Poem #184
English Translation
Persian
Last night I saw angels knocking at the tavern door
They kneaded Adam's clay and cast the cup once more.
دوش دیدم که ملائک درِ میخانه زدند
گِلِ آدم بسرشتَند و به پیمانه زدند
The dwellers of the Kingdom's veil and modesty
Drank wine in drunken state with way-worn beggar me.
ساکنانِ حرمِ سِتر و عفافِ ملکوت
با منِ راه‌نشین، بادهٔ مستانه زدند
The heavens could not bear the Trust's heavy weight
The lot fell to my name, the madman's heavy fate.
آسمان بارِ امانت نتوانست کشید
قرعهٔ کار به نامِ منِ دیوانه زدند
Forgive the war of seventy-two nations' fight
They saw not Truth, and so took fables for the light.
جنگِ هفتاد و دو ملت همه را عذر بنه
چون ندیدند حقیقت رهِ افسانه زدند
Thank God that peace has fallen 'twixt my Love and me
The Sufis dance and drink the cup of jubilee.
شُکرِ ایزد که میانِ من و او صلح افتاد
صوفیان رقص‌کنان ساغرِ شکرانه زدند
Fire is not that at which the candle laughs in turn
Fire is that which makes the moth's whole harvest burn.
آتش آن نیست که از شعلهٔ او خندد شمع
آتش آن است که در خرمنِ پروانه زدند
No one like Hafez lifted thought's veil from its place
Until the pen had combed the tress of words with grace.
کس چو حافظ نَگُشاد از رخِ اندیشه نقاب
تا سرِ زلفِ سخن را به قلم شانه زدند
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 9/10. This is one of Hafez's most famous and profound poems. The opening verse about the angels striking 'the door of the wine-house' and kneading 'the clay of Adam' is a profound statement about creation. The reference to the heavens not being able to bear 'the burden of trust' is a powerful Quranic reference. The verse about 'seventy-two nations' not seeing truth and striking 'the path of tales' is a profound statement about religious conflict. The poem's combination of creation narrative, mystical insight, and social commentary makes it extremely engaging.
Related Poems
"My heart is leaving my hands—O wise-hearted ones, for God's sake! **** Alas, that the hidden secret will become manifest"
"O Sufi, come, for the cup is a clear mirror, **** so that you may see the clarity of the ruby-colored wine"
"O cupbearer, arise and pour the cup, **** put dust on the head of the grief of days"
"Don't seek obedience and covenant and righteousness from me, the drunk **** for I became famous for cup-measuring on the..."