A little boy looked up one day,
And asked his father on the way:
Is all our daily bread from God,
Or earned by all the paths we trod?

If Heaven grants my every need,
Then why must I work, strive, and bleed?
If all depends on toil alone,
Then why pray to the Heavenly Throne?

His father smiled with gentle grace,
A quiet wisdom on his face.
My son, imagine tea so warm 
A single day in earthly form.
Now picture sugar, pure and sweet
God's daily gift, your destined treat.

That sugar is your share above,
A gift bestowed through boundless love.
Yet should the tea untouched remain,
Its sweetness all is held in vain.

The sugar waits, yet none can taste
If stillness keeps the cup embraced.
Only when the spoon begins to turn
Does hidden sweetness start to burn.

That little spoon is work each day;
Its stirring is your chosen way.
But had no sugar filled the cup,
The finest stirring gave nothing up.

So God provides your daily share;
Your work reveals the sweetness there.
Give thanks to Him with heart sincere,
And may your portion grow each year.

For every blessing comes from Him above,
Yet blooms through faithful hands and grateful love.

Orginal Version:

نوجوان پرسید از بابای خویش
روز‌ی‌ام دست خداست یا سعی خویش

گر خدا روزی دهد پس کار چیست
گر معیشت ، سعی ماست اذکار چیست

گفت بابا اینچنین فرزند را
خوب دیدی سیر چای و قند را

چای را یک روز خود پندار کن
قند را نزد خدا پندار کن

قند همان رزق تو در دست خداست
آنکه قند در چای اندازد خداست

حال اگر چایی بماند در سکون
طعم قند از چای نمی‌آید برون

آنچه چایی تو را شیرین کند
در تکاپو گشتن چایی کند

قاشق چایی خوری را فرض کن
کار خود را چرخش آن فرض کن

حال اگر قندی در این چایی نبود
چرخش قاشق دگر بیهوده بود

ذات حق روزی دهد هر روز را
سعی تو شیرین کند آن روز را

طاعت پروردگار خویش کن
سهم قندت نزد یزدان بیش کن

Poem : Hesam Salehi
Hesam the poet
H T P