu lisan,
Çün cân u dildir hem-zebân, nutk u beyânı neylerem

Hakkı, cemîi halktan, müstağniyem billâhi ben,
Hallâk-ı Âlem var iken, halk-ı zamânı neylerem