Poem #26
English Translation
Persian
With hair disheveled, sweating, laughing, drunk, and shirt all torn
with flask in hand and singing songs, she came before the morn.
زلف‌آشفته و خِوی‌کرده و خندان‌لب و مست
پیرهن‌چاک و غزل‌خوان و صُراحی در دست
Her narcissus eye sought quarrel, her lips breathed out a sigh
at midnight to my pillow came, and sat down very nigh.
نرگسش عَربده‌جوی و لبش افسوس‌کنان
نیم شب، دوش به بالین من آمد، بنشست
She bent her head down to my ear, and whispered sad and deep
'O lover of the ancient days, are you now fast asleep?'
سر فرا گوش من آورد به آوازِ حزین
گفت: ای عاشقِ دیرینهٔ من، خوابت هست؟
To any lover given such a wine at dead of night
he is an infidel to Love, if he drinks not with delight.
عاشقی را که چنین بادهٔ شبگیر دهند
کافر عشق بُوَد گر نشود باده پرست
Go, Ascetic! Blame not those who drink the dregs of wine
for on the Day of Covenant, this gift alone was mine.
برو ای زاهد و بر دُردکشان خرده مگیر
که ندادند جز این تُحفه به ما روزِ الست
Whatever She poured in our cup, we drank it down with glee
whether the wine of Paradise, or drunk wine it might be.
آن چه او ریخت به پیمانهٔ ما نوشیدیم
اگر از خَمرِ بهشت است وگر بادهٔ مست
The laughter of the wine-cup, and the Beloved's tangled hair
how many vows like Hafez's, have broken in despair!
خندهٔ جامِ می و زلفِ گره‌گیرِ نگار
ای بسا توبه که چون توبهٔ حافظ بشکست
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 9/10. This is one of Hafez's most famous and beloved poems, with a vivid narrative of the beloved visiting at midnight. The scene is cinematic and accessible—the disheveled, drunk beloved coming to the poet's bedside is a powerful image. The verse 'for a lover to whom they give such night-wine, he would be an infidel to love if he does not become a wine-drinker' is a memorable defense of love's demands. The poem's narrative quality, sensuous imagery, and the intimate midnight scene make it very engaging. The final line about many repentances being broken is a universal theme of love's power over good intentions.
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