Poem #3
English Translation
Persian
If that Shirazian Turk would take my heart within his hand,
I'd give for his dark mole Bukhara and Samarkand.
اگر آن تُرکِ شیرازی به دست آرَد دلِ ما را
به خال هِندویَش بَخشَم سَمَرقند و بُخارا را
Cupbearer, bring the wine that's left!
For in Heaven you'll not see, the banks of Roknabad's stream, or Mosalla's flowery lea.
بده ساقی مِیِ باقی که در جَنَّت نخواهی یافت
کنارِ آبِ رُکناباد و گُل‌گَشتِ مُصَلّا را
Alas! These saucy gypsies, so sweet and full of play,
have robbed my heart of patience, like Turks who plunder prey.
فَغان! کاین لولیانِ شوخِ شیرین‌کارِ شهرآشوب
چُنان بُردند صبر از دل که تُرکان خوانِ یَغما را
The Beloved's beauty needs not our imperfect love's design;
what need has a lovely face for paint, or mole, or line?
ز عشقِ ناتمامِ ما جمالِ یار مُستَغنی است
به آب و رنگ و خال و خط چه حاجت رویِ زیبا را؟
I knew from Joseph's beauty, that grew more bright each day,
that Love would tear Zuleikha's veil, and lead her heart astray.
مَن از آن حُسنِ روزاَفزون که یوسُف داشت دانستم
که عشق از پردهٔ عِصمت بُرون آرَد زُلِیخا را
If you should curse or chide me, I'll bless you in return;
from lips so sweet and ruby-red, bitter words do not burn.
اگر دشنام فرمایی و گَر نفرین دعا گویم
جوابِ تلخ می‌زیبَد لبِ لَعلِ شِکرخا را
O Soul, accept my counsel, for youths who seek the right,
love the wisdom of the old more than their own delight.
نصیحت گوش کن جانا که از جان دوست‌تر دارند
جوانانِ سعادتمند پندِ پیرِ دانا را
Talk of the wine and minstrel, seek not the world's dark scheme;
for wisdom cannot solve the riddle of this dream.
حَدیث از مُطرب و مِی گو و رازِ دَهر کمتر جو
که کس نَگشود و نَگشاید به حکمت این مُعمّا را
You've sung your verse, O Hafez, and strung your pearls of art;
may Heaven shed the Pleiades upon your poetry's heart.
غزل گفتی و دُر سُفتی بیا و خوش بخوان حافظ
که بر نظمِ تو اَفشانَد فَلَک عِقد ثُریّا را
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 10/10. This is arguably Hafez's most famous poem in the West, largely due to the first couplet about giving Samarkand and Bukhara for the beloved's mole. It's a masterpiece of hyperbole and lyrical beauty. The references to Roknabad and Mosalla celebrate the beauty of Shiraz. The mention of Joseph and Zuleikha alludes to the famous Quranic/Biblical story of beauty and overwhelming love.
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