Poem #316
English Translation
Persian
Don't let your tresses fly, lest you destroy my soul
don't flirt and coyly sigh, lest you upend my whole.
زلف بر باد مده تا ندهی بر بادم
ناز بنیاد مکن تا نکَنی بنیادم
Don't drink with everyone, lest I drink blood in pain
don't raise your head with pride, lest my cries fill heaven's domain.
مِی مخور با همه کس تا نخورم خونِ جگر
سر مکش تا نکشد سر به فلک فریادم
Don't ring your tresses so, lest you enchain my heart
don't let your curls all flow, lest you tear me apart.
زلف را حلقه مکن تا نکنی در بندم
طُرّه را تاب مده تا ندهی بر بادم
Don't turn a stranger's face, lest you estrange my soul
don't grieve for others' case, lest you make my heart less whole.
یار بیگانه مشو تا نبری از خویشم
غم اغیار مخور تا نکنی ناشادم
Light up your face, and I'll forget the rose's bloom
stand tall and proud, and I'll forsake the cypress plume.
رخ برافروز که فارغ کنی از برگ گلم
قد برافراز که از سرو کنی آزادم
Don't be each party's flame, or you'll burn me with pain
don't speak of every name, lest you fade from my brain.
شمع هر جمع مشو ور نه بسوزی ما را
یاد هر قوم مکن تا نروی از یادم
Don't be the city's pride, lest I flee to the mountain's breast
don't show sweet joy beside, lest like Farhad I'm distressed.
شهرهٔ شهر مشو تا نَنَهم سر در کوه
شور شیرین منما تا نکنی فرهادم
Have mercy on this wretch, and answer my heart's plea
before I'm forced to fetch aid from Asaf's door for me.
رحم کن بر من مسکین و به فریادم رَس
تا به خاک در آصف نرسد فریادم
God forbid Hafez turns from your harsh cruelty's chain
from the day I was bound to you, I'm free from every other pain.
حافظ از جور تو حاشا که بگرداند روی
من از آن روز که در بند توام آزادم
Cultural Context
US Interest Rank: 8/10. This poem contains requests and profound statements. The repeated structure of 'don't do... until you don't do...' creates a powerful sense of conditional devotion. The verse about Hafez saying he is 'free from that day that in your bond I am' is a profound statement. The reference to Asaf adds cultural depth. The poem's combination of requests and emotional expression makes it very engaging.