Poem #312
English Translation
Persian
Good news: when safety came to Dhu Salam at last!
To God, praise from one who knows the blessings vast.
بُشری اِذِ السَّلامةُ حَلَّت بِذی سَلَم
لِلّهِ حمدُ مُعتَرِفٍ غایةَ النِّعَم
Where is the messenger who brought this victory's call?
I'll scatter soul like gold and silver for him all.
آن خوش خبر کجاست؟
که این فتح، مژده داد تا جان فِشانَمَش چو زر و سیم در قَدَم
The King returns to this strange station with delight
the foe's intent is for the tent of endless night.
از بازگشتِ شاه در این طُرفِه منزل است
آهنگِ خصم او به سراپردهٔ عَدَم
The oath-breaker will surely fall in broken state
'for with the King, all covenants inviolate.'
پیمان شکن هرآینه گَردَد شکسته حال
انَّ العُهودَ عِندَ مَلیکِ النُّهی ذِمَم
He sought for mercy from hope's cloud, but in vain
only his weeping eye gave forth the rain.
می‌جست از سحابِ اَمل رحمتی ولی
جز دیده‌اش مُعاینه بیرون نداد نَم
He fell in sorrow's Nile; the sky in mockery said
'now you repent—but what use is regret?'
در نیلِ غم فُتاد؛ سپهرش به طنز گفت
الآنَ قَد نَدِمتَ و ما یَنفَعُ النَّدَم؟
When the Cupbearer was moon-faced, one who knows the way
Hafez drank wine, and Sheikh and Scholar drank that day.
ساقی چو یارِ مَه رخ و از اهلِ راز بود
حافظ بخورد باده و شیخ و فقیه هم
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 8/10. This poem contains Arabic phrases and historical references. The Arabic verses add cultural depth. The verse about the covenant-breaker becoming 'broken' and the Arabic statement that 'covenants with the king of prohibition are guarantees' is a powerful statement. The observation that the sky said with jest 'now you regretted, and what benefits regret?' is a profound statement. The poem's combination of Arabic phrases and historical references makes it very engaging.