Poem #206
English Translation
Persian
Before this time the lovers dreamt of you far more
your love for us was famed across the world from shore to shore.
پیش از اینَت بیش از این اندیشهٔ عُشّاق بود
مِهرورزیِ تو با ما شُهرهٔ آفاق بود
Remember those nightlong talks with the sweet-lipped and fair
when we spoke of love's mysteries and the lovers gathered there.
یاد باد آن صحبتِ شب‌ها که با نوشین لبان
بحثِ سِرِّ عشق و ذکرِ حلقهٔ عُشّاق بود
Before this emerald roof and blue enamel arch arose
the arch my eyes admired was my beloved's brow that glows.
پیش از این کاین سقفِ سبز و طاقِ مینا بَرکِشند
مَنظَرِ چشمِ مرا ابرویِ جانان طاق بود
From dawn of pre-eternity to end of endless night
love and friendship held to one covenant and rite.
از دَمِ صبحِ ازل تا آخرِ شامِ ابد
دوستی و مِهر بر یک عهد و یک میثاق بود
If the beloved's shade fell on the lover, what the fuss?
We were in need of her, and she in turn longed after us.
سایهٔ معشوق اگر افتاد بر عاشق چه شد؟
ما به او محتاج بودیم او به ما مشتاق بود
Though moon-faced beauties stole our hearts and even faith within
our talk was on sweet temper and the excellence of men.
حُسنِ مَه رویانِ مجلس گرچه دل می‌بُرد و دین
بحثِ ما در لطفِ طبع و خوبیِ اخلاق بود
A beggar at my sovereign's gate expounded wisdom's lore
'At every board where I have sat, God was the Provider,' evermore.
بر درِ شاهم گدایی نکته‌ای در کار کرد
گفت بر هر خوان که بِنْشَستَم خدا رزّاق بود
If the rosary string has snapped, pray excuse the lack
my hand was in the silver-legged Cupbearer's trailing slack.
رشتهٔ تسبیح اگر بُگْسَست معذورم بدار
دستم اندر دامنِ ساقیِ سیمین ساق بود
If on the Night of Power I drank at dawn, forbear to blame
the joyous friend arrived, a goblet resting by the arch's frame.
در شبِ قدر ار صَبوحی کرده‌ام، عیبم مکن
سرخوش آمد یار و جامی بر کنارِ طاق بود
In Adam's time within the Garden bright, Hafez's song
adorned the pages of the rose and wild narcissus all along.
شعرِ حافظ در زمانِ آدم اندر باغِ خُلد
دفترِ نسرین و گُل را زینتِ اوراق بود
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 9/10. This is one of Hafez's most beautiful and nostalgic poems. The verse about friendship and love being 'on one covenant and one pact' 'from the dawn of eternity until the end of the evening of eternity' is a profound statement. The observation that Hafez's poetry was 'the ornament of the pages' of 'the notebook of the narcissus and the rose' 'in the time of Adam, in the garden of paradise' is a striking statement. The reference to the Night of Power adds Islamic cultural depth. The poem's combination of nostalgia, beauty, and mystical insight makes it extremely engaging.
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