Poem #144
English Translation
Persian
You can gaze into the secret of Jamshid's Cup
when the tavern's dust as kohl you take up.
به سِرِّ جامِ جم آنگه نظر توانی کرد
که خاکِ میکده کُحلِ بَصَر توانی کرد
Be not without wine and song, for under the sky's dome
with this melody, you can drive grief from your home.
مباش بی می و مُطرب که زیرِ طاقِ سپهر
بدین ترانه غم از دل به در توانی کرد
The Rose of your desire will unveil her face
when like the dawn breeze, you serve her grace.
گُلِ مرادِ تو آنگه نقاب بُگْشاید
که خدمتش چو نسیمِ سحر توانی کرد
Begging at the tavern door is an elixir bold
if you do this, you can turn dust into gold.
گدایی درِ میخانه طُرفه اِکسیریست
گر این عمل بِکُنی، خاکْ زر توانی کرد
Step forward with intent on the stage of Love
great profits you'll gain, if this journey you prove.
به عزمِ مرحلهٔ عشق پیش نِه قدمی
که سودها کنی ار این سفر توانی کرد
You who never leave the house of nature's clay
how can you pass to the spiritual way?
تو کز سرایِ طبیعت نمی‌روی بیرون
کجا به کویِ طریقت گذر توانی کرد
The Friend's beauty has no veil or curtain tight
remove the dust from the path to clear your sight.
جمالِ یار ندارد نقاب و پرده ولی
غبارِ رَه بِنِشان تا نظر توانی کرد
Come, for the taste of presence and order's art
you can gain from the grace of the seeing heart.
بیا که چارهٔ ذوقِ حضور و نظم امور
به فیض‌بخشیِ اهلِ نظر توانی کرد
But as long as you crave the lip and the wine
hope not to achieve any work divine.
ولی تو تا لبِ معشوق و جامِ مِی خواهی
طمع مدار که کارِ دگر توانی کرد
O heart, if you find the light of guidance true
like a candle, laughing, you can bid your head adieu.
دلا ز نورِ هدایت گر آگهی یابی
چو شمع، خنده‌زنان تَرکِ سر توانی کرد
If you listen, Hafez, to this advice so grand
you can pass to the highway of Truth's land.
گر این نصیحتِ شاهانه بشنوی حافظ
به شاهراهِ حقیقت گذر توانی کرد
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 8/10. This poem contains profound advice about the spiritual path. The verse about making 'the dust of the wine-house' into 'the kohl of sight' is a striking image of transformation. The observation that 'begging at the door of the wine-house' is 'a wonderful elixir' that can turn 'dust' into 'gold' is a powerful statement. The verse about removing 'the dust of the path' to see the beloved's beauty is a beautiful image. The poem's combination of practical advice and mystical insight makes it very engaging.
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