Poem #243
English Translation
Persian
Whoever catches the scent of your breeze
hears familiar words from the Friend with ease.
بویِ خوشِ تو هر که ز بادِ صبا شنید
از یارِ آشنا سخنِ آشنا شنید
O King of Beauty, glance at the beggar's state
for this ear has heard such tales of late.
ای شاهِ حُسن، چَشم به حالِ گدا فِکَن
کـاین گوش بس حکایتِ شاه و گدا شنید
With musky wine I scent my soul's deep air
for hypocrisy reeks from the ascetic's prayer.
خوش می‌کنم به بادهٔ مُشکین مَشامِ جان
کز دلق‌پوشِ صومعه بویِ ریا شنید
God's secret, which the mystic never told
how did the vintner hear it, bold and old?
سِرِّ خدا که عارفِ سالِک به کَس نگفت
در حیرتم که باده‌فروش از کجا شنید
Lord, where is the confidant to hear my part
to know what words were spoken to my heart?
یا رب کجاست محرمِ رازی که یک زمان
دل شرحِ آن دهد که چه گفت و چه‌ها شنید
My grateful heart deserved a better prize
than harsh words from the one I idolize.
اینَش سزا نبود دلِ حق‌گُزارِ من
کز غمگسارِ خود سخنِ ناسزا شنید
What if I'm barred from her street's delight?
Who finds fidelity in this world's night?
محروم اگر شدم ز سرِ کویِ او چه شد؟
از گلشنِ زمانه که بویِ وفا شنید؟
Come, Saki, for Love cries out its decree
that he who tells our tale, heard it from me.
ساقی بیا که عشق ندا می‌کند بلند
کان کس که گفت قصهٔ ما هم ز ما شنید
Not just today we hide the wine we drink
the Magian Elder knows how low we sink.
ما باده زیرِ خرقه نه امروز می‌خوریم
صد بار پیرِ میکده این ماجرا شنید
Not just today we drink to the harp's refrain
the spinning dome has heard this sound again.
ما مِی به بانگِ چنگ نه امروز می‌کشیم
بس دور شد که گنبدِ چرخ این صدا شنید
The sage's counsel is the soul of right
blessed is he who hears with heart alight.
پندِ حکیمْ محضِ صَواب است و عینِ خیر
فرخنده آن کسی که به سَمعِ رضا شنید
Hafez, your duty is but to pray and sign
worry not if He hears or passes by.
حافظ، وظیفهٔ تو دعا گفتن است و بس
در بَندِ آن مباش که نشنید یا شنید
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 8/10. This poem contains profound statements about secrets and understanding. The verse about the wine-seller hearing 'the secret of God' that 'the knower, traveler, to no one, did not say' is a striking statement. The observation that 'the old man of the wine-house' heard 'this tale a hundred times' is a poignant statement. The poem's combination of mystery and wisdom makes it very engaging.
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