The following poem is the translation of a part of the Persian Dîwân by Mawlânâ Diyâ’ ad-dîn Khâlid al-Baghdadî (qaddas-Allâhu ta’âlâ sirrah al-’azîz).

OH WHAT A PITY!

I’ve idled my life away, oh what a pity!
Never thought of the Morrow, oh what a pity!

I’ve set the building in the air so foolishly,
My faith on weak foundation, oh what a pity!

I’ve gone too far saying His Mercy is endless,
Forgotten His Name “Qahhâr”, oh what a pity!

I’ve dived into sins and never done any good,
Why gone astray the right path, oh what a pity!

I’ve struggled to win the world and worldly virtue,
And missed the endless blessings, oh what a pity!

The road is rough and dark, the Devil leads the way,
Sins are heavy, I weep all day, oh what a pity!

Without a single virtue to appear in my deed-book,
How will this Khâlid be saved, oh what a pity!