Number 17

RubāʿīIraqi style
English

Number 17

This raw, foolish greed has ruined my name, it wasted my days for nothing. I ask you for a little firewood, so it can cook this raw greed of mine into something ripe.
Explanation: The 'raw greed' and 'firewood to cook it ripe' work as a metaphor for immature desire that needs the fire of experience to mature.

Original · Persian

شمارهٔ ۱۷

کرد این طمع خام تبه نام مرا بیهوده بباد داد ایام مرا
قدری هیزم از تو طمع می دارم تا پخته کند این طمع خام مرا