Poem #234
English Translation
Persian
When wine's sun rises from the cup's eastern rim so bright
a thousand tulips bloom from the Cupbearer's face in light.
چو آفتاب مِی از مشرقِ پیاله برآید
ز باغِ عارِضِ ساقی هزار لاله برآید
The breeze breaks the hyacinth's crown upon the rose's head
when from the garden's heart that crown's fragrance starts to spread.
نسیم در سرِ گُل بشکند کُلالهٔ سنبل
چو از میانِ چمن بویِ آن کُلاله برآید
The tale of separation's night is not some passing story brief
one whiff of its expression fills a hundred volumes with its grief.
حکایتِ شبِ هجران نه آن حکایتِ حالیست
که شَمِّه‌ای ز بَیانش به صد رساله برآید
From heaven's inverted table no desire can be gained
one morsel costs the weariness of hundred griefs sustained.
ز گِردِ خوانِ نگونِ فلک طمع نتوان داشت
که بی مَلالتِ صد غُصه، یک نَواله برآید
Your efforts can't lead you to the gem of purpose sought
it's mere fantasy to think this work comes unbought.
به سعیِ خود نتوان بُرد پِی به گوهرِ مقصود
خیال باشد کاین کار بی حواله برآید
If you have Noah's patience through the flood's calamity
affliction turns, and thousand-year desires come to thee.
گرت چو نوحِ نبی صبر هست در غمِ طوفان
بلا بگردد و کامِ هزارساله برآید
When your tresses' breeze shall pass across Hafez's grave one day
a hundred thousand tulips from his dust will bloom in May.
نسیمِ زلفِ تو چون بگذرد به تربتِ حافظ
ز خاکِ کالبدش صد هزار لاله برآید
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 8/10. This poem contains profound statements about patience and hope. The verse about 'the tale of the night of separation' not being 'temporary' and 'a scent from its expression' coming 'to a hundred treatises' is a powerful statement. The reference to Noah and the flood adds biblical depth. The observation that when 'the breeze of your tress' passes to Hafez's tomb, 'a hundred thousand tulips' may come 'from the dust of the body' is a striking image. The poem's combination of patience and hope makes it very engaging.