Poem #123
English Translation
Persian
Love's musician plays a strange and wondrous melody
each note he strikes finds its own path to destiny.
مطربِ عشق عجب ساز و نوایی دارد
نقشِ هر نغمه که زد راه به جایی دارد
May lovers' laments never leave this world alone
their sweet-voiced gladness fills the air with plaintive tone.
عالَم از نالهٔ عُشّاق مبادا خالی
که خوش‌آهنگ و فرح‌بخش هوایی دارد
Our bitter-drinking master holds no gold or might
but grace-bestowing, sin-concealing godly light.
پیر دُردی‌کَش ما گرچه ندارد زر و زور
خوش عطابخش و خطاپوش خدایی دارد
Respect my heart—this sugar-seeking fly so small
since loving you, it bears the royal phoenix' thrall.
محترم دار دلم کاین مگسِ قندپَرست
تا هواخواهِ تو شد فَرِّ هُمایی دارد
Not far from justice stands a king if you would ask
who keeps a beggar neighbor in his noble task.
از عدالت نَبُوَد دور گَرَش پُرسد حال
پادشاهی که به همسایه گدایی دارد
I showed physicians bloody tears; they diagnosed with care
'Love's pain it is—liver-burning—yet a cure is there.'
اشکِ خونین بنمودم به طبیبان گفتند
دردِ عشق است و جگرسوز دوایی دارد
Learn cruelty from her coquettish glance—for in Love's creed
each action earns reward, each wicked deed its meed.
ستم از غمزه میاموز که در مذهبِ عشق
هر عمل اجری و هر کرده جزایی دارد
That wine-born idol spoke with wit divine and free
'Drink joy from faces bearing purity's decree!'
نغز گفت آن بتِ ترسابچهٔ باده‌پرست
شادیِ رویِ کسی خور که صفایی دارد
O King! Hafez who sits at thresholds said a prayer
and from your lips desires blessings to declare.
خسروا حافظ درگاه‌نشین فاتحه خواند
وز زبان تو تمنای دعایی دارد
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 7/10. This poem contains statements about love and justice. The verse about the 'musician of love' having 'strange instrument and melody' is a striking image. The observation that 'in the religion of love, every action, a reward has' is a profound statement about love's justice. The verse about a king who 'to the neighbor, a beggar has' is a statement about the relativity of fortune. The poem's combination of philosophical statements and personal expression makes it engaging.
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