A dervish entered a place where the owner was a generous soul; a group of learned and eloquent people were in his company, each sharing witty and humorous remarks.
The dervish had traveled through the desert, was exhausted, and had not eaten anything.
One of them, in jest, said: “You should also say something.”
He replied: “I do not have the knowledge and eloquence of others, and I have not read anything. Be content with one verse from me.”
They eagerly said: “Speak!”
He said:
I am hungry before a table of bread
Like a bachelor at the door of the women’s bath
The companions understood his extreme hunger and brought the table forward.
The host said: “Friend! Wait a moment, my servants are preparing roasted meat.”
The dervish raised his head and said:
Do not put roasted meat on my table
For the hungry, plain bread is roasted meat
