Poem #228
English Translation
Persian
If from your garden I should pick one fruit, what harm would come?
If at your feet I glimpse your lamp's light, what would I become?
گر من از باغِ تو یک میوه بچینم چه شود؟
پیش پایی به چراغِ تو ببینم چه شود؟
O Lord, within that tall cypress's sheltering shadow's fold
if I, the burned one, sit one breath—what fate would I behold?
یا رب اندر کَنَفِ سایهٔ آن سروِ بلند
گر منِ سوخته یک دَم بنشینم چه شود؟
O auspicious seal of Jamshid with effects divine and deep
if your reflection falls on my signet's pattern, what would that reap?
آخِر ای خاتَمِ جمشیدِ همایون آثار
گر فِتَد عکسِ تو بر نقشِ نگینم چه شود؟
The city preacher chose the king and sheriff's seal to bear
if I should choose my beloved's seal instead, what consequence is there?
واعظِ شهر چو مِهرِ مَلِک و شَحنه گُزید
من اگر مِهرِ نگاری بِگُزینم چه شود؟
My intellect fled from the house—if wine is to blame for this
I foresaw what would become of my religion's house, amiss.
عقلم از خانه به در رفت، وَگَر مِی این است
دیدم از پیش که در خانهٔ دینم چه شود
My precious life was spent on love and wine's intoxicating art
what lies ahead from that? And from this present, what shall start?
صرف شد عمرِ گرانمایه به معشوقه و مِی
تا از آنم چه به پیش آید، از اینم چه شود؟
The master knew I was a lover but said nothing in reply
Hafez, if he also knows I'm thus, what consequence thereby?
خواجه دانست که من عاشقم و هیچ نگفت
حافظ ار نیز بداند که چُنینم چه شود؟
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 7/10. This poem expresses longing and questioning. The repeated structure of 'what will become?' creates a sense of uncertainty. The verse about the intellect going 'from the house, to the door' and asking what will become 'in the house of religion' if wine is there is a striking statement. The poem's combination of questioning and emotional expression makes it engaging.