Poem #281
English Translation
Persian
O Lord, this laughing rose you gave to me, I now resign
To Thee, to shield from envious eyes that in the garden shine.
یا رب این نوگُلِ خندان که سپردی به مَنَش
می‌سپارم به تو از چشمِ حسودِ چَمَنَش
Though from the path of faith she wandered far away,
May grief and time's affliction from her spirit stay.
گرچه از کویِ وفا گشت به صد مرحله دور
دور باد آفتِ دورِ فلک از جان و تَنَش
O morning breeze, if you should pass where Salma makes her stay,
Convey a greeting from my heart, upon your gentle way.
گر به سرمنزل سلمی رَسی ای بادِ صبا
چشم دارم که سلامی برسانی ز مَنَش
Unbind the musk-pod of her hair with grace and tender care,
For many a heart is nestled in the darkness resting there.
به ادب نافه گشایی کن از آن زلفِ سیاه
جای دل‌های عزیز است به هم بر مَزَنَش
Say: 'My heart holds the covenant of your beauty and your grace,'
So keep it safe within those curls that frame your lovely face.
گو دلم حقِّ وفا با خط و خالت دارد
محترم دار در آن طُرِّهٔ عَنبرشِکَنَش
Where wine is drunk in memory of her ruby lip so sweet,
Base is the drunkard who retains his self-conceit.
در مقامی که به یادِ لبِ او مِی نوشند
سِفله آن مست، که باشد خبر از خویشتنش
Seek not for wealth or honor at the tavern's dusty door;
Who drinks this wine must cast his ship upon the ocean's floor.
عِرض و مال از درِ میخانه نشاید اندوخت
هر که این آب خورَد رَخْت به دریا فِکَنَش
Who fears the grief of love knows not the law of love's decree:
My head upon her foot, or else her lip to comfort me.
هر که ترسد ز ملال اندُهِ عشقش نه حلال
سَرِ ما و قدمش یا لبِ ما و دهنش
Hafez's verse is wisdom's song, a ghazal of the soul;
Praise be upon his captivating breath and words whole.
شعرِ حافظ همه بیتُ الْغَزَلِ معرفت است
آفرین بر نَفَسِ دلکَش و لطفِ سخنش
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 8/10. This poem contains profound statements about love and devotion. The verse about not gathering 'honor and wealth from the door of the wine-house' and throwing 'the ship to the sea' if one drinks 'this water' is a powerful statement. The observation that Hafez's poetry is 'all the verse of the ghazal of knowledge' is a profound statement. The poem's combination of devotion and wisdom makes it very engaging.
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