Poem #22
English Translation
Persian
When wise men speak, find not a fault in what they say
the error lies in you, my soul, who lost the way.
چو بشنوی سخنِ اهلِ دل، مگو که خطاست
سخن‌شناس نه‌ای، جان من! خطا این جاست
My head bows not to this world, nor the world to be
God bless the tumult that is in this head of me!
سرم به دنیی و عقبی فرو نمی‌آید
تبارک الله ازین فتنه‌ها که در سرِ ماست
Within my weary heart, I know not Who does dwell
I am silent, but He cries out, with stories to tell.
در اندرونِ منِ خسته‌دل ندانم کیست!
که من خموشم و او در فغان و در غوغاست
My heart has rent the veil! Minstrel, where art thou?
Sing! For our work is tuned to melody right now.
دلم ز پرده برون شد، کجایی ای مطرب؟
بنال، هان که از این پرده، کارِ ما به نواست
I never cared for worldly things, or life's design
until your face adorned this simple sight of mine.
مرا به کارِ جهان هرگز التفات نبود
رخِ تو در نظرِ من چنین خوشش آراست
I sleep not for the fancy that my heart cooks so
a hundred nights I'm drunk! Where does the wine-stream flow?
نخفته‌ام ز خیالی که می‌پزد دلِ من
خمارِ صد شبه دارم شراب‌خانه کجاست؟
The monastery's stained with my heart's bloody hue
if you wash me with wine, the right is with you too.
چنین که صومعه آلوده شد ز خونِ دلم
گَرَم به باده بشویید، حق به دستِ شماست
The Magians hold me dear, and in their temple prize
because the Fire that never dies, within me lies.
از آن به دیرِ مغانم عزیز می‌دارند
که آتشی که نمیرد، همیشه در دلِ ماست
What air was that the minstrel played? What melody?
My life is gone, but passion still remains in me.
چه ساز بود که در پرده می‌زد آن مطرب
که رفت عمر و هنوزم دماغ پُر ز هواست
Last night the call of Love rang out within my breast
and still Hafez's soul with that sweet voice is blest.
ندای عشق تو دیشب در اندرون دادند
فضایِ سینهٔ حافظ هنوز پر ز صداست
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 8/10. This poem contains one of Hafez's most famous lines: 'In the inner being of me, the weary-hearted, I don't know who it is! For I am silent and it is in lamentation and uproar'—a profound expression of inner conflict that resonates universally. The theme of the undying fire in the heart is powerful. The verse about the monastery stained with blood being washed with wine is a striking image of transformation. The poem's exploration of inner turmoil, the conflict between silence and expression, and the eternal nature of love's fire make it deeply engaging for Western readers interested in psychology and mysticism.
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