راه پنهانی میخانه نداند همه کس
جز من و زاهد و شیخ و دو سه رسوای دگر
Translation:
Not everyone knows the hidden passage to the Tavern.
Except myself, the God-fearing, the chieftain, and a few other outcasts.
Poem by Abul Qasim Farhang Shirazi, translation by
There is a difference between the earthly tavern (small t) and the Heavenly Tavern (capital T).
A tavern is a place to get intoxicated and find others who are also intoxicated. Drunkards just need someone to vent to and then everyone forgets what was said. However, the Heavenly Tavern is of a different intoxicant. Only a few know how to get there. And, those who are there are intoxicated of a different sort. Only they among themselves know what type of drunkenness exist there. There is no idle talk among them, so there is nothing to remember except the Friend (God).
The poem is referring to how it is only the Grace of God that will show someone the Path to Him.
The poet is saying that aside for the God-fearing and the chieftain (these men who have to appear good and have to appear like they have worked hard to reach Him, because society expects this from them, since they have made it appear as such to others as to why they deserve the respect of society), there are others who have reached Him simply because society has ostracized them, and the Grace of God took them in. The ostracized have foregone the material world and the material life. They have reached God simply because nothing was left in their hearts except Him.
I guess the poet is including himself as one of the people who have found that "secret passage" because he has been part of both groups and can attest that both will reach God. However, the poet could also be referring to the "God-fearing" person and "chieftain" as drinking in private without anyone knowing. So, they have found a "secret passage" to the earthly tavern (small t) so that no one will suspect them. In order words, this is mocking the "God-fearing" and the "chieftain" indirectly for being hypocrites.
Moral of the story: Nothing can remove God's Grace from your fate. When you do notice His Grace upon you, just submit as a form of gratitude.