Poem #164
English Translation
Persian
The morning breeze will scatter musk once more
the aging world will find its youth restore.
نفسِ بادِ صبا مُشک‌فشان خواهد شد
عالَمِ پیر دگرباره جوان خواهد شد
The judas tree will gift the jasmine agate wine
the narcissus eye will watch the poppy's sign.
ارغوان جامِ عقیقی به سمن خواهد داد
چشمِ نرگس به شقایق نگران خواهد شد
This tyranny the nightingale endured in parting's pain
will burst in cries before the rose's curtain again.
این تَطاول که کشید از غمِ هجران بلبل
تا سراپردهٔ گل نعره‌زنان خواهد شد
If I left mosque for tavern, blame me not today
the sermon's long, and time will slip away.
گر ز مسجد به خرابات شدم خرده مگیر
مجلس وعظ دراز است و زمان خواهد شد
O heart, if you throw today's joy to tomorrow's door
who'll guarantee life's capital anymore?
ای دل ار عشرتِ امروز به فردا فکنی
مایهٔ نقدِ بقا را که ضَمان خواهد شد？
In Sha'ban month, don't set the wine cup down
this sun will hide till Ramadan's feast comes to town.
ماه شعبان مَنِه از دست قدح، کاین خورشید
از نظر تا شبِ عیدِ رمضان خواهد شد
The rose is precious, count its presence fortune's prize
it came one path, will leave by another's guise.
گل عزیز است غنیمت شِمُریدَش صحبت
که به باغ آمد از این راه و از آن خواهد شد
O minstrel, this is the gathering of joy divine
sing ghazals, not 'how things were and what will shine.'
مطربا مجلسِ انس است غزل خوان و سرود
چند گویی که چنین رفت و چنان خواهد شد؟
Hafez came to life's realm for your sake alone
step forth to bid farewell, for soon he'll be gone.
حافظ از بهر تو آمد سویِ اقلیمِ وجود
قدمی نِه به وداعش که روان خواهد شد
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 8/10. This poem expresses the coming of spring and the urgency of seizing the moment. The verse about 'the old world' becoming 'young' again is a beautiful image of renewal. The observation that if pleasure is thrown 'to tomorrow,' there is no 'guarantee' for 'the cash of permanence' is a profound statement. The reference to Sha'ban and Ramadan adds Islamic cultural depth. The poem's combination of natural imagery and carpe diem philosophy makes it very engaging.