Poem #266
English Translation
Persian
My heart has fled to a wild, gypsy-like beauty
full of false promises, deadly glances, and deceit.
دلم رمیدهٔ لولی‌وَشیست شورانگیز
دروغ‌وَعده و قَتّال‌وَضع و رنگ‌آمیز
Let a thousand robes of piety and cloaks of abstinence
be sacrificed for the torn shirt of the moon-faced ones.
فدایِ پیرهنِ چاکِ ماهرویان باد
هزار جامهٔ تقوی و خرقهٔ پرهیز
I will carry the image of your mole with me to the grave
so that from your mole, my dust may become fragrant with musk.
خیالِ خالِ تو با خود به خاک خواهم برد
که تا ز خالِ تو خاکم شود عَبیرآمیز
The angel does not know what love is, O Cupbearer
ask for a cup and pour rose-water on the clay of Adam.
فرشته عشق نداند که چیست، ای ساقی
بِخواه جام و گلابی به خاکِ آدم ریز
Tie the cup to my shroud, so that at the dawn of resurrection
I may wash the terror of that day from my heart with wine.
پیاله بر کفنم بند، تا سحرگهِ حَشر
به مِی ز دل بِبَرَم هولِ روزِ رستاخیز
Poor and weary I have come to your threshold
have mercy, for I have no hold but your friendship.
فقیر و خسته به درگاهت آمدم رحمی
که جز وِلایِ تواَم نیستْ هیچْ دست آویز
Come, for the voice of the tavern whispered to me last night
'Be content with what is given, and do not flee from destiny.'
بیا که هاتفِ میخانه دوش با من گفت
که در مَقامِ رضا باش و از قَضا مَگریز
There is no barrier between the lover and the Beloved
you yourself are your own veil, Hafez—rise from the midst.
میانِ عاشق و معشوق هیچ حائل نیست
تو خود حجابِ خودی حافظ از میان برخیز
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 9/10. This is one of Hafez's most profound poems about love and acceptance. The verse about the cupbearer not knowing 'what is' the 'angel of love' and asking to pour 'a cup and rose-water on the earth of Adam' is a powerful statement. The observation that 'between the lover and the beloved, no barrier is' and asking Hafez to 'rise from the middle' the 'veil of self' is a profound statement. The poem's combination of wisdom and emotional expression makes it extremely engaging.
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