Poem #299
English Translation
Persian
If you drink wine, pour out a drop upon the dusty ground
What fear of sin, when benefit to others can be found?
اگر شراب خوری جُرعه‌ای فَشان بر خاک
از آن گناه که نَفعی رسد به غیر چه باک؟
Go, enjoy what you possess, and do not hoard your store
For Time will strike with sword of death, and you will be no more.
برو به هر چه تو داری بخور، دریغ مخور
که بی‌دریغ زَنَد روزگار تیغِ هَلاک
I lay my head upon your feet, O Cypress tall and fair
That on the Day of Doom I may not rise from worship there.
به خاکِ پایِ تو ای سروِ نازپرورِ من
که روزِ واقعه پا وا مَگیرم از سرِ خاک
Be it Hell or Paradise, be it man or sprite
In every creed, stinginess is the darkest, blackest blight.
چه دوزخی، چه بهشتی، چه آدمی، چه پَری
به مذهبِ همه کفرِ طریقت است اِمساک
The Architect of Heaven built this six-sided place so well
No exit lies beneath the shrine, save the abyss of Hell.
مهندسِ فَلَکی راهِ دِیرِ شش جهتی
چُنان بِبَست که رَه نیست زیرِ دیرِ مَغاک
The Daughter of the Vine deceives the wisdom of the wise
May the trellis of the grape stand firm until the dead arise!
فریبِ دخترِ رَز طُرفِه می‌زند رَهِ عقل
مباد تا به قیامت خراب طارَمِ تاک
Hafez, you walked the tavern path and left the world with grace
May prayers of all the pure of heart be with you in that place.
به راهِ میکده حافظ خوش از جهان رفتی
دعایِ اهلِ دلت باد مونسِ دلِ پاک
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 8/10. This poem contains profound statements about life and death. The verse about 'the engineer of the turning' closing 'the path of the six-directional temple' so that 'path is not under the temple, the abyss' is a powerful statement. The observation that 'to the religion of all, infidelity of the path is abstinence' is a profound statement. The poem's combination of wisdom and emotional expression makes it very engaging.