Poem #238
English Translation
Persian
The world drew kohl upon the feast's brow from the crescent's arc
the feast's true crescent in the beloved's eyebrow leaves its mark.
جهان بر ابرویِ عید از هِلال وَسمه کشید
هِلال عید در ابرویِ یار باید دید
My stature bent and broke like crescent's arching spine
when my beloved's eyebrow drew its kohl-dark, curving line.
شکسته گشت چو پشتِ هلال قامتِ من
کمانِ ابرویِ یارم چو وَسمه بازکشید
Perhaps your downy whisper passed through dawn's garden at first light
the rose, catching your scent, tore its garments like the dawn so bright.
مگر نسیمِ خَطَت صبح در چمن بگذشت
که گُل به بویِ تو بر تن چو صبح جامه درید
It wasn't harp and rebab, wine and lute that shaped my being's start
my existence clay was kneaded with rose-water and wine from the heart.
نبود چنگ و رَباب و نَبید و عود، که بود
گِلِ وجودِ من آغشتهٔ گلاب و نَبید
Come, let me tell you of my heart's wearisome grief and pain
without you I've no chance to speak or hear words said again.
بیا که با تو بگویم غمِ ملالتِ دل
چرا که بی تو ندارم مَجالِ گفت و شَنید
If union's price be my soul, I'll buy without delay
the seeing buyer purchases good goods for any price they say.
بهایِ وصلِ تو گر جان بُوَد خریدارم
که جنسِ خوب مُبَصِّر به هر چه دید خرید
When I beheld your moon-face in your tresses' evening skies
my night became as bright as day before my wonder-stricken eyes.
چو ماهِ روی تو در شامِ زلف می‌دیدم
شبم به رویِ تو روشن چو روز می‌گردید
My soul reached to my lips yet my desire was never met
hope came to its end, but my quest hasn't finished yet.
به لب رسید مرا جان و برنیامد کام
به سر رسید امید و طلب به سر نرسید
From longing for your face, Hafez inscribed these words with care
read his verse and place them like pearls within your ear.
ز شوقِ رویِ تو حافظ نوشت حرفی چند
بخوان ز نظمش و در گوش کن چو مروارید
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 8/10. This poem celebrates a feast and expresses longing. The verse about 'the crescent of the feast' being seen 'in the eyebrow of the friend' is a beautiful image. The observation that when seeing 'the moon of your face in the evening of the tress', the night became 'bright like day' is a striking statement. The poem's combination of celebration and emotional expression makes it very engaging.