Poem #152
English Translation
Persian
In eternity, Your beauty's ray from manifestation breathed
Love appeared, and fire through all the world was wreathed.
در ازل پرتوِ حُسنت ز تجلی دَم زد
عشق پیدا شد و آتش به همه عالم زد
Your face appeared—the angel saw, but had no love to show
became the eye of fire from jealousy, and struck Adam below.
جلوه‌ای کرد رُخَت دید مَلَک عشق نداشت
عینِ آتش شد از این غیرت و بر آدم زد
Reason wished to light a lamp from that flame's glow
but jealousy's lightning flashed and scattered the world below.
عقل می‌خواست کز آن شعله چراغ افروزد
برق غیرت بدرخشید و جهان برهم زد
The pretender sought to enter the secret's sacred view
the hand of mystery struck the unworthy chest askew.
مدعی خواست که آید به تماشاگَهِ راز
دست غیب آمد و بر سینهٔ نامحرم زد
Others cast their fortune's lot on pleasure's ground
our grief-stricken heart struck grief, turn after turn around.
دیگران قرعهٔ قسمت همه بر عیش زدند
دل غمدیدهٔ ما بود که هم بر غم زد
The heavenly soul desired Your dimple's well so deep
and struck its hand within the ring of curls that secrets keep.
جانِ عِلْوی هوسِ چاهِ زنخدان تو داشت
دست در حلقهٔ آن زلفِ خَم اندر خَم زد
Hafez wrote Love's joyous book that blessed day
when the pen struck at the heart's delight in every way.
حافظ آن روز طربنامهٔ عشق تو نوشت
که قلم بر سرِ اسبابِ دلِ خُرَّم زد
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 9/10. This is one of Hafez's most famous and profound poems. The opening verse about love appearing when 'the ray of your beauty' struck 'from manifestation' in eternity is a profound statement about the origin of love. The reference to Adam and the angel of love adds biblical depth. The verse about 'the hand of the unseen' striking 'the chest of the uninitiated' is a powerful image. The poem's combination of mystical insight, creation narrative, and emotional expression makes it extremely engaging.
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